Last summer, a noted fly-angler, conservationist and mentor to many, Bob Taylor, passed away.

Bob Taylor passed away unexpectedly on July 5, 2006 in his 81st year. A few Totems and friends gather for lunch on Thursdays, and Bob was at lunch on June 29. He looked good and wished me well on my trip east. On Saturday July 8, I was enjoying a cup of after-breakfast coffee with fellow Totems Charlie Brumwell, Vince  Sweeney, Evan Joubert, Bob Backus and Gil Sage, when the

Robert Henry Taylor

Since it was our last day fishing at the lodge — we were moving up to spend four days on the Humber River on Sunday — I thought it must be Bill Bryden, our guide host on the Humber. I was surprised to hear a familiar voice from the West Coast on the line. Ron Schiefke broke the news to me that Bob had passed away in his sleep.

I met Bob Taylor, the consummate steelhead fly-fisher, in 1983, when I joined the Totem Fly Fishers Association. Since we shared a common passion — chasing the big sea-going rainbows — it didn’t take us long to start fishing together...

Written by Art Lingren