Contributed photo This photo reminds me of a quote from Red Smith, “A fish story with actual proof is a rare thing indeed.” (Click for larger image)

Thar she blows

Oh, the shame of it. The Complete Tangler, widely read fishing columnist, editor of a newsletter for two Trout Unlimited chapters, the supposedly “expert” fly fisherman has had to suffer the humiliation of admitting, when pressed, that his wife had caught a trout larger than any he had ever landed. Way back in 1953, Barbara Ann landed an 18 and one quarter inch brown trout from the Salmon River, below the town of Malone, New York. Since that day, I have hooked a number of trout that would have restored my honor. Unfortunately, I gave each and every one of them what is euphemistically known as a “long line release.”

However, on June ninth at 8:30 p.m. the Red Gods finally smiled upon me. I spied what appeared to be a good fish, rising just off the mouth of a Delaware River tributary. This fish was feeding in an enthusiastic manner. It appeared to be a perfect situation for a fly fisher. My first two casts failed to place the fly exactly in the trout’s feeding lane. The third try seemed to place the fly correctly. As it drifted over the spot where the trout had been rising, a broad back and dorsal fin split the surface of the water. The little fly disappeared. I struck gently and the John Bradford bamboo rod set the hook. The surprised fish thrashed at the surface. Then it ran for deeper water. The first few moments passed like two boxers sparring, feeling one another out. The fish made a series of strong pulls, each time taking out a little line. After each pull I would regain a little line. Finally the fish decided it had toyed with me long enough. Away it went at warp speed headed downstream, in a run that seemed would never end. Zip, out went all of the fly line through the guides. Yards of backing followed the fly line. I grimly followed Ed Van Puts mantra, “Let ‘im go, he’ll come back.” The fish eventually stopped. It quite docilely allowed me to bring it back upstream. When all the backing was retrieved, I ceased playing him from the reel and stripped the fly line in by hand. When the fish made a sudden, lunging short run, or had a head shaking fit of fury, I was able to just let the line slide through my fingers. Thereby giving the fish no resistance to pull against that might break the .006 on an inch tippet. As I began to work the fish in close to shore I called out to my fishing buddy, Don Hamilton, “Can you see him?”

Don Replied, “Yeah, he’s at least 15 inches.”

Only 15 inches? Nuts, for a fish to fight this long and hard, I must have him foul hooked. As I brought him into very thin water, along the shore, I was able to get a glimpse of the fish. Yikes! This fish was as broad as a two by four and as long as my leg. Well, almost. I dropped to both knees, and gently lifted the weary fish from the water. Then I laid his length alongside my fly rod. With the tail at the rod butt the fish’s nose went exactly to the second decorative wrap up from the rod handle. Don Hamilton then took a quick picture of this beautiful rainbow trout. I slipped the debarbed hook from his mouth and released him to the water. He sidled off towards deeper water and disappeared under the surface glare. I then took out my ruler and measured from the butt up to the second decorative wrap. Exactly 19 and one half inches. At long last I had hooked and landed my Moby Dick. Naturally, I could not wait to get home and tease Barbara Ann about my landing a bigger trout.

Don warned me not to, “crow like a cock pheasant on a stone wall. You know what the predators do to those incautious birds. When Barb gets on the river, you might be back in second place faster than the Democrats took over the Senate.” Ouch, leave it to my liberal minded buddy to sting me with a remark like that.

John Bradford, the rod building sage of Fort Worth, Texas, surely produces one of the finest bamboo fly rods made today. They are not only a pleasure to cast but are also perfect for playing strong fish. Even the Tangler can enjoy an occasional success when using this fly rod.

May I remind you that you can’t catch ‘em if your hook is not on or in the water. Go fishing today.

The next meeting of the Upper Delaware Chapter of Trout Unlimited will be held Saturday, June 30 at 7:30 p.m.. at McFadden’s Fly Shop on Route 97 in Hankins, NY. All meetings are open to the public. Bring a friend. For further information call 570/224-6172.