Saturday, March 18, 2017

Piute Log...Catch and Release 1996

16 Jul (Tue)    Long patrol afoot today: walked over the hill through Ranger’s Notch (third time this year so far!) and down to Harriet Lake. Visited all camps—only one, unoccupied, and I left those folks a “ranger note” about leaving trash in their firepit. Saw no humans today. Continued to Helen and walked ¾ of the shore. Took out a couple firepits and some trash. ◦◦◦◦◦ In a small inlet there: while stepping across it I saw fish thrash and hide under its overhanging banks. I was reminded of a friend who told of catching trout by hand, feeling under the overhangs. I’d been skeptical at the time. So I tried it here and by golly, it works! I felt under there and made contact with a little one that dashed off in a cloud of detritus. Felt some more and got my hand all the way around an 8” rainbow. For some reason, when you make contact, they go docile. (I believe my friend said they were sleeping.) I slowly herded this trout out into open water with my hand lightly cupped around it and the thing dog-paddled, letting me turn it on its side before finally thrashing away. Pretty thrilling to handle a live fish—something new and grand every livin’ day! And, I do believe I could catch my supper this way if the need was there….



©2017 by Tim Forsell         9 Jan 2017

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