Some Days

[The Troutdoorsman]

Some days big fish just bite. Took my two sons to the "Outdoor Adventure" at Dry Run Creek. This is a fabulous event put on by the Friends of the Norfork Fish Hatchery http://www.norforkhatcheryfriends.org/ . Lots of great things for the kids to do like archery, bb gun shooting and camp fire smore making. The kids even got to fish in the race way of the hatchery. This is my dream. Fish hitting on a bare hook.

Well we can't get that close to Dry Run without fishing it. I leave my 8 year old to do his own thing and focus on my 5 year. Big brother starts fishing in another channel directly behind us. Next thing I know I hear "Oh mama, Oh mama" coming from behind me. I turn around and he is standing with his rod bent like a horse shoe. After a great fight he landed a 25" brown by walking backwards and beaching him. That wasn't the only big fish. In 1 hour between my 5 year old and 8 year old, 9 fish were caught including a Cutthroat, a Brown and a Rainbow. The biggest Rainbow was 23", the Cutthroat 18" and the Brown was 25".

After all that fun it was off to work. Got a late call to take a hard core streamer addict for a guide trip on the North Fork. We were able to pencil it in for an evening half day after Dry Run. Hit river river at 4 with plans to fish til dark. About 1/2 way through the trip. About 40 yards away from 4 other fly fishers (which is always nice). My fisherman says "I've got a toad on." About that time the water boils and a big Rainbow erupts. Rainbows on the North Fork don't get all that big, but they are super strong and healthy.. A fish over 18 inch's is a trophy and a 15" fish fights like a 25"er. I knew if we got this big boy to the boat it would easily rank on my top ten. We did and it did. On 15 lb test the fight was over almost too fast for such a giant. My fisherman was a veteran steelhead angler and used to bagging trophies. The experience helped him land the big fish fast and fresh. Still this was a memorable fish for both of us. A fitting end to a day of big fish.

[Justin Spencer]

I think the fishermen who saw you catch that big rainbow were staying here, they mentioned something about a big rainbow.

[The Troutdoorsman]

Come to think of it, they were in yellow canoes. They talked to us. 2 guys 2 gals, all cool. Don't think they would have caught that fish. They were nymphing and it was a meat eater.

[Nighthawk]

I'm very proud of the way you are raising my grandsons, son. Dad