Silver Lining

Our date outing turned out spectacularly. We made our way to a favorite fishing spot. The pit stop ~ fishing stop was a little slow. When we began our walk through the water towards the honey hole, it was rather cold and overcast, dark, laden clouds passed over, blocking out the warmth of the sun.

However, it was amazing to step out into the fresh air, walk along the railroad tracks, and cast flies from the riverbank. It was a bit precarious standing on the bank's ice shelf. But the cool fresh air tingled lively in the lungs. After a fly change and moving out of the breeze on my third cast, a sharp tug pulled on the fly rod. The tip bowed slightly towards the waters, and I set my hook! I could see he was a big guy and yelled to Rick it got one, he’s a doozey! He pulled my drag out a bit, as I let him tire out, and Rick came to help with the net. He turned out to be a nice sized mountain whitefish and made my day!

Rick had caught one up upstream from me and had a gentleman’s release at his feet. We were both excited to get out and fish, and our eyelets did not freeze at the end of January! Bonus, we each caught a nice one. I named mine Hank the Tank. We are guessing he was about 2.5 lbs and 20” long!

It was a cold start to the day, but it perked up and turned out wonderfully. In the cold, as I carefully made my way to the honey hole in the partially frozen-over water, I reminded myself that it was nice to get out and get some exercise. The short and sweet of it is find the silver lining in everything, and there will never be any disappointment.

~ Missy