Seeking a Native

What motivates an angler to to seek a certain fish, not just today but almost every time he has such opportunity. I'm going to try and give you some of my thoughts on just what motivates me. Many of the reasons can be seen in the photo above. A still, late October morning while the forest is just coming to life. The stream as it continues its flow to the eventual meeting with the sea. A broken down rock wall, made by past generations to perhaps keep someone or something out, or maybe to keep them in. The colors of a tree, its foliage hanging on giving the anglers mind a chance to take it all in before its gone.

Many claim that seeking the wild brook trout that call this home is done so because of the willingness of this native to take any offering put forth. This may be true and the reason for this might be because he has learned that to survive for thousands of years in some of the most infertile waters he has to eat most everything that may float by.

What excites an angler when his quarry is so small? What is derived from sliding your hand into the water and lifting a palm sized collection of dots, and halos, and lines of camouflage? To slip a tiny hook adorned with simple materials of feather and hair from the native. To admire for a moment its absolute beauty and place it back into the dark swirling waters of its home.

That's some what motivates me to seek this native. My next brook trout will be just as exciting to me as my first. It never ends and I never tire.