New Zealand Fishing - Professional Fishing Guide Listing

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Rotorua Professional Trout Fishing Guides Association
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Rainbow on the Madison
by Curtis Barnard

It was a cold August morning. An Elk let out a piercing cry. My dad and I had just woken and we were ready for another day of fishing. I had spent all last night Tying Flies for this day and the next to come. As I got my things together, I was dreaming of catching the best fish in Yellowstone. The Dream that occurs once a year, every year. The Best, the Brightest, the Biggest, any title can satisfy a true fly fisher.

We hopped in the truck and drove down to Madison Junction, passing other various small streams and thermal features. Yellowstone, the place where everyone comes to see the wildlife, the phenomenoms of thermal activity, But me, I come here for the fish, the secret streams with beautiful Cuttthroat. I come here to get away from the crowds, to find peace.

'The Madison' - Second best only to the Yellowstone. We arrived and looked at the stream, the sun glistening off the surface. It was time. We walked up to the edge and a dark figure moved quickly by. I reminded myself It was time.

Right away my dad caught a nice, brightly colored 10-inch rainbow, I was excited. An hour passed and no fish, but then my dad caught another 'Bow about the same size, still nothing for me. Another hour passed and I had but one strike, Finally I started getting a lot in this one pool. I fished it for at least another 30 min. All of a sudden, nothing, complete silence, no strike, no movement, nothing. I gazed at the pool with my rod in hand. I was crouched on the ground behind a bush waiting for 'It' to come back. A small mayfly drifted by and I saw the monster Gulp.

I tied on a broad mayfly imitation, not specific, just plain white and still crouched behind the bush tossed it just above the pool. I let it drift by, nothing. Yet again I tossed it back above the pool, drifting, drifting, The 'Bow Gulped it down. I watched as this monster took the bait. My heart was pounding and adreneline was racing.

Hook set and slowly bringing 'It' in, I tried to play with him, not too much, I didn't want to hurt him, for I could see he was 'The Best.' After what seemed like hours I had him. He was a brightly colored, 12-13 incher. Maybe he wasn't the biggest, but by my standards he was 'The Best.'

I let him go reluctantly, but then thought, 'a good game fish is too valuable to be caught only once.' So now I wait for that Dream again which comes every year, once a year 'The Best.......'