Thanksgiving Bounty

Dad reeling in one of the first fish of the day.  I've got to get the Old Man used to a flyrod again!

My parents and brother Connor came up from Utah to spend Thanksgiving with us.  After looking at the weekend schedule, we decided that Thursday, Thanksgiving Day, would be Dad and my day for fishing.  We loaded up the kayak and I broke out my Dad's ancient caddis doughnut float tube.  We found out over night that the float tube has a slow leak, but I figured I could get two hours of fishing in before we needed to top it off.  Plus, the remedy was easy: we brought a bike pump in the kayak!


The result: Dad with a nice Lake Lenice rainbow.

Thursday morning came cold, foggy, and icy.  We were stuck behind cars going 25 mph under the speed limit with temperatures in the mid twenties.  What were we going fishing for!?  Amazingly, about three miles before reaching the lake, the fog cleared, and we were treated to a clear, beautiful day (albeit cold!)  It was time to fish.


Me with probably the big fish of the day - we caught a handful this size!

The plan for the day as simple:  Dad was going to fish chironomids out of the kayak, and I was going to strip leeches from the float tube.  Things started off well, with Dad catching a rainbow before I even got to the spot!  The action stayed steady for the next five hours, although we never got into the numbers that I had two weeks before.  The size of the fish was better, however, and as I mentioned before, for trout, these fish fight!  At the end of the day, we had landed over 25 trout, with four it the 18-19 inch range - success!

Dad doesn't horse them.

As we drove back through the fog I started telling Dad about all the other places I wanted to explore and ideas that I had.  Dad just nodded - right off to sleep!  I really enjoy fishing with Dad.  We've been fishing together since I was four years old.  These days I have to pull his leg to get him out with me, but we inevitably have a great time, and he is always glad I dragged him along.  This Thanksgiving I reflected on all the great times we have had together over the years, and I pray that we many more adventures together in the years to come!

Lake Lenice, I'll see you again in March!