HomeMy Public PortalAboutMiller, Shawn & Joy34)k Nets; .5(,- l° r i ?9 s
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Mountains no obstacle-
for this angler
BY ROGER PHILLIPS
The Star -News
Under an afternoon sun that turns
the Little Payette Lake into a blue
mirror, Shawn Miller stands thigh -
deep in the water working his fly rod
with the purposefulness of a conduc-
tor waving his baton toward an or-
chestra.
Miller casts his fly at trout that
cruise the shallows and rise for in-
sects, leaving their tell -tale swirl as
their calling card. He has already
landed two 15 -inch rainbows, when
suddenly a 20- incher charges his fly.
He yards back and snaps off the fly in
the fish's mouth.
"Oh my, that's enough to give a
guy heart failure," he says, laughing
as he ties on another fly. "I love it
when they do that."
It's another day of fly fishing for
Miller. The water he fishes may
change from day to day, but the rou-
tine is the same — he pits his skills
against the fish, catches some, loses a
few, and that's the way he likes it.
"I like to fly fish for trout because
I like unraveling the puzzle," he said.
"I know I have to figure it out, and
when I do, then it's my world."
For the past 22 years, Miller has
been stalking the trout that haunt the
rivers and lakes of central Idaho. He
is both a devotee to the sport of fly
fishing and an advocate of the quarry
he pursues.
He is a tireless trekker into high
mountain lakes, which are among his
favorite places to seek the wild, jewel -
sided rainbows and the golden cut-
throats.
Miller has pared his equipment
down to the essentials, and he likes to
slip off trails and hike cross country
to explore those lakes that lie far off
the beaten path.
He will hike two to five miles to
reach a particular lake, and he has
been known to make 30 -mile circuits
and fish a series of backcountry lakes.
He is constantly seeking out new lakes
to fish, and he figures he has a long
Tnto'the Outdoors
VMiller started fishing with his fa-
ther while growing up as a self-de-
Roger scribed "city kid" in Chicago, and he
Phillips had his first brush with fly fishing
whilechasing bluegill in an lowapond.
lie landed his first trout on a fly on a
fishing trip on the Portneuf River near
way to go before he exhausts the local Pocatello.
supply. He has since progressed to a first-
"I've had a goal of going to at. least rate trout fisherman and fly tyer, and
one new lake every year, and I don't through a lifetime of fishing, Miller
ink I've hit 20 percent the lakes," has come to understand the rewards
think
he of fishing are far greater than simply
Miller prefers "trophy trout" lakes catching fish.
where the Idaho Department of Fish A financial advisor by profession,
and Game regulates fishing to ensure Miller is a founding member of the
the trout have the opportunity to grow local chapter of TroutlTnllmtted, —anc1
to become wall - hangers. remains active in the group. He en-
"I've really been enjoying fishing courages all anglers, as well as hunt -
the trophy lakes," he said. "I think ers, to get involved in clubs and orga-
Fish and Game, especially DonAnder- nizations that benefit wildlife, because
son (a McCall fisheries biologist), has the future rests in the hands of sports
done a wonderful job." men. love of the outdoors also goes
And Miller said his willingness to g
go the extra mile has rewarded him beyond the rod and gun, and he savors
with fishing trips that would stack up the entire outdoor experience.
against any trout fishing in the world. "I probably do a lot less killing
"On a hot day, you can catch than I used to and a lot more observ-
enough fish to tire you out," he said. ing," he said. "Sometimes the best
"The trick is, you've got to be able to Part about fishing is when you aren't
work to get to the fish. The farther in catching anything. You just sit in your
you're willing to hike, the less people float tube and watch the clouds go
you're going to run in to." by .11
But Miller's passion for fishing is He keeps trying new fishing pur-
not dependent on the number of fish suits, traveling anywhere from Ven-
he catches, nor does it end when the ezuela to fish for bonefish, or trying
snow flies. his hand at fly fishing for smallmouth
When winter closes in, he retreats bass on Brownlee Reservoir.
to his den and starts tying flies for the "You reach personal levels of skill,
upcoming season, building dozens of then you keep raising the bar for your -
his tried- and -true favorites, and ex- self' he said. "Who knows, maybe
perimenting with new patterns that someday I'll catch a steelhead on a
might unlock the feeding instinct of a fly•"
wary lunker. He envisions traveling to Alaska
"There is absolutely nothing that is to fish for salmon and char, and pos-
as much fun as catching a fish on a fly sibly venturing to New Zealand for its
you tied by yourself," he said. world- renowned trout fishing.
