He caught and released a fish, then climbed up the bank to the tracks, and walked slowly downstream, peering intently down into the river from it's thirty foot height. He was oblivious to my presence downstream. He stopped and cupped his hands around his eyes, staring into the water, walked down another twenty feet, and started down the bank to the river. He picked his way upstream ten feet or so, stabilized himself on the rocks, and began casting. He rose but missed a fish, slapped his rod down on the water, and climbed the bank again. The cycle repeated itself. I shook my head in amazement, shedding whatever vestiges of anger I might have for his letting us worry. If anyone earned this day, he did. The amazement was that his fishing vest was back in camp. He had ONE fly on the already rigged rod, on a reasonably light leader. And he had been doing this for hours. The third time up on the tracks, he spotted me, and walked on down. I sat where I was until he reached me, then got up and dusted myself off. He had this big grin on his face. "You found the rod, I see." "Yeah, it was leaning against the tree behind where the tent was. I just forgot it. I was walking back down the tracks and at one point where the tracks were just above the river I was looking down and I realized I could see fish rising along the bank." "How many did you get?" "About four or so, one of them a big hog. I lost two bigger ones, though." "You didn't lose your fly?" "No, it just pulled away. I had to really climb a bush or two to get it back when I snagged up." "Well, we'd better get back, Don will be worried. Aren't you thirsty?" "Well, sort of, but I found an unopened Coke can in a back eddy, and that helped." He giggled at his luck. I shook my head at this kid who nature has so consistently blessed, and we started back down the shimmering tracks. "Well at least you got your rod back," I said, trying hard to remember there was supposed to be a lesson in this for him somewhere. Trump Doyle, McKenzie Flyfishers, May 1989
		<= Back
						Fishtales Start
			Table of Contents					Order/Contact