It began after finding a cousin a few years ago in which we (John A. Feldenzer) met over the telephone via a fly fishing book store, in which we discovered a shared love, "FLY FISHING".   John  later called me from his home in Roanoke, Virginia (I live in Libby, Montana) to tell me he had to attend a "Neurological medical Seminar" (the actual meeting came about through German genealogy research in which I discovered that we were related) conference in my area (Flathead Valley) and thought he would drive over to meet my wife Myrtle and I.  The rest is history; as they say.   Later (2002), I met John again, along with his son Andrew, and with my grandson Josh,  we fly fished the Elk River in Fernie B.C. for a couple days.  It turned out to be a two days of great fishing, but way to short!  We later discussed another trip on the "Elk", only this trip had to be at least a week!  John contacted Ned Cooper at "Elk River Guiding Co. in Fernie B.C." and we started making plans.  John booked Ned Cooper for a drift boat trip on the ELK and a "walk-in" on the WIGWAM River for the first week of September 2004.  I picked up John A. at the Kalispell airport on September 4th at 12:30 pm from a Delta flight from Roanoke (after a couple connections) and we loaded up all the gear.  My Nissan pickup looked like we had 4 or 5 thousand lbs. loaded in it . . .  never seems to amaze me where it all comes from, and never seems to be enough when I start trying to decide what I need and what to  take.  We then started north to the Canadian border of B.C., about 60 miles away through the town of Eureka, Montana. 

     Upon reaching The Elk River Company fly shop we found to our delight that Ned Cooper had set us up in a "condo" that was really nice; very clean (looked almost new) and with everything we needed.  We carried our small amount of fishing equipment (it sure seemed small) into the condo and decided to go have dinner.  After dinner we went back to our condo and retired after such a hard day.  As every fly fisherman knows, this is very tiring work!

     Sunday, September 5th:   Took a couple hours to get  our equipment organized (we could not decide what we needed).  We then left to have breakfast and afterwards went to Ned Cooper's to sign in for the trip of a lifetime (at least for me . . . the "old man" of the group).  We decided to take my "Hyde drift boat" and that way I could learn the river for later trips.  ...........Wrong!  What an eye opener, sure not like the Kootenai River at home.  There were more turns and problems for beginners that I ever thought possible.  Unless you REALLY know what you are doing, my advice is to leave the rowing to fellows like "Ned" or you will probably end up leaving your boat somewhere there in the river!  But, what a fantastic fishing day on the Elk River (see pictures below).  

     Monday, September 6th:  We met Ned's guide Jeff Mironuck.  After breakfast we left for a "walk-in" to the WIGWAM River which is highly acclaimed as being one of the finest Cutthroat and Bull Trout rivers in the country.  We had a rather harrowing experience riding with Jeff that left embedded fingerprints on the "chicken bars" so make sure you stop at the restroom before starting out!  Jeff missed his calling!  He should have been a Winston Cup driver!  We prepared for our walk-in donning our waders and boots (we noticed that Jeff did not put on the same) and the "small" amount of gear that all fly fishermen need, and headed down the path for a short hike.........Wrong again!  Should have brought my mountain bike and just left it there!  After a walk of about one mile, Jeff halted the parade by holding up his hands and "yelling"........ since I was dragging along well behind the party of hikers I could not understand what was happening.........As it turned out a large black bear was feeding at the edge of the path and Jeff figured we might want to wait until the bear left.  No argument from John E. or John A. was recorded.  After what seemed hours and many miles of travel we arrived at the WIGWAM River, and to one of the most spectacular views I have ever seen!  We spent about 5 hours fishing for Cutt's and Bull's and we were not disappointed!!   At one point while helping me, Jeff advised me to "cast there next to the large rock".  Something grabbed hold of the very small size 16 "green caddis" fly and slowly moved out into the middle and to the bottom of the river then decided to just stay there!  I had a very hard time trying to move the fish.  Jeff said, you have a very large "BULL" on the line, about a 29" and maybe about 12-14 pounds!   After 20 minutes and moving downstream working very hard to put pressure on the "Bull" without breaking him off, Jeff landed him in the net for me, then after pictures were taken and my "shaking" from excitement died down, we released him.  This was the highlight of all my fly fishing experiences to date, even my Steelhead fishing on the Klamath River!  What a fantastic day!........ Now for the trip out.  Upon reaching  Jeff's SUV, I almost had a "stroke"....... I was so tired that I simply lay on the ground.  Jeff walked up and handed me a coke...... it was gone in 5 seconds!  If you want to try this when you are 68 years old, you better get in shape!  I told John that I did not think that I would be back here again.  As I sit here writing this, I have changed my mind!  " Wigwam"  here I come again, only a little wiser this time.  Do not ask me where we were at as I do not like to tell "Tall Tales".  Jeff is a very good guide and spends a lot of time working with the fishermen on how to fish the river and what flies to use.  We highly recommend Jeff as a guide, just bring your Rosary beads with you while traveling with him in his SUV.... :o)

         Tuesday, September 7th:  John and I decided we needed to rest a bit so we decided to strike out on our own and fish.........  about forty to a couple hundred Cutt's (sounds about right?) and a lot of walking on rocks that were ALL round,  John  mentioned maybe we needed to hire Ned Cooper again.......... No argument from me.

     Wednesday, September 8th:  After breakfast we met Ned at the Elk River Guiding Company Fly Shop again and after looking through their supplies we discovered we needed more equipment (wives don't read this) for the trip down the river that morning, so we "picked" up a few things.  I was very concerned that Ned's boat might not stay afloat with the "extra" gear we had, but everything seemed OK.  We put in just past the largest dump truck you can imagine.....can't say anymore than that!  Just another fantastic day fishing.....even after all the casting hang-ups!  The problem was, John was casting in front and was right handed and  I was casting from the rear and was left handed, and the wind was "blowing very hard".  You knew it was bad when you saw Ned praying.  Strange thing for an adult man to do on a river?   Oh, lest I forget to mention!  Just before we reached the take-out "I" was rowing my boat with John in the front and Ned in the back fishing (a guide no less).  Ned caught the largest "CUTT" of the day..... There must be something in the fishing ethics about a guide doing this.

     Thursday, September 9th :  We again decided to rough it, and fish on our own on the Michelle River north of Fernie about 45 miles .......... Again, another three or four hundred fish.....we only needed to fish half a day?

     Friday, September 10th:  We packed up and headed for the U.S. border and home.  Upon reaching the border we had a real surprise.  We had all the equipment in the back of the pickup and behind the seats and figured it would take forever to go through all the "stuff" for the Border Patrol.......... They took one look at us and the "small" amount of equipment we had and simply waved us through.  What a shock, as we had been worried about them checking everything.....Great!

clip art by: "Troutball"                                 

     This is not true. Fisherman acquire the talent.  Paul Quinnet ------  Pavlo's Trout. 

     FISHERMEN ARE BORN HONEST,

     but they get over it.   Ed Zern

L-R ...  John A. and John E. Feldenzer on the "ELK"

John A. Feldenzer and our guide Ned Cooper....

One of many, of John's  "CUTT's"

John and Ned

OH, OH

John  E. Feldenzer and Jeff Mironuck

My Bull Trout

  My "BIG BULL" about 12 lbs. caught on a very small    "Green Drake" fly