In southern Colorado,
that old rocky mountain state,
beneath God's azure heavens
is a place called Turquoise Lake.

We'd been driving all around,
it was time to take some lunch.
The lake looked right for fishing,
at least that was my hunch.

After chow I got my gear
and I headed for the shore.
I tied on a jitterbug,
who could ask for anything more.

Weedy cover on the left
set off a loud alarm, but
I was casting to the right
just to limber up my arm.

From behind an old man came,
he'd been watching for awhile,
"Surface lures won't work out here,"
he mumbled with a smile.

"You know this is a trout lake,
they don't hit surface lures,
so get yourself a fly rod
and you'll catch some fish for sure."

Now just as luck would have it
you know where the next cast goes,
it's just off of the weed bed,
how that water did explode.

A Mackinaw grabbed my lure
and he started on a run.
I was fishing ultra-light,
it was really lots of fun.

The oldster stood in wonder,
said he never would have thought
that on a rig like I had
an old Mac could be caught.

Finally the trout gave up,
he came in without delay.
The hook came out, he was gone
to fight another day.

jhs...06/26/05

Thanks John, enjoyed reading it. What's a Mackinaw? A species of trout?

John:

A nice tale, well told.

JoeT

Debutant,
Thanks for reading. Yes, it is a trout...sometimes called a lake trout. See photo below.

Joe,
Thanks Joe, glad you liked it.

John

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/26/2005 08:58PM by J.H.SUMMERS.

I enjoyed this John. I like what I extract: deep is more interesting a means despite end results. Nice tale.

K.Q.,

Thank you, I always appreciate your comments.

John

Sounds wonderful, John. Do I detect a bit of Terry's cadence in this piece?

Les

John, sounds like a lovely time...exciting catch!!

You did an excellent job conveying the tussle with the Mackinaw...I chuckled at the image of the oldster's look of wonder; great read.

Gwyd

It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. (Aristotle)

I once't heered tell that some guy, prob'ly from a city an' a college, crossed a coho salmon, with a walleye pike, then mated that with a muskie. Called it a Kowolski, he did. Dumb thing drowned.

And before you get too angry, remember only to fear an organization, or group of people who can't laugh at themselves.

Love this story JH. Don't fish myself. Not since I blew me and Cindi half way across the lake. Dupont still makes the best lures.

Appreciate folks who do. Can't take it with a rifle or shotgun, it's not for me. I like going where fishermen go. I like roaring out into the middle of a lake in a motorboat, shut off the engine and see if we can drift to shore.

I like laying on the bank of a mountain stream, and watch the birds of prey fish for mouses in the meadows.

JH has his own candance. I like it.

Seems like I should be at a livestock sale about now. We are sheding ourselves of about six hundred messican calvies.

Les,
Thanks Les. Some of Terry's cadence? Let's see, no cows, horses, indians, city slickers or bunk houses...nope.

Gwydion,
It was in the fall of the year. The aspens had turned to gold and it was a beautiful day. There may be nicer lakes around...but I haven't seen one yet as nice as Turquoise Lake. See a picture at the link below.

Terry,
Great hearing from you. Kowolski...great joke. I don't get to fish as much as I'd like anymore, but I even have a lure or two without any hooks at all...don't want to be bothered realeasing the fish. I call them "thinking lures" cause that is what I do when I use them. Thanks for reading...good luck selling the calvies.

John

[www.dramainnature.com]

Problem with Dupont lures,,, there ain't much catch and release....

Didja hear that O.J. Simpson moved to Idaho??? Heard it was catch and realease for cutthroats here.

no cows, horses, indians, city slickers or bunk houses

I was referring to the rhythm of the poem, not the subject matter.


Terry, are you spending more time here in the states?


Les

Les,

I know, just messing with you.

John

About three or four days every other week until mid July. Eight of us have formed a cattlesmen's assn. down there, and it is working very well. I'm the salesman, since I'm a US citizen. (and one of two who speak English) They make sure my place is taken care of while I'm gone.

WoW, John, a truly beautiful picture perfect place.

Our Golden Ears Park and Lakes are rather stunning, I shall see if I can find a picture.

Thanks for sharing.

Gwyd

It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. (Aristotle)

Gwydion,

Yes, please do.

John

Hi John, well after much sculking around I was able to find this link:

[www.ehabweb.net] />
And then I came across this link:

[www.britishcolumbia.com] />
If you click "Landscapes, Nature, Recreation" along the top, you'll see some amazing shots of BC's parks.

Gwyd

It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. (Aristotle)

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 06/30/2005 12:20PM by Gwydion.

Gwydion,

Thanks for the links. Jackie and I hope to make it to British Columbia someday. We always hear such good things about it and the photos prove it.

