Chasing Tigers
Our latest adventure took us to the Green River in Utah, where we were on the hunt for the elusive tiger trout. The tiger trout are known to be difficult to catch, but we were determined to land one. We took a high country dirt road in the middle of a terenchal downpour of rain, tires splashing through the mud window wipers moving back and forth climbing up a mountain not knowing where the road would end. The views are wide open with a calmness amist the storm, at one point we pulled off the road as the thunder and lightening was crashing so loud we decide to pause for a few mintues in staying away from the surrounding trees towering the road in an event of a lightening strike. Did it ever cross our mind to turn around in the crazy conditions? Nope. That is the thing about growing up in Montana being the only girls surrounded by 5 brothers, you grow up with an adventours spirit and a confidence in your survival skills.
After about a hour we make it to the top of the mountain pulling off the road to wait out the storm, we are like kids on christmas morning staring at a crystal clear high mountain lake like it was a present to be unwrapped. Fly Fishing teaches us patience, and today that was the lesson. We sit in the car as rain pounds against the windows. We decide to crack a cold beer, stuff our faces with chips and onion dip, one of our childhood favorites we indugle in during our sister adventures and we sit and talk, solving all lifes problems, patiently waiting for the storm to pass. As soon as the storm breaks we jump out of the car, grab our rods and find our spot on the lake. The water is gin clear and just like that on the 2nd cast sister gets a tug, I come running heart pounding in hopes it was a tiger trout. Sure enough sister had landed a beautifl tiger trout with the markings and colors like a painting. We had heard about the unique markings of the tiger trout which represent those of a tiger but to see it for ourselves was magical. The tiger trout is mixed species of a brooke trout and a brown trout. To us this species is extra special because sisters favorite trout is a brooke and mine is a brown. Tiger trout are sterial and thus are planted in High mountain lakes, rivers and streams by the fish hatchers primarily in Utah and Colorado. Now just because they are planted fish, dont get the idea it is like fishing a pond that is stocked these high mountain rivers, lakes and streams are an epic adventure to experience and a must to add to your bucket list.
As the afternoon passes by my sister lands one tiger after another and I am getting fustrated- I yell to her “I am not a stillwater fisher person I dont have the patience, I am going to walk down the stream and see if I have any luck” - at that time my sister yells, come on sis keep trying you will get one and just like that on the next cast I land my first tiger trout. I am so excited I cast again in hopes of landing another of these beauties. As I cast my fly gets hooked on a branch, I grab the branch with trying to unhook my fly with out patience and just like that the fly is deeply imbedded into my thumb, blood is gussing everywhere, I yell to my siter I need help she drops her rod and comes running taking one look at the blood gushing from my thumb and says I think we need to get you to a doctor its the only way to get this out. I think to myself seriously, I finally catch a tiger trout, the drive is like a hour away to a town where there isnt even a gas station let alone a Doctor. the closest doctor is 3 hours away. I mean what is a girl to do? Yep, I tell my sister just push hard on my thumb and I pull the fly out ripping thtrough layers of flesh, bleeding I grab a leaf from a nearby tree, wrapping it around my thumb and as blood dripped down the cork of my rod I throw another cast and land a tiger trout. The next few hours my sister and I continue to feel the tug of the tiger trout, to be honest she definately had the midus touch for those beauties. As the warmth of the sun disappeared behind the mountains we decide we should find someplace to set up camp. As we drive down the mountain pass the rain and thunder starts in hard again we pull off the road along a creek, scavange for fire wood and make a fire trying to dry our clothes between rain spurts and finally retreat to our cars and decide sleeping inside is better than in a wet tent. Watching thru the sunroof at the lightening flashing in the sky and listening to the loud crashing of the thunder it was as if we were inside a dramatic scene of a suspense movie. Early the next morning I am looking through the foggy rain covered window and I see my sister jump out of the car, did you see that she yells!!??,A moose just walked through our camp, when you turned on the car you scared it away- we both decide to immediatley drive down the road to see if we could see it, as we slowly drive down the dirt road about 2 miles down we come cross a large green valley nesseled bewteen the mountains with a the stream meandering though it and there was the Moose standing stately looking at us with a baby in tow, we stop watching as the fog rolls off the moutains and the steam off the stream the beautiful sight of this mama moose and her baby. It was a magical moment in the sister journal.
We had accomplished our goal and caught the fish we had been after. We spent the rest of our trip exploring the beautiful backcountry of the Green River and fishing for other species. As we reflected on the adventure we had shared and the memories we had created. We knew that our love for fishing would continue to bring us together for years to come. In the end, the sisters' journey to catch the tiger trout was about more than just the fish. It was about the bond we shared, the beauty of nature, and the thrill of the chase.
Until next time Tight Lines
Zina & Sunny
