The following are excerpts taken from “Ode to Odell Tolman, The Fisherman” by Paul Montgomery, written June 12, 1987. Emerson Odell Tolman’s lineage is Emerson Odell Tolman-Lewis Owen Tolman-Joshua Alvin Tolman-Cyrus Tolman.
I had no brother and few friends who enjoyed fishing, or knew how and where to go fishing. But one of the great blessings of my youth was having an older cousin who was a fanatical fisherman and who didn’t mind taking a younger kid along on a fishing trip. That was Odell Tolman.
My introduction to most of the great fishing spots of Southem Idaho was with Odell during my early teenage years. I regret that his moving to Texas and my moving to Utah terminated our fishing excursions, for my outings with Odell are some of the most memorable experiences of my youth. I can remember at least a dozen outings with Odell, each of which I would like to mention here, probably more for my enjoyment and benefit than anything else, but also with the hope that you might enjoy sharing a little of my life with Odell.
Headwaters of Fish Creek Reservoir: My earliest recollection of fishing with Odell was driving in early evening into an area above a reservoir. Upon arrival, Odell immediately grabbed his pole and said, “Come on, this is the best time to fish-we can eat and set up camp later.” We fished several little creeks running into the reservoir and arrived back at the car well after dark, hungry as bears. Someone else was with us- I don’t remember who-but the three of us ate over 40 trout that we had caught, more or less cooked, warmed or burned over the campfire, after being hastily gutted in the dark. They were the most delicious fish I ever remember eating. We had no lantern, tent or other camp gear. We shared our bedroll with swarms of mosquitoes and slept on boggy ground next to the creek, and fell asleep in happy exhaustion.
Magic Reservoir: I remember fishing from the clay banks with Ernie, Odell, and some of the other Tolmans. I remember how unfair I thought it was that the fish always chose his pole to bite on, Even though mine was tossed in right beside his pole.
Milner Dam: My introduction to catfish was a midnight excursion to the Milner Canal with Odell, fishing by lantern light. As I recall, he warned me that I might get stung if I weren’t careful in unhooking my first catfish. He than watched in anticipation and laughed with glee when the fish whipped a barb into my hand. After being properly introduced to the need for caution, I was shown by Odell how to depress the fins while holding the fish securely to unhook it. Later I remember receiving some quiet satisfaction when Odell howled as a fish jabbed him too. I remember going back to Gwen’s folks’ farm about dawn after we fished all night, and the gunny sack was full of fish.
Wood River below Magic Reservoir: I remember trying to fish that river with Odell when I had only a short, stiff casting rod, and he was catching fish right and left using a spinning rod. He kept promising me that there was a big hole down river where I could use the casting rod and catch a big fish. I watched him catch fish after fish on his spinning outfit for what seemed like hours until we finally arrived at the promised hole. He said, as he took my pole, “Let me show you how to used this rod in a big hole like this.” He took the pole and cast way out into the river and let it drift into the big hole at the bend, and as I tried to get him to give me back my pole, a huge fish struck, and he hooked it. But he still wouldn’t give it back to me. “Oh, this is a monster! This is too big for you to land.” And he caught a 4 or 5 lb. trout on my pole! I had two hooks on and at 14” trout took the second hook on the same cast, and he said that the smaller fish could be my fish!
Silver Creek at Picaboo: The most beautiful trout I ever saw was a 5 lb. trout Odell caught at 4:30 a.m. at the twin culverts on Silver Creek. It had a crimson red stripe 3” wide down it’s side and still gives me excitement and wonder as I think of it. Odell, the master fisherman, caught it under a submerged tree where it should have been able to break free, but he was too good for it.
I still have, in the bottom of a reel box, the old Bache-Brown reel that Odell sold to me for a couple of dollars. I think he gave it to me for next to nothing because he liked me. Of course, he never said so, nor did I, but there was a great affection between these two crazy fishermen.
Odell took a lonely kid and taught him to fish, and created many happy hours that will never be forgotten. And neither will the fisherman who provided them to me.
Visit FamilySearch to learn more about Emerson Odell Tolman. Visit the Thomas Tolman Family Organization to find out how you can get more involved in family history.