Many anglers can related to the statement “Any time you are on the water it is a good day, regardless of the number or size of your fish”. However, any angler will tell you, it’s great to land a few fish! And then they will also mention there are days that will become one of the top 5 fishing days of a lifetime.
For first time anglers – many are happy when their fly line lands straight, they see a fish take their fly, and they land a fish! We all know how important it is to land a fish to get you hooked.
Now I need to preface my story, I met my anglers, Elle and John, at Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch, as I arrived Elle’s mom told me that Elle had landed a 17 inch rainbow trout on the pond at IRMR, the evening before. I thought to myself, “This may be a tough day to beat last night’s fly fishing experience”.
Recently, I guided Elle and her father, John. For Elle it was her first time fly fishing a river and we were targeting rainbow trout and white fish! So you can imagine it was pretty cool when she landed the first fish she hooked into. Yes a nice mountain white fish. The day was made for her with that one fish.
First fish of the day!
Well, to our surprise in about 15 more casts – Elle hooked and lost one big fish. Elle and I never really got a chance to see what type of fish or how big it was. We continued fishing. And then – we get a huge take and to our surprise it was a jack salmon that had taken her size 12 copper john. With some help, Elle landed the large jack salmon. Yes one of those fish of a lifetime for any trout angler and Elle landed this on day one.
Second fish of the day
Releasing the jack salmon back to the river
We continued to fish – missed a few small trout and to our amazement – another big take. Yes, you’re right! Elle is one angler with good Karma – she hooked and landed a second jack salmon. Awesome!
Father & Daughter sharing the moment of releasing a jack salmon
Now all anglers know this would rank as one of those top 5 fishing days of a lifetime. For now it is Elle’s best fly fishing day ever and in many years it will be one of her top 5 days fly fishing of a lifetime.
As a guide, it was a thrill to be part of this experience with her. It clearly is one of my top 5 days on the water guiding. I just wish this fishing karma was present every day – but we all know “Regardless of the number or size of the fish, any day is good day fishing”.
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