by The Troutist, June 18, 2013
This past Sunday I had the opportunity to introduce my style of trout angling to my good friend Kevin Bye. Kevin is a hard core Tiger Musky angler in fact he is well known within the Musky community, he has done several interviews on the subject and also gives a very fine seminar. Kevin is an EMT with the Seattle Fire Department and on his days off you will more than likely find him on one of the Musky lakes in the state or off on an adventure in Idaho chasing Northern Pike. He is also a good family man and when he takes his son with him he knows how to mix in a little perch and crappie fishing to keep him entertained. In spite of his addiction to angling his wife still welcomes him home after all of his adventures.
Kevin decided to spend a few hours on the water with me to see just what this “Blue Collar Flyfishing” was all about. One thing about Kevin is he is a student of angling and is always into learning different methods. Our intended destination was going to be Long Lake in Thurston County but as I blew by the ramp exit I headed to Pattison Lake to turn around but after arriving there and seeing how many boats were on the water and how full the parking area was we decided to stay. My reasoning was that if the parking lot was full here that Long Lake with no speed limit could be a real nightmare in very short order. I know I said that my last trip with Brett there was going to be the last one of the season but this seemed a great spot to give him a quick lesson.
As I prepped the boat and our gear I was giving Kevin a very quick class on how to work the rod and reel and different techniques on how entices that one good hit on the finicky quick one strike fish. Kevin started out with an olive bugger and a green blade I went with the black bugger and purple blade. These two combinations are proven trout producers and have always worked well in the past and I had no reason to think any differently. Within a few short minutes we had our first hook-up a nice feisty 12-incher, guess my hunch was right. We headed for the trolling pattern that I like to call fish alley (located along the shoreline directly across from the boat ramp on the opposite shore) we hooked and released a few more trout and then figured out the black and purple combination was going to be the colors of the day.
I then switched Kevin out to that combination giving him a mini class on how to do it. I might add I am sure it was quite entertaining as these old hands and arthritic fingers make it quite challenging at times. With a few well chosen words to describe my frustration I finally had him back in the water. We hooked and released several trout and I continued to tutor him his confidence soon grew and he no longer had to listen to this grouchy old man coach him. Kevin was now mastering this technique and was enjoying himself very much. We continued breaking the lake down and discussing most everything that guys talk about on the water including seminar techniques, family, and our last outing on the water.
We only had a short time left and had yet to put anything over 16-inches in the cooler I was at least hoping Kevin would get something that was picture worthy to share with all of you. I made a turn and just straightened out the boat when I had a very hard take and set the hook I could tell this was going to be a descent one after a few minutes of give and take I brought a nice 17-inch rainbow to hand and dropped him in the cooler, at least I had dinner for the evening. Not more than five minutes later Kevin’s rod took a hard hit and yes it was the one he was looking for. Kevin not sure of the size and I was looking at the bend in his rod I knew it was time to cut the motor and let him battle it out with this trout. There were some give and take moments but Kevin brought him to the net like an old pro and he topped me by a ½ inch. This trout was soon to become a member of the cooler club and join his buddy for dinner.
After about five hours we called it a day with 17 hooked and released and two in the cooler, not a banner day but not too shabby compared to what others were doing out there. There were a few things that Kevin really enjoyed and that was learning a new method, a new lake, and the fact that it has a 5mph speed limit. A great family atmosphere and that you don’t have to worry about being buzzed off of the water by the fast movers. For those of you that haven’t visited this lake located in Lacey I highly recommend it for a relaxing and leisurely of trout angling.
So until next time may your next trout be your trophy mount.
The Troutist-“Uncle Wes” Malmberg.
Buy Western Washington Lakes Guide By Wes Malmberg Here
