Trout Fishing Story

A buddy and I were fishing a trout stream. We came to a little spot where some trout were hanging out up behind a root sticking out of the bank into the water. We both finished catching our limit there, and sat down to clean our fish. Well, here came this guy in his thirties with new fishing pole, new hat, new waders, new vest, even a new woven creel. He had trout flies sticking into his hat and vest. It was evident he was a first time fisherman.

We asked him if he had caught anything and he replied he had not. We told him that there was still several trout next to the bank, and he started pitching his bait there. He got several strikes and missed them. He was getting pretty tore up, so we tried to reassure him and give him some advice. After several minutes he screamed, "I got one!" As he reeled with all his might, his face set like flint, he kept saying, "Don't come off, don't come off!" He got it reeled in close and lifted his pole. THe fish was dangling and spinning around in the air, and the man was swiping at it frantically. My buddy jumped into the stream to help. The guy got hold of the fish with one hand, LET GO of the pole with the other to get the hook out. THe pole fell into the water and was zigging back and forth behind him in the current. Neither he nor my buddy noticed. (I wanted to say something but was trying not to laugh out loud) They got the hook out of the trout's mouth, and he let go of the line. His pole sank and went down stream. I was about to die.

My buddy congratulated the guy on his fish, and the guy was grinning ear to ear. "Yep, that is a good trout!" he exclaimed as he put it into his brand new basket creel. He stood there for a moment feeling really great about his catch, then he looked around and said, "Where the heck is my pole?"
I fell over backwards and busted out laughing. When I sat up my buddy was giving me a stern look. I almost lost it again as they carefully waded around in little circles trying to find the pole. So, I got up and waded down stream about ten feet to a shallow rock bar and there was his pole lodged there. I gave it back to him, and he was happy again. Off he went in pursuit of trout in another hole with the satisfaction of having caught his first fish. A limit of trout, helping and witnessing a man catch his first fish, laughing my guts out all at one time, and nobody was hurt or lost any personal property: What a great day!