From an early age I liked fish stories. I like telling them and listening to them. I remember my grandpa telling us the same fishing stories over and over while we drove to the “ole Berry Patch” at 5 am. To me these stories and the countless others told by friends and family make up a personal memory book that I store close to my heart. Its in a fishing story that a child creates dreams for the future, learns lessons from the past, and legends are made.  Over the past few months I have had many great stories written, but one sticks out more than all the rest.  It all started the day after Thanksgiving, while most were taking advantage of the Black Friday deals, I fled to the mountains for a little R&R.

I had three locations in mind, but as I loaded the drift boat I decided I had some over due revenge on a favorite stillwater. The last time I was there, I got worked to say the least. It was one of those days that is measured by the time spent with family rather than catching success.  The brisk morning greeted me with the company of a few fellow fishermen. As I made my way around the lake I was surprised to see nothing happening. It was as if the lake had been cleaned out and all the fish were gone. Throughout the morning I had a few hook-ups and quick releases stripping a dark bugger and small scud, but no one else on the lake had gotten anything…I was starting to think I chose the wrong location. As I hung out with a few new friends swapping stories and strategies, they asked if I wanted to get out of this crap of a lake and go somewhere that always produces.  I thought about it for a second and really probably should have gone, but for some reason I couldn’t back down to the challenge…I told them I wanted to stalk the shoreline before I threw in the towel. Having a boat I had forgotten how much fun stalking cruising trout is. There is something about sighting a fish and then doing everything right to provoke that fish to eat. As I started my shore stalk I lengthened my leader to about 12 ft and added lighter tippet not to spook the shallow fish.  After I sized down on flies I was ready to go.  I found a nice brushy shoreline and on the first cast I had a nice tiger follow my flies right to the shore. I quickly recast to the same area and this time slowly twitched back. After a short pause and a quick twitch…Wham! My line flew across the water. I was hooked up with the same tiger. (Not Tiger Woods) It fought great and as I release the big healthy fish, I couldn’t help look around to see if my new buddies were still around. But I was alone and as happy as could be. tigAs the day progressed I narrowed down a few spots that held a constant flow for cruising trout. As I approached one area I looked back along the shoreline that I had pasted and noticed below me was a nice Cutthroat that was sitting under a brush in less than a foot of water. I got into position let out some line and with a 20 ft cast my flies landed feet to the right of the fish. I quickly gave it a strip and noticed the fish dart out form under the tree. Suck! I thought I spooked it. But it stopped at my flies, mouth opened, I set the hook. Fish On! I couldn’t believe it, it was as picture perfect as you get. CuttyThe rest of the day was full of sight fishing for over sized trout on small scuds and midges. The key was to get to higher ground to be able to spot the fish and put the flies in front of them and see when they take. Cause it is pretty fun watching a 26inch tiger mouth a #22 midge multiple times, before finally hooking the monster on the edge of it big mouth. Plus the tiny Midge hatch didn’t hurt any. It was one of those legendary days that stories are formed.  I like fish stories…