Our trip was set up on short notice. We knew we were going in two weeks.Two long weeks that seemed to drag on and on. You see, my first time ona great lake was with my father about 15 years ago. Still a lastingmemory of that 8lb brown I brought in hot while my left leg was in a full cast. That memory has lasted with me. I knew I’d get back tomy roots, after high school sports and college baseball. But, this timeI’d do it differently. No more spin gear. I was already hooked on fliesand amazed at how many trout I caught those first two years. A couplefalls ago, I met a fellow on a local river who just happened to jog mymemory of that long ago trip. He informed me of huge fish and thealmighty steel. I was sold with just that one conversation. For two years I kept telling my friends, “I’m going fly fishing in NY the fall.” They all laughed for two straight seasons. Well, this year was different. I crossed paths with friends of old andmet friends of new. I ended up talking with a guy that lives in thegreat lakes region and he was more than happy to make some ‘new’ memories for me tolast a lifetime. I can’t thank him enough for what has been the bestfishing trip I have ever been on. I brought one of my fishing buddieswith me and we struck gold. This big brown was caught early am and just as it was going to be nettedin 6 inches of water, my fly line to leader connection broke. Iwas under the impression it was a King Salmon. Our buddy wasn’t about to tellme what I really lost, in order to keep my spirits up. He knew that itwas a big Brown Trout. Thirty minutes later, I thought I was tangled withanother line on bottom. But, by the one in a million chance, I hadhooked into my own indicator that I lost when the Big Brown got away. I had him hooked again! I was able to land this beauty of 19 lbs., 32″ and a 21″ girth.My buddy so clearly stated, “Thank God for second chances!” Ido. Here is the best part! Day one wasn’t even close to being over, we hit a few other tribs and we all landed some fish. I got the Great Lakes Slam on Saturday. Ilanding a few King Salmon, Brown Trout and Steelhead. Sunday was slower, but, we searched a bit more and when we found fish,it was tough to get them to take our flies. Gin clear water equals small tippetand less ‘landing.’ These were large and in charge steelhead. Mostly, in the 8-10 pound class or better. The second good rain had fallen only a weekbefore, so the fish were holding in big schools. Two fish here, onethere, six here and that type of thing. On day three my buddy and I were on our own till late afternoon. We startedthe day off like Saturday. A few kings, none were very fresh, and acouple browns. We had lunch, met up with our buddy by 3:30 and that’swhen I rounded out the trip with a Lake Trout and a Brown Trout. The fly fishing was amazing. The catching was pretty darn good too. And someof the waters I set foot in, were some of the most beautiful rivers I’veseen that were not in a magazine. I’m already planning my next trip!
Great story, nice to see someone from MFF
great read – i loved the fact that you got a “second chance” on that fish – i would imagine, it will be a story that you will tell for the rest of your life.. i know i would.
ps – it is so funny to see the absolute pure unmanfufactured smiles that the great lakes trout bring to fly fisherman. in other words – most of us – who are not from the great lakes regions – never have a chance to fly fish to fish of that caliber. I mean common really – what is the likelihood of catching a 19 pound brown trout in any other region of the country or the world for that matter. i am sure they are around – but how many have you caught? my point being that we spend our fly fishing lives fishing to the typical river trout in maine, ma, california, nh, vermont, utah, colorado, wyoming — whatever. of course, there are big fish and every once and awhile we or someone we know gets a nice 22 or 24 inch trout — but lets get serious. a 32 inch brown trout of 19 pounds is huge! and to think that there are loads of trout/steelhead of that caliber and even bigger to be had and the chances of catching a “fish of a lifetime” are very good. and, you don’t have to wait for the salmon fly hatch or something crazy like that. you can basically fish for them 8 months out of the year. that is why i love the great lakes regions and i would argue that the fishing is some of the best in the world. well – of course i would argue that – because in order to produce and sustain fish of that caliber you need pretty big freaking lakes – – and, if i am not mistaken, i think the great lakes ARE the biggest bodies of fresh water in the world. so, its no wonder that they produce some of the biggest trout and biggest trout poplulations.
with all that said —- i can surely relate to that smile on your face – because if it were not there, you should hang up the fly rod. i know, that i love fly fishing for trout and when i go to the great lakes regions – i am like a kid at disney world. and, when i catch the trout of the great lakes – the smile that those fish produce on my face is absolutely truthful. i am in fly fishing heaven. and as i see all the recent posts from fly fisherman who return from “disney world” they all seem to have a similar unmanufactured trout smile. it is just obvious that those fish are, for many people and myself included, the best trout that they might possibly ever catch. And, that is what i love about it. i know for certain, that the trout i chase in the great lakes regions are some of the best trout that i will ever have the opportunity to catch….and for that – GOD BLESS THE SALMON RIVER, ALL THE TRIBS AND ALL THE GREAT LAKES!
ps –
that’s not to say that i wouldn’t be as equally happy and in “fly fishing heaven” in…
chile, new zeland, iceland, alaska, wyoming, montana, maine, ……. anytime i am trout fishing i am in trout heaven — i love trout – don’t know why – don’t really want to figure out why – just love ’em. big trout, small trout, brook trout, rainbow trout, brown trout, sea run trout, lake trout – if i never fished for or never caught another fish ever in my lifetime other than trout/salmon it wouldn’t really bother me all that much. don’t get me wrong — really like salt water fly fishing and all of the places and types of sport fish that i can chase with the fly rod – but i really love trout.
Great strory. Very impressive fish. The fish gods were on your side that morning.