News and Fishing Reports

Let me give you a taste of the chase for some of the biggest brown trout in the world at the end of the earth.

I fall out of bed after six hours of sleep as we had dinner at midnight the night before. The cooler is in the truck and 12-14 foot two handed rods loaded with short-head and skagit spey lines are strapped to the roof. We're off; flying down the dirt track that leads to the Rio Grande. The trip to the river is often taken for granted by some, but for my passengers this morning it's like traveling back in time, where you see nothing but wide open spaces, a few odd looking animals (guanacos), big skies where the clouds seem to drive well over the speed limit, and a mid sized river snaking through the basin.

We reach a pool called "Pursuit" and spirits are high as we yank the two handers off the rack. That was when Don looked at me and said, "I'm not sure I'll be able to handle the wind and the rod as well as you'll want me to. In fact, I was worried I wasn't experienced enough to make this trip." That's when I gave him the Sea Trout theory as we know it: "Don, I'll get you started on the casting. Once you have your fly in good water, let it swing and enjoy yourself. If you swing your fly long enough in good water, you'll feel the pull." We fussed around a bit to get the fly within range of the target, and started taking 3 steps between casts. As I stand behind a caster, I start to wait, watch, and hope. Without hope, a sea trout guide is doomed to anxiety and possible depression! Hearing nothing but the breeze and the sound of the line coming up off the water to form the next D-Loop, I watch the line swing through the pool. "Take your steps. Don't let your feet become cement blocks. We want to cover this water, and then hit another pool." The next cast... mend... swing... line getting tight!...WE'RE ON BABY!! The long rod comes up, and 6 pounds of sea trout comes flying out of the river. After a long battle, we get the fish worked to the bank, take some pictures, and turn him loose. High Fives all around.

"So Jake, that's what it's all about huh?" That's when I told Don "yes", congratulated him on his first sea trout...and pointed to a rock next to which I saw another fish show itself during the last fight. Time to step down 50 yards, and get that little hairwing back in the water. First cast through, the line comes tight...and then slack. "That was him!! Step back, count to 30, and put it in there again." Line comes up, around, and out. My heart is pounding, and I could see Don's rod tip shaking slightly in anticipation. After what seems like more than the few seconds it was, the line straightens out, and the water explodes. Fish on! As I watched over 12 pounds of brown trout break the surface, I remembered exactly why I was there for the fourth consecutive season. The look on Don's face was worth every minute spent away from home and the woman I will marry this Summer.

All it takes is one fish like this to make the trip of a lifetime. The great thing is, there's usually more than one waiting to take that fly and put you on top of the world...or should I say, the end of the earth.

-Jake Chutz