One of my favorite letters I received while I was at Puale Bay, AK

Marla,

Oh how I long for salmon berries made into a fine pie. I pine for the eye stinging pollen of the magnificent fire weed. Oh black spruce, tag alder, glacier silten streams, Prince William Sound, Chugach Mountains, have I forsaken thee.

My arm yearns to unroll a perfect cast of a egg sucking leech with 8 weight line to the run of silver. For it is time when fly fisher of any age should be in pristine surrounding, tempting silver salmon.

I fish for two reasons: solitude and trout (or salmon), in that order. This year I will not make my annual trek to ALASKA (worthy of all capital letters), since I have spent my summer fishing voyage in Wyoming, in the Wind River Mountains, and in the Beartooth Mountains. 10 species of fish fell for my fur and feathered hooks of deceit. All but one tasty fish were returned mostly unharmed, a mere piercing with barbless hook. I must end now for my pencil has run its course.

In awe,
Ricky

I truly hope to get a autographed photo of you with salmon or char or trout. I hope the fishing gear worked out!

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At this date I have never met this man, a friend of my uncle's and father's. I talked to him on the phone before I went to Alaska, for tips on fishing salmon in AK. A very impressive and lovely letter. My dad said it took him a week to write, searching for the best words. It sticks with me.