 |
 |
|
|
by Curt Kuester
Fishing: Something for everyone
A while back, five of us were sitting around a campfire, shooting the breeze after a day of fishing the Green River in the northeast corner of Utah.
The fishing had been tough for the previous three days. The river would only relinquish a few large fish each day. This day had been no different.
All five of us had been guides at one point in time or another, so naturally, our conversations were mostly about the "great" rivers that we had guided on.
Eventually, the question was raised, "What is a quality fishery?"
A recent survey of Americans showed 29 percent of the population fishes on a regular basis. That number, if you think about it, is a large number of people. And each of that 29 percent who are fishermen, will have his or her own definition of what a quality fishing trip is.
While rivers such as the Madison, Yellowstone, Rio Grande, Green and the Arkansas are unarguably excellent trout fisheries, can they be labeled the highest quality destinations? That all depends on your own definition.
In the time since that trip on the Green River, I have brought up this question to numerous people. The answers that I have received have been unique in some cases, but most have settled in one general area.
The compilation of what most fishermen are looking for seems to be some sort of mythical dream stream. This stream would contain an above-average number of good-sized trout, with a few large ones thrown in. All of these trout would be hungry all of the time.
Now here is the kicker: They would have it all to themselves.
Here is a more realistic approach to narrow this field down. Are numbers of fish more important than the size? Is the chance at one or two large fish per trip worthy of the quality name? Are rainbows a higher-quality fish than cutthroats or small-mouth bass? Again, this depends on your frame of mind.
As you grow and learn during your angling life, your attitudes and your definitions will change. Those who are just starting out will define "quality" as just the chance to catch a fish, while those who have been at it a few years are concerned more with the number of fish caught.
After a while, the size of the fish becomes more important. Then, finally, you get to the state of mind that where you fish is most important.
I first picked up a fly rod at the age of four. Now, some 33 summers later, I still would rate seclusion at the top of the quality chain.
Getting out by myself and fishing the unvisited waters is still the reason I will drive halfway across the Rockies to catch average-sized fish in some small river in Wyoming.
My main reason for being there is that I very rarely see other people, even driving the river road, much less fishing the stream itself.
One of my favorite streams to fish is right here in Chaffee County. It is a small headwaters dream and can be tough to fish in most spots. Overhanging bushes and trees can make casting a tippet salesman's dream.
This little creek has a fair population of small brook trout and cutthroat, who are willing to grab any offering that floats their way.
The reason that I fish here is simple. Even though it sits right off of a paved road, I have never even seen the tracks of anyone else along the banks.
No matter what your definition of quality is, the most important thing is to keep fishing. That is the great thing about our sport. It has something to offer to everybody.
