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submerged rocks. Quartzite, beside eventually, after the newness wore off,
being one of the hardest rocks on the would I. So I snipped the hook from his
planet, has an aggravating tendency to lip and held him for a minute, facing
form knife-sharp edges; it will cut a upstream. Slowly he started to move
leader like soft cheese. again and then, in a flash, he was gone.
The fish turned left, the tip of my LL I walked back through the woods to
flipping with the move. I adjusted and my truck and put up my gear, pouring
immediately saw him disappear beneath the water out of my waders and feeling
a ledge. I had to get him out of there or truly cold for the first time. The heater
the line would be cut or entangled. I warmed and I started down the river
tried to move toward him and downstream, road, headed for home. It was 6:30 and
but the trough got in my way. Before I the sun was gone, only the last rays of
could stop, I was sliding down an angled light still keeping the world alight.
rock face. Water was coming in over my I was thinking about the fish and
waders. I shuddered at the rush of cold thinking how cold I was and cursing
water and knew it was baptism time. myself for not bringing my wading staff
Then, miraculously, my right foot felt a when I saw, out the window, standing in
crease and I stepped up, back to waist- the river, two teenaged boys fishing with
deep water. spinning rods, clad in T-shirts and wet-
My foundering had somehow been to-the-crotch blue jeans, standing in
transmitted to the fish that then turned 47˚ water. And I suddenly laughed out
back, away from his hole and into the loud, looking at these boys, who
channel where I had found him. He bore reminded me of me 35 years earlier, and
upstream, pulling hard. For the first who shamed me for thinking I was cold.
time in 35 years fishing for trout in the Through the laughter, I heard a small
Southeast, I actually had to use the drag voice in my head saying: Why are you
on my reel. Palming would not work. unhappy? Look around you! Look at your
Eventually I got him turned and worked family! Look at your place! Look at your
him towards me slowly, keeping him life! You say you are unhappy and want to
turned sideways to the current. I stepped change your life? Be happy where you are!
back towards shore, back on a gravel And I was filled with that feeling that
bottom with the water mid-calf deep. starts somewhere deep in your soul and
The fish ran and retreated but, with grows in an instant to where you feel
The Missouri River is Montana’s finest
destination for fly fishing. We offer
each run, the spurts were shorter. I your hair stand up and your skin tingle
excellent and affordable lodging,
could see him now: the biggest trout I’d and you know that God is talking to you.
dining, tackle, and guided river trips. caught outside Alaska. He was too big The CD played Allison Krause and
for the small net I carried— a good four Union Station. Ms. Krause was singing,
Arnie Gidlow
inches longer than the length of my “You’re the Lucky One.”
3103 Old U. S. Highway 91
forearm from elbow to fingertips, maybe —Doug Gilmore
Cascade, Montana 59715 22 inches long with a gut that looked
Telephone: 406-468-9385
like an NFL lineman. Beautiful! With the
S OUTH C AROLINA
deepest golden belly—that was the flash I’d
E-mail
mobows@mcn.net seen when he’d been dining in his restau-
Big Tarpon on the Move and Mint Juleps
Web site: www.
missouririverside.com
rant, before he ordered from my menu.
For a few seconds, as I brought him to
SUPER SHOP
hand, the thought struck me that I
T
he summertime hum of crickets
and tree frogs can be heard
buzzing incessantly from my
should get him mounted. I had no camera
“In Business to Fool the Missouri’s Wild Trout”
front porch in Charleston. Although
Missouri River Trout Shop
with me and no one would believe the
beautiful in a peculiarly southern way,
TheTroutshop.com
story when I told it. Besides, a fish like
these days are also hot and endless.
this is not likely to be found everyday,
Luckily, an occasional afternoon breeze
not in the South. But I remembered,
kicks up. It comes from the southwest.
really I did remember—it’s funny what
When the hazy ball of orange goes
things go through your mind and how
down, it seems to stands still momentarily;
many things can go through your mind
wind chimes chatter praise for the blessing
in just a few seconds—why I had come
of sunset and the cool of night.
to the HI: I was unhappy and looking to
With fishing conditions such as these,
find happiness. That brownie deserved
the bite should be slow and stagnant—
110 Bridge Street
happiness, too, whatever happiness is to
Craig, Montana 59648
right? Not necessarily. From June on,
Toll Free: 800-337-8528
a fish. I certainly knew that he wouldn’t
local barrier-island waters hold a range
find happiness hanging on my wall, nor,
You Can Catch That Fish
of species as interestingly varied as the
92 F ISH& F LY
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