As I sit here in Charlotte, feeling the spring breezes and watching the bluebirds going in and out of the bluebird house, I can not help but think of the upcoming trout fishing season. But I have also been reminiscing about past trips to the Great Smoky MountainsNational Park with my son Steve and my grandson Tommy. On one particular trip, just Tommy and I were fishing in the Walker Camp Prong behind a rhododendron thicket some distance from the road when he saw a large rainbow trout probably over 12 inches long leap out of the water. This was exciting since the trout in that stream usually average about 6 to 10 inches long.
His boyish enthusiasm took over and caused him to drive an 8 ounce Roostertail hook into his leg just above the knee and he was in a great deal of pain. After a few minutes of struggling with the hook, I even suggested a trip to the local emergency medical clinic for removal. After hearing that suggestion and fearing that he might miss an opportunity to catch that rainbow, he just pulled it out with a mighty tug.
Had we known the recipe for (near) painless hook removal, he would have been spared a great deal of grief. Since then, I have tried the recipe successfully, so I will describe it in detail in a upcoming class.
In the meantime as I wait for spring fishing just a few weeks away, I will keep my self busy by adding detailed information about the trout streams found in the YellowstoneNational Park