It’s thanks to Rachel and Jim Andras that Dottie and I, and many of our friends, have enjoyed hours and hours of fishing and catching beautiful steelhead and trout in some of the prettiest streams in the world.
Whether it has been on a wonderful fishing trip that Rachel has led or arranged for us, or floating down the Rogue River with Jim at the oars instructing us exactly where to place our fly to catch a big steelhead, the experiences have all been the very best. Many of our fly-fishing friends in Sonoma know them and have enjoyed their services.
For a while, they were residents of Sonoma and part of the fly-fishing team at the Leland Fly-Fishing Ranch in Schellville before it closed.
Over the years, they’ve grown their business and their family, adding son James and daughter Brechin. They also run a successful fly-fishing camp for kids. Most notably, they are kind and generous people and good friends.
That is why it was heartbreaking to learn this week that they were forced to evacuate their home in Talent, Oregon, when a horrific fire swept through the area devastating their little community.
Here is part of a post Rachel managed to send to friends:
“I’m so grateful we are safe and our home is standing, but there is deep sadness in our community and friends. There has been so much loss, intense fear. Tireless working police and fire fighters being brave beyond belief. Fires are still burning and the smoke is thick.
“We are the lucky ones yet it’s still heavy. I can’t think straight. I can’t get over all the calls, texts and emails from our friends and family. I lost it when we received an amazing gift on Venmo from a friend too. I burst into tears multiple times yesterday, hugging my best friends. I have a deep desire to help others but I can’t think straight. We are not willing to stay in our house with all this smoke and no power and the need to boil water.
“So we are leaving for a bit so we can think about how we can serve and love our community.”
Jim, Rachel, James and Brechin managed to make it to Jim’s parents’ home in Arizona. But they haven’t given up. Once the fires are out and the smoke clears, Rachel said that they will return and help rebuild their community.
While I was writing this column this week, the air quality index in their hometown was still above 350, extremely hazardous for everyone. The fire that killed four people and drove them from their home is still burning.
If you’d like to send a message of support and encouragement, the best email to use now is rachelconnery@hotmail.com. That address is also good for sending something on Venmo.
I’m sure that many of us in the fly-fishing community will be considering what we might have spend for a day of fishing with Jim on the Rogue, and send it anyway. It seems like the least we can do in support of close members of our small fly-fishing family.
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