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Trout Bums at Large is a monthly column appearing in the Yakima Herald-Republic and the Seattle Times. The column is written by Randal Sumner and Mark Littleton. We will be keeping an archive of these articles on this page.
Coyote
by Randal Sumner
06/01/2004
Last week or so the Trout bums decided to go fishing on a Saturday,
not something we do often but the Mothers Day Caddis were too much
to resist, crowds or no crowds. This is a blizzard insect hatch
signaling that we made it another winter, not to miss. The bugs
are big black devils that emerge from shallow riffles and the trout
move from deeper water into the thin water to dine. These can be
really fabulous events, big strong fish living large with little
concern for predators. Oh yes, grasshopper we are predator-maximus,
I always tell the clients I think may have some fishing talent to
think like a coyote. If I were a big fat trout where would I live
to get maximum calories with the minimum output? Like a coyote taking
kitty for dinner off the back porch. So tasty.
We arrived at Dicks on the Yakima a favorite stretch at about 1:30;
its called Dicks after a basalt rock formation that looks a lot
like Richard Nixon’s profile. I can never see it but this
is what they tell me.
We got out of the truck and moved out into the river, the three
of us separating into a hundred yard radius in the middle of a huge
shallow riffle. There were two young guys standing on the bank just
across from me working the edge casting over a pod of rising trout.
They were casting like machines into a tiny spot full of big nasty
slashing rainbows. I just watched and caught fish putting on an
impromptu clinic for there viewing pleasure, or not. I was waiting
for them to leave, they knew I was waiting for them to leave; they
were never leaving these fish to me. There frustration was providing
some real entertainment. After an hour they were watching me and
yelling for advice. My advice was given in low volume over the roar
of the river, maybe they were lip readers, it could happen. This
was the point that they should have stopped casting and began to
revaluate their fishing strategy. What is really going on here?
Why is all this effort falling on deaf fish lips? Who is that old
guy and why is he tormenting us? More frustration, they were close
to cracking. After they finally left and were out of sight, I moved
in slightly upriver of the still rising fish and dropped a gentle
thirty foot puddle cast a foot or two above their snouts .I released
a couple of beautiful trout in ten minutes.
I have been in the same frustrating spot as those young men too
many times to remember, its all part of the sweet misery learning
curve of fly fishing and I’m sure in another twenty years
they’ll be part coyote themselves
More Trout Bum Articles:
01/26/2010: Redfish Round-up by Randal Sumner
11/24/2009: Kentucky Don and English Bob by Randal Sumner
08/25/2009: A word about Bears by R.Sumner
06/30/2009: Polar bear hugging by Randal Sumner
01/27/2009: Christmas letters by Randal Sumner
11/25/2008: Trip to Eden by Randal Sumner
08/07/2008: Mime Time by R. Sumner
06/02/2008: fuel vs fishing by R. Sumner
05/01/2008: Long sleeve Hawiian shirt by R.Sumner
02/07/2008: The Empire by R. Sumner
11/29/2007: Troutbum self-help by R. Sumner
09/04/2007: The Perfect Client by Randal Sumner
07/02/2007: High Anxiety by R.Sumner
03/29/2007: Grasshopper by Randal Sumner
01/25/2007: Chinese food by R. Sumner
11/30/2006: Old Whitey by R.Sumner
09/28/2006: Chief Holland USN retired by R. Sumner
07/10/2006: BBQ by R.Sumner
05/30/2006: Cashmere by R. sumner
03/30/2006: Sterling Choices by Randal Sumner
01/26/2006: Tying with Pablo by Randal Sumner
12/01/2005: Brrr by Mark Littleton
11/24/2005: Thanksgiving 2005 by randal Sumner
09/01/2005: Anchors Away by Mark Littleton
07/01/2005: Some kinda fun by Randal Sumner
05/01/2005: The Base Lake by Randal Sumner
04/01/2005: Humble Pie by Mark Littleton
03/01/2005: Dance monkey dance by randal Sumner
01/01/2005: Where are the Instructions? by Randal Sumner
12/01/2004: Das Boat by Mark Littleton
11/01/2004: What me Worry? by Mark Littlton
10/01/2004: Priorities by Mark Littlton
09/01/2004: Falling In by Mark Littleton
08/01/2004: Ice Fishing by Randal Sumner
07/01/2004: Honey, I flooded the basement by Randal Sumner
07/01/2004: Elvis Lives by Randal Sumner
05/01/2004: Redfish and Capt. Dan by Mark Littleton
04/01/2004: Vested Interest by Randal Sumner
03/01/2004: Are you a Troutbum? by Mark Littleton
12/01/2003: Christmas presents by Mark Littleton
11/01/2003: Oklahoma by Randal Sumner
10/01/2003: Steel heading JuJu by Randal Sumner
09/01/2003: Motor Home by Randal Sumner
08/01/2003: Life is Funny by Mark Littlton
07/01/2003: Deschutes by Mark Littleton
06/01/2003: Class of 2002 by Randal Sumner
05/01/2003: BOAT FISHING by Mark Littlton
04/01/2003: ALASKA, LAND OF THE MIDNIGHTBLUE TARP by Randal Sumner
03/01/2003: MARCH BROWNS by Mark Littleton
02/01/2003: DEEP IN THE HEART OF IDAHO by Randal Sumner
01/01/2003: TOP TEN by Mark Littleton
12/01/2002: SAN MIGUEL by Randal Sumner
11/01/2002: DISNEYLAND by Randal Sumner
10/01/2002: CAMPING by Mark Littleton
09/01/2002: MMMM MAYFLIES by Mark Littleton
08/01/2002: CARNEGIE HALL by Randal Sumner
07/01/2002: CRAWFISH PIE by Randal Sumner
06/01/2002: Sons and Pals by Mark Littleton
03/01/2002: Visitation by Randal Sumner
02/01/2002: Ouch by Mark Littleton
01/01/2002: Death by Randal Sumner
11/01/2001: Leakers by Randal Sumner
09/01/2001: Poser by Randal Sumner
08/01/2001: Snake River Diary by Mark Littleton
08/01/2001: It's Hard by Mark Littleton
07/01/2001: Etiqutte by Randal Sumner
06/01/2001: June by Mark Littleton
05/01/2001: Road Trip to Paradise by Randal Sumner
04/01/2001: What Are They Doing Up There? by Mark Littleton
03/01/2001: Gear by Randal Sumner
02/01/2001: Soft Hackles by Mark Littleton
01/25/2001: Motivation by Randal Sumner
12/28/2000: Winter Fishing by Mark Littleton
11/30/2000: Old Blackie by Randal Sumner
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