He will tie 10 to 20 dozen flies over "It's called a lifetime sport, so I
the course of a winter. Most will re- guess I've got the rest of my life to do
stock his fly box, but many he gives to some of this stuff," he said.
. Star Ne W5 5,pt tQqr,
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Star -News Photo by Roger Phillips
Dedicated fly - fisherman Shawn Miller eases a catch into his net recently at Little Payette Lake.
For the
live of
Couple brings
art to family
and community
BY PATTY WHITE
For The Star -News
The home of Joy and Shawn Miller is quieter
these ' days, but the Millers have not lost their
enthusiasm for supporting the community, espe-
cially the arts.
The last of eight children the Millers raised in
their McCall home is now in college, which has
usual Iong lisf6Tscho --o' ctivit es,
theme" at the
Having an empty nest has not led the couple to
abandon their service to the community, how-
ever. They have just helped launch the McCall
Arts & Humanities Council's 1997 Business Fund
Drive with a $1,000 pledge.
As owners of Weller Miller Financial Ser-
vices, the Millers are not wealthy business people.
They simply care deeply that no matter what they
do, they help to make a difference in their com-
They have a passion for the role of the arts in
e lives of families and in the spirit of a commu-
ty. They have made similar, large contributions
the past to the Alpine Playhouse and McCall
Joy recently was honored as Idaho's "Merit
iother," the runner -up award of the coveted
iaho "Mother of the Year." The application
squired Joy to look back and review her role with
:r children. "It was difficult, because I was
uch more aware of all that the kids have taught
ie," she said.
Both Joy and Shawn serve on the board of the
laho Black History Museum, and Shawn is
atewide vice president of Trout Unlimited and
member of the Big Payette Lake Water Quality
ouncil. They both live lives full of that thing
illed "community," and much of their parenting
'as centered around community arts.
"When you are raised as I was in an urban
ptist household, you are a participant," Shawn
id with a full body laugh. The second oldest of
e children, he describes a mother that made sure
o one ever had reservations about joining in."
While attending Iowa's Central College,
awn was featured in a newspaper photo with
simultaneous honors of wide receiver on the
tball team and lead in the college play.
Interestingly, a not too different picture of
it son, Carl, appeared on the cover of a na-
Ir
Joy and Shawn Miller believe in supporting
their community, especially the arts.
tional teacher's magazine a few years ago. Carl
was pictured at half time in his McCall - Donnelly
High School football jersey, playing in the band.
"Where but in McCall can this happen ?" Joy
beams.
The Miller children were definitely partici-
pants, and athletics and music and theater and
dance thrived by example in the family home.
With a 19 -year span between Donita, the oldest,
and Leggette, the youngest, there were nearly
always five or six kids at any one time in various
school performances.
For 10 years, the family, dressed in red suits
made by Joy, were a popular act at the McCall
Winter Carnival Variety Show. Producing this
popular event and a subsequent cabaret was a
Miller family project.
Joy is quick to point out the vari-
ety show was the carnival's most
profitable event in those years.
Last year, Carl Miller, who is
now 23, performed with his musical
group, SAF (Smooth Audio Flow)
at a revived winter carnival variety
show.
The group brought down the
house. Now Carl, along with SAF's
Brian Peck and John Fitzgerald, also
M -D High grads, have a return en-
gagement scheduled for this Satur-
day night at the Alpine Playhouse.
so what is it about the arts t a
makes "family" thrive? Joy, trained
as a dancer, taught all of her chil-
dren to dance. "Dance has been a
great thing in our home," she said,
adding with a smile that things could
get "a little rowdy" around the
kitchen table.
Now their 10 grandchildren will
have the benefit of a dance floor that
has been installed.
With daughter Selma recently
buying herparents play microphones
for Christmas, the tradition contin-
ues.
