Met Bruce Marino about 35 years ago on the fly fishing section of the Yantic River on opening day. We talked about many things, but mostly our passion of fly fishing and food. Later, over coffee that morning, Bruce showed me the flies that he tied and used for trout fishing. My reaction was how well they were tied and would he sell any? He probably overcharged me that day, but it really didn't matter, the flies worked and lasted more than 2 fish. I was hooked on his flies and his knowledge of the bugs he tied. Soon, my friends also were looking to Bruce for their flies. His innovations of colors, materials, realistic designs, and patterns proved themselves so many times through the years. I had forgotten that many of the fish I caught were on the designs he had made.

That day, we talked of places we fished and many of them were new to both of us. Through the years, our friendship grew and the areas that we fished together also grew. The next 20 plus years, we met on opening day on the same stretch of the Yantic River. Bruce asked me to show him the Shetucket River and that soon became our opening day spot. He developed a few flies that worked well on that river. I soon learned that he was probably the best caddis fly fisherman I had ever seen. His technique and caddis patterns were killer in certain areas of the river. Many of the flies he developed, were the reasons, we were catching and others weren't. Thank goodness the flies were no longer costing me money, Bruce loves soupy!

We fished many rivers all over the state, but the one river that he knew better than most, the Farmington River. There wasn't one time that we fished that river that Bruce didn't put me or my friends on fish. His knowledge of that river's areas, the bug hatches from morning to night, pattern size, rod size, lines, and tippets is what make him a great guide He has fished the river so long, that when he told me that I am doing something wrong, I listened. I had to let my ego go. Sometimes it is better to listen and learn, than speak. A bent rod and a tight line speak for themselves.

Yes, Bruce and I became great friends that day long ago on the Yantic River. We have been fly fishing all of our lives in both fresh and salt and many exotic destinations out of the country. He will always be my friend, but now he has become a first rate guide on the Farmington River.

Ron Gedney
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