I remember a time when birthdays use to be fun and exciting looking forward to the big day with plenty of cake and presents to open. You got to have a party with all of your friends running around without a care in the world. I’ve relived the excitement all over this summer while attending several birthday parties with my 4 year old daughter Kelsey.
We’re actually planning for her big day now and I can’t believe she will be turning 5. Time sure does fly by when you’re having fun. With each passing year, I realize I’m getting old. Birthdays aren’t as exciting as they once were as you’re reminded that you’re gaining another year on your special day.
So instead of dwelling on the negative I had one wish for my birthday this year. When Tara asked me what I wanted for my birthday I told her “a big brown trout”. The day couldn’t be more perfect weather wise with temperatures in the mid 60’s and no humidity. Those are perfect conditions for me as I’m not a fan of the heat and humidity.
We arrived at the river just as the fog was lifting. There were blue skies above us with a few white puffy clouds providing a little overcast. It had rained the day before which is exactly what I hoped it would do as the water was off color. This is what you want when you’re after a big brown. It was starting to drop and trying to clear and we contemplated on whether or not to take the hike in.
It’s a long walk and once the water clears up the big browns go back in hiding and become harder to catch. When the water is up and off color it disorients the baitfish and the big browns go on a feeding frenzy. That’s what I love about streamer fishing as you’ll be ripping your baitfish imitation in and all of a sudden have it crushed by a big brown. A lot of times they’ll miss but at least you know they’re there.
Once the water clears up, the light switch is flipped and the streamer bite is over. “All I want is one nice brown for my birthday so let’s go” I said to Tara as I made the decision. I like to walk down and then fish my way back up the river when I’m streamer fishing. Without wasting anymore time we started on our 3 mile adventure.
About half way down I noticed the river was losing color and starting to clear up fast. “I don’t know how this is going to go” I said to Tara as we continued walking. I started to second guess myself again when we found a patch of stinging nettles and Tara got stuck in the briers. The trail was all grown up and looked like a jungle in places.
There were cobwebs everywhere and I took several to the face which is always an instant slap and itch reaction. I had one hole in mind and was determined to make it there although the overgrown spider laden trail was making it rough. We hadn’t been down that far since the big flood and there were sections of the trail washed out as well as some changes to the river which kept it interesting.
I’m a firm believer in hard work paying off which helped me push through the brush and finally make it to where I wanted to start fishing. We were both scratched up and itching all over by then, but we made it. After a short break I grabbed my rod as Tara rigged hers up. We had looked the hole over and I pointed out 2 spots where I thought there would be a fish. Since it was my birthday Tara let me throw the first cast for once. She always gets to throw the first cast and fish the best spot, or at least that’s my excuse when she out fishes me. I started at the back of the hole and threw a few casts before working my way up to the one spot I eyeballed earlier with an undercut rock in the middle of the hole.
I made sure I was in good position before casting because I wanted that first cast to count. I threw to the far side and let my streamer sink for a second before starting my retrieve. I stripped my line once, and then again and here he came like a shark out from that undercut rock. In a split second all I could see was this huge brown coming right for my streamer and then he rolled and the fight was on.
Tara was still rigging her rod up when she heard me yell “I got him!” She looked and saw my fly rod doubled over and asked “Do you have a fish on?” “Yes it’s the big brown I came for” I exclaimed. She couldn’t believe I wasted no time and caught it so fast.
After a few tense seconds, that felt like minutes, I worked the beast towards the bank and Tara slid the net under it. It barley fit in the net it was so big. I was shaking by then and thanking the good lord above for granting my wish. The beautiful hook jaw brown had a butter yellow belly and measured right at 20 inches. Tara took my birthday picture with the big brown and then I thanked him for making my day as I watched him swim back to the depths.
I didn’t care what happened after that. I managed to catch another small brown and rolled several more. Tara saw a few as well but the water cleared up and the fish were chasing the streamer but turning away at the last minute
I couldn’t have asked for a better birthday and the 7 mile round trip was well worth it for that one big brown. I’m still smiling and can see that brown trout inhaling my streamer. It will be one I won’t ever forget.