Joy says they encouraged the arts
not because they knew the children
and the family would benefit, but
"mostly for the love of the arts, for
enjoyment, and for how much fun it
always was."
She and Shawn have proud
memories. Seven of their eight chil-
dren were in band or choir; two
played the piano, sei/eral partici-
pated in plays, and all of them
danced.
Three of the children are now in
the arts professionally. In one way
or another, all were enriched be-
1 ° ?Y uenevert seep this as a young
mother, "Joy said, "but it's justwon-
derful to see it now."
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F i v e - y e a r - o l d M i l e s G e a r h a r d t c a p t u r e s a m o m e n t a t M o n d a y ' s M o t h e r o f t h e Y e a r c e r e m o n y w h l e r s i f t i n g r o n h h i s g r a n d f a -
t h e r S h a w n M i l l e r ' s l a p . G e a r h a r d t ' s g r a n d m o t h e r , J o y W e l l e r M i l l e r , s i f t i n g t o t h e l e f t , w a s h o n o r e d w i t h t h i s y e a r ' s I d a h o
M o t h e r o f t h e Y e a r a w a r d .
F f n i t c o m e s t o r a i s i n g k i d s , J o y
e l l e r M i l l e r i s I d a h o ' s m o t h e r
a l l m o t h e r s .
T h e 5 4 - y e a r - o l d M c C a l l r e s i d e n t w a s
c e l e b r a t e d a s I d a h o ' s 1 9 9 8 M o t h e r o f t h e
Y e a r a t t h e S t a t e h o u s e o n M o n d a y .
M i l l e r h a s e i g h t c h i l d r e n r a n g i n g i n
a g e f r o m 2 1 t o 3 9 . T h r e e a r e M i l l e r ' s
f r o m a p r e v i o u s m a r r i a g e , f o u r a r e
a d o p t e d a n d t h e y o u n g e s t i s f r o m h e r
c u r r e n t m a r r i a g e .
S h e a n d h e r h u s b a n d r u n W e l l e r
M i l l e r F i n a n c i a l S e r v i c e i n M c C a l l .
" T h i s i s j u s t a w o n d e r f u l d a y f o r u s ,
b e c a u s e s h e ' s a p e r s o n w h o ' s t r u l y d e -
s e r v i n g o f t h i s h o n o r , " s a i d S h a w n
M i l l e r , h e r h u s b a n d o f 2 8 y e a r s .
M i l l e r a c c e p t e d t h e h o n o r b y t a l k i n g
a b o u t h e r s t r o n g f a i t h i n G o d a n d h e r j o y
i n w a t c h i n g h e r
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c h i l d r e n ' s c o m m i t -
m e n t t o o n e a n o t h -
e r . " W h e r e t h e r e i s
g r e a t l o v e , t h e r e a r e
a l w a y s m i r a c l e s , "
s h e t o l d h e r c h i l -
d r e n a n d g r a n d c h i l -
d r e n .
M i l l e r , w h o s e
' h u s b a n d i s A f r i c a n -
J o y W e l l e r M i l l e r A m e r i c a n , d e -
s c r i b e d h e r w o r k o n
b e h a l f o f t h e I d a h o B l a c k H i s t o r y M u s e -
u m a n d r e m i n d e d h e r c h i l d r e n h o w f a r
t h e y h a d c o m e t h a n k s t o t h e w o r k o f
m a n y c a r i n g p e o p l e .
" W h e n s o m e o n e a s k s y o u w h o y o u
a r e , a n d w h a t h a v e y o u d o n e , t h a n k t h e
L o r d a n d t h a n k t h e p e r s o n w h o a s k e d
y o u , b e c a u s e i t h a s n ' t a l w a y s b e e n t h a t
w a y , " s h e s a i d .
H e r o l d e s t s o n , J i m G a s s m a n , c r e d i t e d
h i s m o t h e r ' s l o v e f o r h e r a w a r d .
" N o t j u s t l o v e f o r h e r c h i l d r e n , b u t
l o v e f o r o t h e r k i d s , " h e s a i d , n o t i n g t h a t
s h e t o o k i n f o s t e r c h i l d r e n f o r s e v e r a l
y e a r s a n d o p e n e d M c C a l l ' s f i r s t d a y -
c a r e c e n t e r .
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