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As an avid fisherman of all species
of fish in British Columbia, I am constantly on the
lookout for new trophy fishing opportunities. It would
appear that as with most dedicated sportsmen, I am constantly
being asked, " Been fishing lately?"
This type of conversation often lends itself to me
asking the very same question in return. Call it sharing
information, or simply talking about fishing and the
one that perhaps didn’t get away. It is like having
an ear to the ground at all times, anticipating the
opportunity to strike it big (no pun intended) in a
new river, lake or saltwater destination. |
The unfortunate fact about relying on insider information is
often the source. After all, fishermen do tell lies—and those
that don’t usually keep their mouths shut. I’ll never forget
the time I drove for what seemed all day, down a twisting and
winding dirt road, through pot holes and other obstacles, in
search of five to six pound cutthroat trout that were rising
to dry flies. It was a hot tip given to me by a good client.
While the trout did eventually take dry flies, the average size
turned out to be five to six inches. Since the person who sent
me down this wild goose chase was a close personal friend and
co-angler, I didn’t want to burst his bubble by telling him
the reality of his trophy lake. I simply went along with his
story confirming that the fish were indeed five to six pounds
each and proceeded to recommend that he fish a tiny lake located
50 miles further away that contained comparable trophy-sized
fish (the slowest lake I have ever fished with only fingerling
trout). We knew not to ever share fishing secrets from then
on, and continued to successfully fish together at some proven
trophy lakes.
My intention here is not to send you down a wild goose chase.
Rather it is to share with you a lake of genuine trophy caliber,
with rainbows that will make your chin drop. Really.
I stumbled upon the lake while asking a friend if he had
been fishing. I was not quite sure what to say next, as he
looked at me speechless, as though he was rehearsing his thoughts.
The look on his face was the furthest thing from a poker face
I have ever seen. It was a though there was a headline on
his forehead—"Fisherman Lands Huge Fish and Lots of Them".
No sooner than it took for me to utter the words, "Have you
been fishing?" did it take for him to spill his tales of incredible
fishing. What was different from any story about fishing that
I have ever heard was in the proof. Yes, the proof really
was in the pudding. Midway into his first sentence, he directed
me to his VCR where he unveiled his videotape of rainbow trout
fishing that only dreams are made of. I stood in utter amazement
as four anglers caught over 15 massive, wide-girth, rainbows
that were all well over four pounds. A large dragonfly hatch
ensured their success once they successfully matched the hatch.
While I can’t tell you exactly how big the largest rainbow
was, I did recall watching the fish being landed with the
lucky angler laughing once he realized that his net was to
small to land the fish. My guess was that it was probably
over 8 pounds.
With the newfound knowledge of the wondrous lake that awaited,
the stage was set. A quick call to my respected co-angler
and I was off to fish Forest Lake. Located in the northern
region of British Columbia, just slightly north of Williams
Lake, the lake was a small and picturesque.
| We never
did get into them like the anglers before us, but we
did manage to collectively catch 6 fish ranging from
three and a half to six pounds. A technically challenging
lake with an artificial fly only restriction, our efforts
pointed out that the anglers before us had obviously
hit it just right.
We never did get into them like the anglers before
us, but we did manage to collectively catch 6 fish ranging
from three and a half to six pounds. A technically challenging
lake with an artificial fly only restriction, our efforts
pointed out that the anglers before us had obviously
hit it just right. |
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While we had to work for our fish, these anglers before us
could do no wrong that day they filmed the video. Still, Forest
Lake proved to be a lake of real trophy caliber.
The point of this story besides sharing with you this special
fishery, is that sometimes fisherman can tell the truth—and
when they do, it pays to listen.
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