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Show PW t THB:BAIlY HfiRAtD, SiradrS, Thursday, September 23, i 999 s ; fp jtrnmrn inii ilFlliii I? gosnng 4M L- - tlifflii . 1 ' 13 ... K MJPMK A VWl1 - 1 strong 74-year-- old finds family and fishing very fulfilling By HARTT VVIXOM The Daily Herald PROVO 74, doesn't Ralph Walters, let the label "senior citizen" slow him down. Five years ago he suffered a heart attack, and two years ago he was diagnosed with diabetes. But he didn't let it stop him earlier this month from driving with his wife, Geraldine, to visit a married daughter in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, then driving on to Seattle to spend time with son Ken. Passing by a. number of trout waters, he stopped long enough to wet a fly or two he tied himself, catching a number of respectable trout in Montana and Alberta. He stops frequently and chats with fly shop owners about best patterns for their area and enjoys "talking trout talk." He is also known as a master fly tier in his own right, learning fly tying and fly fishing from his father, Ray, who Ralph labels a "purist." While growing up on such waters as Scofield Reservoir and the Huntington River, Ralph says his father "fished with fly and fly rod only. I learned the enjoyment that can come from trying to master such skills. We caught trout to eight pounds on artificials that are still vivid in my memory, what worked and how the fish fought." OH, AND the day after returning from Seattle, Walters and his wife met married sons, at daughters and Capitol Reef National Park to do some camping. En route, of course, Walters plans to fish the Fremont River, where a month ago he caught brown trout to 15 inches, but is returning "to try for something bigger." in-la- III Success: Senior citizen Ralph Walters, 74 of Provo, proves he can still battle the big ones Last month, the Walters visited daughter Cathy in Denver, allowing Ralph to fish another favorite stream, the headwaters of the Arkansas River. "I like the Colorado just about as well, but it has much private land," he says. He and Geraldine often visit their cabin at Scofield, where he fishes and "she reads." Says Ralph: "We like it fine that way. However, it's a good thing she loves reading." Favorite waters within an hour of Scofield include those on top of the Manti: Fairview, Bench, Gooseberry, Mammoth (Huntington), Electric and Boulger. Whatever fly they're taking, amateur entomologist Ralph is usually able to discern, whether it's a "Griffith gnat dry" on top or a "dead chicken emerger" just below the surface. If the trip is more than a few hours from their cabin, the Walters take along their trailer and spend the night beside some lake. They have explored nearly every lake on Manti Mountain, he says, including some which require a bit of hiking to reach. ' win! (Fish will "There are too many fun things to do. I want to get them all in along with family, of course." Senior citizen Ralph Walters, 74 process, arteries cleaned out and all, but have 'angio-plast- of Provo been told I made a full recovery. Now, I have to faithfully be released unharmed.) take a digitalis tablet every day, but I just do it and forget about it." He's had to spend more time with the diabetes, watching what he eats (no sugar without careful advance menu plan- ning) and one pill a day before breakfast. See STRONG, 4 iripnr 1! l m I hi IVVlfWl WE PROVIDE: PRIVATE ROOM 24 HOUR CARE Dietician approved meals Assistance with ail COMPLETE WITH: Bed, Dresser Private 12 Bath aspects of daily living Daily housekeeping Intercom Laundry Individual and group activity TV hookup MMMMIMIM ,w New Home X Coming MHIIIHIHII CHECK OUR PRICES! NO ADD-O- COSTS! N Honws ff WM EE HIVE HOMES hera dextra ?onJ Phone hookup 27-fo- WALTER'S HEART attack has made him more cautious about his daily routine, but has not appreciably slowed him down, he says. "I went through the entire HARTT WIXOMCourtesy photo and m 367-366- 9 Alxc If. Am Fcrfc PI. Grove 763 - 5377 Sslem 423U3JE05 7&54319 754138 , Payson 4G5-814- S ft i 3 |
