Meanwhile back at the Yurt…

Having been humbled by “Hank’s” famous trout, it was time for a small alter of surroundings.

My small girl, and kids in general, do not seem to comprehend catch and release. Granted, I truly hadn’t caught something to release,(other than that 7.. err.. “FIFTEEN INCHER”) it was still hard to return to the yurt and explain my lack of fishing good results. She would greet me with her big “daddy can do no wrong” eyes, and expect me to inform her of the “whopper” that acquired absent.Particularly because she is utilized to fishing good results, because most of her fish are caught in Grandpa’s Pond, where it is basically a “reside nicely” prepared to pull out the catch of the day on a moments discover. So, when daddy comes house with no fish or no fish tale, you can see the “daddy just dropped a peg” look on her encounter. BUT-kids becoming kids, she is prepared to go on to the subsequent factor, and that meant a bike trip via the state park to the old Harriman Ranch.

We rode the mile or so to the old historical buildings that sit on the grounds of the state park. The ranch was “one” of the summer time homes of E.H. Harriman, of Union Pacific Railroad fame,and is operated as a wildlife sanctuary now.

The bike trip goes along the Henry’s Fork and while my daughter was chattering absent whle pedaling along, I stored glancing to see if any fish had been increasing.

Old habits are hard to break.

We acquired off our bikes and started to explore the buildings. Sadly, this becoming a weekday, they did not have many of the buildings open so we could not go inside. One of the groundskeepers saw us peering via the windows of the buildings and wandered over on his riding lawn mower. He shut off the engine and gave us the rundown on the buildings and told us a small background on the ranch. He talked about that if we had been still there on Friday, they would be opening the buildings and performing some tours.

Now, becoming a groundskeeper in a state park in Last Chance Idaho must not be one of the most high pressured jobs one can be employed in–simply because “Bob”–was a chatty fellow. You may be questioning how I realized his title was Bob?–Well, I of course study it on his title badge!

A.J. Klott–personal eye!!!

Anyway, “Bob”, was filled with concerns. Where had been we from? How lengthy had been we staying? What had been my views on existentialism?

O.K.– the last one he did not inquire–but if he did- I wouldn’t have been surprised,simply because a guy can do a lot of pondering on the back of a riding mower.

But I digress as soon as much more.

So, the conversation eventually turned to fishing the Henry’s Fork. I of course asked how the fishing was on the ranch right here, and “Bob” proceeded to inform me that he did most of his fishing above the reservoir in the “something goes-six fish restrict section”.

He then did something that you would expect from a guy on the back of a riding mower in Last Chance Idaho. He offered up his “Key FISHING HOLE”.

Maybe it was the look of undernourishment my daughter had, or maybe he just believed I was a “pleasant sort”– but nevertheless– “Bob” was prepared to unlock the key to Henry’s Fork.

He told me he did not usually do this, but he just believed that I looked like a guy that would enjoy his “Key Spot”. AND if you believe I am going to breach “Bobs” trust by telling you where this spot is, nicely you are wrong!! What I will inform you is “Bob” went to fantastic lengths to hand draw me a individual map–type of like a Henry’s Fork treasure map– correct on my brochure to the ranch grounds. He also gave me comprehensive directions–like: “turn left at the Phillips 66, generate down to @#%$^* street, make a correct and go Precisely three.three miles, make an additional correct, generate down as far as you can go, hike on down to the river, walk downstream to the Large ROCK, toss your worm or lure or fly behind that rock and I will guarantee you will catch a fish!!”

A guarantee!

I did not even get that from any of the fly retailers!!

“Bob” was pretty sure of himself, and I looked his map over carefully and contemplated eating the brochure, just to make sure that only “Bob” and I would be the two people in the decrease 48 that held the whereabouts of the “Key Spot”. I asked if “Bob” needed a blood oath or if he had noticed any of Ashcroft’s males in the region– simply because I did not even want the authorities to know about this spot. None of this appeared to worry “Bob” and I do not truly like the taste of twenty# bond–so I caught the brochure in my back pocket, and told “Bob” I would attempt the secret spot that evening and carry him a complete report by weeks finish.I also told him not to worry about “divulgeing” the whereabouts of the “Key Spot”, simply because this was my initial time to fish the Henry’s Fork, and I wasn’t about to go back and “squeal like a canary” back in Southern Oregon.

Fortunately, my daughter was busy chasing butterflies while all this was going on, or I would have had to deliver her to one of those “brainwashing” locations so she would have no recollection of the “Key Spot”.

“Bob” also told us about the springs where the Henry’s Fork originates and that it was a nice place to visit and see big fish and an old cabin correct where the h2o boils out of the ground.

That was public information.

Prior to lengthy we had been off to the springs and I was planning my evenings fishing…at “Bob’s Key Hole”.

The afternoon was pleasant and the springs had been pleasant, but I was truly obtaining excited to go fishing. Of course, viewing the twenty five inch rainbows lying beneath the gin obvious waters at the springs, did not assist to quell my excitement.

By 7:30 I could not wait any longer. I pulled my individual map out and headed for the “Key Spot”. I followed the map to the “T” and created sure no one was tailing me. You can’t be to cautious with “Key Spots”. When I went exactly three.three miles from the turn–there it was– the dust street that turned towards the river. I had my wife and daughter with me, and fought off the urge to blindfold them, figuring that following twenty-six years of marriage and getting the “fruit of my loins” in the back seat, if I could not trust them–who could I trust?

Anticipation was fantastic.

I saw the finish of the dust street coming and the small parking region “Bob” had described. I pulled to a stop and…………..

…………saw 3 other cars in the “Key Spot”!!

“This can’t be.” I stated. “This is ‘Bobs Key Hole’,–maybe “Bob” is right here?”

I acquired my waders on quickly and headed down the trail to the river. Every thing was exactly as “Bob” had described it so I realized I was in the correct spot.

When I acquired to the river, it looked fantastic–certainly a “fishy looking place”. I walked on down to the trail and saw the Large ROCK– and behind it…. 3 other fishermen!! Of which, none had been “Bob”.

In “Bob’s Key Hole”. OR should I say “NOT SO Key HOLE!!”

I looked back upstream and saw 4 much more fishermen in other spots.

Counting me, that created eight individuals in this “Key Spot”, and prior to I could even wet a line an additional two showed up.

That totals ten, for those of you maintaining track on your “Key Spot” tote board!!

I fished up and down and for two hrs and by no means touched a fish–even behind the Large ROCK–and I by no means saw anyone else touch a fish both! That consists of the guys utilizing bait and lures. I even waited until I was the last guy on the river–but to no avail.

What happens when you get a guarantee from a groundskeeper named “Bob” and it does not arrive via??

Well, you do what I do. Pack up and head for Montana!!

But not prior to utilizing that map to “Bob’s Key Hole” to start the evenings fire!!

In hindsight, I discovered alot about the Henry’s Fork. It is a stunning place to fish, as difficult a place to catch a fish on a fly as marketed, that bringing hamburger meat is a necessity,and that I fully expect to go back and fish it again. Maybe this drop.I also discovered that guys on the back of riding lawnmowers do not typically get paid to manual you to the big fish, and even though I am sure “Bob” catches some fish there, I believe when I go back…. I will just let “Bob” have that “Key Spot” to himself.

He and the other 9 fishermen….

A.J. Klott Writer, author of fishing humor,and “fly tack” peddler.A.J. writes about the individuals,characters and modern day events that surround the fishing globe. His initial book is due out in December of 2005. If you require a laugh or a fun gift, visit his web site at: http://www.twoguyswithflys.com