My wife, myself, my son Tyler and daughter Kayla arrived at East Lake on Friday the 18th
of July for a 5 day family camping and fishing adventure. It was too late on Friday to start fishing, so it would have to
wait until the morning. My wife’s parents arrived a short time later.
Saturday 19 July
4 A.M. came pretty early and I managed to convince my father-in-law,
Clarence, that it was the right thing to do. I planned to start out on leadcore while Clarence would be on the downrigger.
I set mine out with a light drag and the clicker on so I could get his out in the dark and not have to watch mine. I just
got his set and I could hear the clicker on my reel buzzing away. I looked over and my line was peeling off the reel and the
rod was bent over nicely. I set the hook and after a few short runs, we netted the first fish of the trip and my best yet!
It was a gorgeous 24 inch 5.5 lb’er. What a great feeling it was to have that fish in the boat on the first pass. We released him after a few pics, and then
got back to business. We had a few more small bumps and Clarence caught one dink off the DR. The morning was slow, but we
still managed a great fish. Nobody wanted to join me in the evening so I went out by myself. Nothing spectacular, I caught
2 dinks on the leadcore and missed 1 other.
Sunday 20 July
I convinced Clarence to get out one more time with me since he would be leaving later in the day. Another
slow morning was in store. Clarence got 2 dinks off the DR and that was it. Nada for me!! He usually is the lucky charm and
has always managed to get at least 1 quality fish whenever I take him out. But unfortunately, that was not to be this time.
Later that evening Tyler decided that it was time to hit the
water. He had brought his friend Zach along also. Zach was designated as the “new guy” and he got dibbs on the
first rod that went down. It wasn’t long and his rod popped out of the DR and he was fast into his first Brown trout
ever, an 18 inch 2 lb beauty! Neither of the boys could stop talking about how pretty the fish were. Zach wasn’t done
yet, 30 minutes later his rod released from the DR and he has now one-upped himself with a 20 inch 3 lb Brownie. He was one
happy kid.
Monday 21 July
The morning didn’t amount to much more than a scenic, early morning boat ride. We did manage 3 dinks
off the DR’s, but nothing of any size. Zach scored again that night with another 18 inch 3 lb’er.
Tuesday 22 July
I was starting to second-guess a few of the presentations we were making and the locations they were being
offered since we seemed to be getting mostly smaller fish. I changed a couple of lure colors along with the depth and back
to work they went. We were nearing the end of our first run with nothing happening yet, so we reeled up to make the same pass
again. I got both DR’s set then let out the leadcore rod. As soon as I set it down my rod dipped lightly in the DR,
I grabbed it a set the hook. At first it was just dead weight like a lot of the dinks that become hooked sideways and seem
bigger than they really are. I got a few good headshakes and I then realized that I was into a good fish. Zach and Tyler cleared
the other two rods while I worked this fish in. He never made any runs; I just had to pump him in the whole way. We first
saw him at about 20 feet out and guessed he would be 6 or 7 lbs, but it was hard to tell from that distance. Tyler held the net steady as I slid the fish into the net. He immediately got a lot bigger
and stronger. He thrashed so hard that he nearly flipped himself out of the net. We got him in and I just stood there in awe!!
The boys went to work getting him free of the net. None of us could believe how big he was – What a monster!!!! Tyler grabbed the camera and took some awesome photos. We taped and
weighed him prior to the release. He was a 29 inch 9 lbs 1 oz hook jaw, truly the fish of a lifetime. I eased him back into the water and worked him for a bit while Tyler snapped a few more pics. Once I was sure he was ready, I let go and he eased back into
the depths from which he came. Shortly after that, Tyler capped
off the morning with 18 inch 2 lb’er.
It was going to be tough to beat a morning like the one we had, but we were willing to give it a try. This
was to be Tyler’s night. On our first pass Tyler’s rod slammed down and out of the DR. He grabbed it and
the fight was on! After a couple more solid runs and headshaking, Tyler’s
biggest brown to date slid into the net. A 22 ½ inch 5 lb fattie!! He couldn’t have been more pleased. He and I both got our biggest browns on the same day! About a ½ hour later he finished
off the night with an 18 inch 3 lb’er.
Wednesday 23 July
This was to be our last morning before returning back to reality. We were passing the spot where I got my
big one and my LC rod pulled back. Attached to the other end was a 21 inch 3 lb’er. Tyler
picked up a dink off the DR a few minutes later. Zach is still patiently waiting and we’re really trying hard to get
him a 5 lb’er. Pretty soon his rod dips in the DR and he brings in a 21 incher and his 3rd 3 lb’er.
Time is getting short, so I stretch it a little and agree to one last pass. We pulled up for a quick weed check and back down
they go. As soon as Zach’s rod gets loaded in the DR it starts bouncing, I’m not even out yet!! It seemed to be
a heavier fish this time. We cleared the remaining gear while Zach went to work. The fish surfaced quickly and we could tell
immediately that it was hooked in the mouth and the tail at the same time. Not a big deal, unless an Osprey decides he wants
it! He was still a long way out and the bird was very close to taking him and my lure. He swooped down twice but backed off
inches from the fish each time. I turned the boat towards the fish while Zach is reeling frantically. I DID NOT want to hook
an Osprey! As the boat neared the fish fortunately, the bird spooked and went about his business elsewhere. We netted the
fish and Zach had his fourth 3 lb’er. Not bad for a kid on his 1st Brown Trout trip and an exciting finale
to an otherwise incredible fishing, camping and family getaway.
See ya on the water,
Mike
