The White Falcon - 21.10.1966, Blaðsíða 3

Friday, October 21, 1966
WHITE FALCON
3
Rod & Gun Club Here Provides
Much for the Hungry Sportsman
scrapbook full of pictures are
proof enough of the big ones that
didn’t get away! Going as a group
provides that extra enjoyment and
sporting fun. Too, one is able to
share their experience with a
shipmate, for many times our
paths do cross while in the ser-
vice. By that, it is certain that at
your next duty station you’ll prob-
ably meet a member of the Capt.
R. R. Sparks, USN, Rob & Gun
Club, for the membership is
scattered all over the world. Even
though clubmembers are many
miles away from Keflavik, they
still continue to faithfully keep up
their membership, because many
will often find themselves rotating
right back here to the fisherman’s
paradise. And, it’s good to come
back to an active club!
One individual who perhaps has
contributed the most to the club’s
organization was feted at a fare-
well dinner last Friday with a
host of fellow club members giving
him a toast for his untiring ef-
forts to give members one of the
finest clubs existing today any-
where. Receiving recognition was
Lt. Nick Potts, a sportsman who
will always be remembered by the
club not only as its past president,
a post he held for two years
(1965—66), but as a live wire who
pulled the club from its lowest ebb
to the outstanding club it is to-
day.
The club today has more to
offers it’s members than ever be-
fore with much of this resulting
from past trips with Icelandic
groups, especially the rod and
gun club at Reykjavik. Such good
times were had by all, that future
trips are now in the planning
stage.
Anyone who took part in the
6th and 7th International Deep
Sea Fishing Tournament off the
coast of Iceland know of the splen-
did time they had and the many
tubs of fish pulled in during both
events. This brought together
American sportsmen here with
the Icelandic sportsmen who ex-
changed many stories of sporting
interests between our two countri-
es. Too, friends were made and it’s
often heard just from these two
events that a few club members
have been invited to join an Ice-
landic friend to his favorite hunt-
ing or fishing sport.
Five club members just recent-
ly returned from a very fine and
profitable trip to Ireland. There
they took part in the Irish Inter-
national Deep Sea Fishing
Tournament and were graciously
excepted and extended a return
invitation for next year. Every
angler returning from the Ire-
land trip regreted that time
didn’t permit them to stay longer
to fish the beautiful countryside
where an abundance of streams
make trout and salmon fishing
memorable everytime a cast is
made. After talking with the men
who went to Ireland and viewing
some proof of what’s there, it’s
certain more than five will be
going next year!
Club membership is only four
dollars the first year and two
dollars each year thereafter.
Meetings are the first and third
Tuesday of each month. You
won’t find a more enjoyable
sporting club anywhere for so
little a price. If you do like
by JOl George Cates
A few years ago here at Kefla-
vik International Airport, a small
group of men interested in hunt-
ing and fishing met and suggested
they form a Rod & Gun Club. As
the word spread throughout the
base, others became interested
and a date was set to see just
how many others were. Today, the
club membership is approximatly
300 and still growing, as new per-
sonnel report in for duty.
Named the Capt. Robert
R. Sparks, USN, Rod & Gun Club
in memory of the former com-
manding officer of the naval sta-
tion here who lost his life in a
helicopter crash during 1965, the
club is located in the old CPO
Club.
If you should wander into the
club house, you’ll see scores of
photographs displayed on the
walls showing some of the adven-
tures experienced by club mem-
bers. You’ll see beautiful colored
photographs of club members
with fantastic stringers of trout
taken at Hitarvatn and when a
group can fish in a single lake in
Iceland for two days ending up
with over 300 beautiful trout, this
is indeed an memory that will
linger on the angler’s mind for
years to come. The fishermen who
went on that trip are still boasting
that trout fishing isn’t anything
in the states compared to right
here in Iceland’s lakes and
streams.
Fishing in Iceland stops briefly
for some club members and
they venture to Norway, Ger-
many, Ireland, or some other
European country to wet
a line. Colored slides, and a
TROUT HAVEN—TSgt. Gene Ellsberry, Mr. Ernie Corbiel and Lt
Nick Potts beam with pride over several nice stringers of trout and
char taken at Hitarvatn last fishing season. Located an almost six
hours drive from Keflavik, the lake attracted a party of 11 anglers from
the Capt. Robert R. Sparks, USN, Rod & Gun Club. Others in the
party credited with a catch of over 300 fish were Capt. Emile E.
Pierre and his son Vance, AMCS James Henderson, Nick Potts, Jr.,
PH2 Max A. Akins, “Rocky” Joiner, DKC Thomas Ronan and AC2
James L. Woodward.
READY, MOUNT UP!—Geese and duck hunters from the Capt. Ro-
bert R. Sparks, USN, Rod & Gun Club prepare to mount up for a ride
by horseback to an area in the countryside where geese and ducks
were found in great flocks. Club members bagged an approximate 250
during last season and already reports from hunters this year are
encouraging.
hunting and fishing, then a mem-
bership in the Capt. R. R. Sparks,
USN, Rod & Gun Club would only
add enjoyment to your stay in
Iceland.
Sporting equipment can be pur-1
chased through the club for much
less than you would have to pay
back in the states. Catalogs are
numerous and are on display at
the club house for your conveni-
ence and needs. ,
IRELAND BOUND—Five club members about to depart by plane for a
fishing trip in Ireland. They are, (1-r) PH2 Max Akins, DKC Thomas
Ronan, Lt Nick Potts, AMCS James Henderson and AEC Winston Dil-
lard. These anglers took part in the Irish International Deep Sea
Fishing Tournament.
LOOK OUT FISH—HERE WE COME!—Members of the Capt. Ro-
bert R. Sparks, USN, Rod & Gun Club take to the high seas during
the 6th International Deep Sea Fishing Tournament held off Iceland.
Plans are now on the ‘drawing board’ for another to take place next
year, perhaps here at Keflavik.
EVERY RIGHT TO BE PROUD!—Lynn Potts (left) shows off her
first successful trout catch to her sister Janet and brother Robert.
Children of Lt and Mrs Nick Potts, they could often be seen with their
parents at the Security Camp, Whale Bay—a retreat for so many ang-
lers stationed here at the NATO Base.