John

Sorry to be such a latecomer John, but my computer's sickly these days. I need to go shopping for a new one.
Enjoyed your poem about the one that got away. I always enjoyed fishing, but more for the relaxation than the catching.
Beautiful scenery.

JP

Same here, John. Enjoyed the story and the picture was beautiful. It reminds me a little bit of Tahoe. Most of my fishing has always been off a river pier or just a neighborhood pond. Fresh water bass fishing is my favorite. It's a long, lazy afternoon with lots of tales of the one that got away. ;[)

Christy

JP,
Sorry to hear about your computer woes. Actually, the poem is a little mis-leading. I landed the fish then let him go. Unless I'm fishing for dinner I usually just "catch and release". I still get the enjoyment and the fish gets to live. Thanks for reading.

Christy,
I've spent many relaxing hours fishing from piers and river banks. Probably one the best ways I know to spend a little time. Thanks.

John

Well, John, should you and Jackie make it out here some day, you'll have to stop by and if we do this right, we could meet up w/Brucefur.

Sincerely!

Gwyd

It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it. (Aristotle)

Gwydion,

Sounds good by me.

John

Me too! I have been reading this John, and agree with everyone. A fine piece in Terry's romping style. I still remember how sad I was when I caught my first fish (in Riske Creek) and how mad when my dad said I had to share it with my sisters who didn't catch a thing! lol.

Two of those mountains in the second link that Gwydion sent you are in my neck of the woods. Mt. Robson is almost right next door (3 hours away), but that picture doesn't really do it justice as it only shows the peak. Something that you can't really see well from the base. I stop by there about 2 times a year.

The other mountain is the one in the Cariboo range.

Beautiful lake John.

Brucefur

Brucefur,

Glad you liked it. The scenery out your way is awesome, I'll try my best to get out there.

John

John, if you ever head out that way, don't miss Jasper, in nearby Alberta, and Victoria island. Some of the prettiest scenery I've ever laid my eyes upon.

Les

Les,

Thanks, I'll keep that in mnd.

John

Les,

I think that you mean Victoria, Vancouver Island, BC.

Jasper is in Alberta, only because they stole our mountains so that they wouldn't be completely flat! lol.

I wouldn't exactly call Jasper nearby though, Mount Robson park that I mentioned earlier is on the BC side of Jasper and is 3 hours at +speed limit driving for me to get to and Jasper is 30 minutes more (don't speed in the parks though because there is LOTS of wildlife that don't understand the concept of roads as anything other than the course of least resistance). Keep in mind that I am 500 miles north of the US border (if you take the #1 to Hope and then the Coqahalla Highway (there is a toll on this road and it is shorter, but it is also straight as an arrow and Booooooring to drive, so be prepared) to Kamloops and then head up to Jasper that way it would likely only take you about 8 hours from the border crossing. Banff Alberta is just as pretty and shorter to get to. You would take the Hope-Princeton Highway (#3 I think) to get there and go up past Golden, BC.

Also, don't forget your passport. The border is actually getting picky about that now. Gone are the days when I could zip across both ways with nothing more than my driver's license.

If you are looking to stay in some of the finest hotels in the world (from the age of Steam) you should check out these (in both Banff and Jasper).

[www.fairmont.com] />
My favourite of all their hotels is Le Château Frontenac, Québec City, PQ. It is absolutely gorgeous. I snuck into it in 1984 when I did my last back east trip.

[www.fairmont.com] />
I believe that you are a history buff John; if so you should google Frontenac as he was somewhat instrumental in shaping North America.

[www2.marianopolis.edu] />
Still love your poem.

Brucefur who is done procrastinating for the day. Done I say! Ciao

Bruce, I did mean Vancouver Island. On my longest trip through B.C. we took the ferry boat from upper Vancouver Island to Prince Rupert and actually stayed in Prince George. This was long before I knew about e-mule. From Prince George we drove to Jaspar, only a day's drive through some beautiful country.


Les

I once heard a Scottish lady call this area I live in, God's country and I have never found any reason to disagree with her. I too have taken that ferry you speak of, three times in fact. The only time I have ever been sea sick was my first trip on it through Hecate Straight by the Queen Charlotte islands. Prince George also has the dubious distinction of having had Terry crash a plane here. lol. JP knows Prince Rupert well by the way. She did survey work there many yarns ago.

And yes, that is a great trip you would have had. In fact you would have passed through the majority of the places I have lived in my life. lol.

If either you, John or others here are in the Prince George region (and as Gwydion inferred I am also in the Vancouver area fairly frequently for business), give me a shout. I would love to have you as guests. Just give me enough notice to clean up first; I am a bachelor after all.

Sincerely,
Brucefur

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