Quite A Story, Sun Journal Article, 2005

Monday, May 23, 2005, by Jodi Hausen, Staff Writer
OQUOSSOC - If fishermen tell tall tales, Friday night was no exception.

It was difficult to distinguish truth from fact when speakers roasted notorious fly-fishing guide Aldro French during a surprise event at Rangeley Region Guides' and Sportsmen's Association on Friday. The clubhouse overflowed with more than 100 friends, colleagues and state officials.

French, owner of Rapid River Fly Fishing was described by many as the "perfect host," though to the uninitiated, one might believe otherwise. Honored by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife for his "extraordinary" decades-long crusade to save the Rapid River, French was awarded a commissioner's print from Deputy Commissioner Paul Jacques. He also received honors from the Rapid River Coalition for his lifelong dedication to stewardship of the river. Apparently, like many anglers, storytelling is French's nature.

"I don't know where to start," said Jeff Reardon, New England conservation director for Trout Unlimited, while eating a barbecued dinner before the formal festivities began. "I started hearing about this crazy guy described as “the guy” who knows how to catch the fish no matter how the flows are,'" he said. Reardon said they met around 1998 when they attempted to catch 100 fish for a study during an extremely rainy weekend. "It was the biggest rainstorm I've ever seen," he said. So they decided it was better to sit in French's kitchen telling fish stories, rather than trying to catch them, he added.

"He's not a conservationist, he's a conversationalist," Asa Fisk, friend of 45 years, joked. Fisk came from Florida to be at the event. "Everybody who has met you has a story to tell," he told French. "At least one," he added.

"I never met a better recycler," photographer David Bowie said. "The best things he recycles are stories," he said. How many have heard him tell a story, twice, three times? He asked the crowd to appreciative laughter.

"He is Barnum and Bailey rolled into one," said Bill Pierce of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, who nominated French for the commissioner's print. Pierce told of French's disappearance at a trade show that he called the "Where's Waldro," episode. French, who had asked Pierce to take him along, returned to the show a bit sheepish after a night out on the town.

"Yes, suh," French responded in his characteristic Maine accent after listening to the tale. "I was the only volunteer he ever had to fire." "His heart is as big as all these people," Dick Walthers said, gesturing at the crowd. Walthers has been guiding for French for about 10 years. "He's just a great guy. He's taught me so much about the river, he's always willing to share," he said.

But Pierce probably put it best. Quoting from "The Wizard of Oz," he said, "A measure of a man's heart is not how much he loves but how much he is loved."