This yarn involves some Michigan steelhead, the late actress Lee Remick, and a bottle of bourbon. If you’re a teetotaler, you might want to skip it. But then again, you might find it interesting, too.

My wife was watching the classic 1959 film Anatomy of a Murder over the weekend, which was shot on location in northern Michigan and starred both Remick and the great Jimmy Stewart. That brought this story to mind.

The best-selling book of the same name was written by my late friend John Voelker under the pen name Robert Traver. He also wrote some trout-fishing classics, including Trout Magic. Voelker, a true character, was on the set a lot sharing his celebrity while the film was being made. That’s all by way of background.

A great many years later, I was in Baldwin, Michigan, fishing the Pere Marquette with an old friend and Michigan fly shop owner who shall remain unnamed. The steelhead fishing had been only so-so. Back at the motel and chilled by a day in the river, I pulled out some bourbon and offered him a drink. He said thanks but he didn’t drink. Then he started laughing.

“This is like what Voelker did to me once,” he said. “John gave me some bourbon in an old tin cup when we were done fishing. I said no thanks. John scowled and shoved the cup at me.

“‘It was good enough for Lee Remick, so it’s good enough for you,’ Voelker told me, and shoved the cup at me again. So I drank it. But I’m still not a drinker.”

Or he wasn’t until later that evening....

Comments (4)

from Douglas wrote 12 weeks 4 days ago

A snort of bourbon in a cup, tin or otherwise, is a fine cap to a day afield.
I am pleased to see I share a taste with such august company.
A fine holiday season to you Mr. Merwin and I hope to see some blogs on ice fishing this winter.

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from buckhunter wrote 12 weeks 4 days ago

Baldwin Michigan the Pere Marquette, steelhead and bourbon. It all brings back fine memories.

It's sort of nostalgic to know we have shared the same water.

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from coho310 wrote 12 weeks 4 days ago

Steelhead and bourbon, what a great combo...

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from Beekeeper wrote 12 weeks 3 days ago

Nothing like a shot of good Bourbon to take off the chill and warm the memory!

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from Douglas wrote 12 weeks 4 days ago

A snort of bourbon in a cup, tin or otherwise, is a fine cap to a day afield.
I am pleased to see I share a taste with such august company.
A fine holiday season to you Mr. Merwin and I hope to see some blogs on ice fishing this winter.

+2 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from buckhunter wrote 12 weeks 4 days ago

Baldwin Michigan the Pere Marquette, steelhead and bourbon. It all brings back fine memories.

It's sort of nostalgic to know we have shared the same water.

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from coho310 wrote 12 weeks 4 days ago

Steelhead and bourbon, what a great combo...

+1 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

from Beekeeper wrote 12 weeks 3 days ago

Nothing like a shot of good Bourbon to take off the chill and warm the memory!

0 Good Comment? Yes | No | Report

Post a Comment

 

All submitted comments are subject to the rules set forth in our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.