The passing of a friend and a legend
The fishing community lost one of its best Thursday when Denny Breer, owner of Trout Creek Flies in Dutch John, passed away at his home while working on a coop for his beloved pigeons.Few did more to protect the Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam. Denny was the voice of reason, the anglers and the fish at Bureau of Reclamation meetings regarding the flows on the world-famous fishery.
Denny was a kindhearted man who worked hard to make a living doing what he loved. He had a large and loyal group of guides which many consider the best on the river. I'll write more about Denny in an upcoming column. The best tribute I can think of now is a multimedia photographer Steve Griffin and I did in the fall of 2007 on Wild and Scenic Rivers. Again, Denny was the voice of reason in a complex issue.
"Rivers are a precious commodity . . . they aren't making any more of them. I want my granddaughter's children and their grandchildren to have the same opportunity to experience the Green River like I have. A lot of people take rivers for granted and we just can't do that," he told me.
Here's a link to that story, make sure to click on the multimedia and you'll be able to hear his passion for the river....
The picture here was taken during that trip. That's me with a fish on with Denny behind the oars. That's the way I'll remember Denny: on the river...
UPDATE: Denny's funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Nov. 10, at the LDS church in Dutch John.
— Brett
posted by Brett @ 9:12 AM |
5 Comments:
Wow. I am sorry to learn of Denny's passing. He was a kind person. My sympathies to Grace, his wife. They run a class operation there in Dutch John. I worked for a couple of seasons on the river and got to know them a little in the days before they opened the new shop, but I am so impressed by what they built together! You will be missed Denny!
I'm so sad to hear of Denny's accident. He's a friend and always tried to make my trips to the Green the best possible. I'll miss him and will always look down that red canyon and think about him and shoot a line in that direction. Thanks Denny...
Chuck Krause
Such sad news. Denny was a wonderful and kind man. His love of the Green River was an inspiration to all who visited his shop, fished his river, and read his books. He will be greatly missed.
Such a shock to learn that we have lost a kind friend to anyone and everyone who sought a great experience on the Green River or sought to learn more of the fun of fly fishing. He was ready to share his knowledge and experience freely. He and Grace carved out a highly respected operation together of which they can be proud. Our family expresses heart-felt condolences to Denny's family. He was very tall timber!
Denny's loss is tragic. My heartfelt sympathies go out to Grace and his friends and colleagues in Utah.
In early September of this year he took two of us, in Utah for the TU national meeting, on the River for a day. I have to say that I've never had as much fun with a guide as I had with Denny. He was a great guy, modest in his style, immense in his knowledge and quick with a good joke or story that would keep you laughing even if you weren’t able to land that big fish he got you into. During lunch, with a little prodding, we got him to talk about the River, its management and the challenges it faces. You could tell how passionately he felt about the Green, and we knew we were in the presence of someone whose passion had made a difference.
I'm deeply saddened that many others will never have the experience of fishing or working with him.
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