Shut up and fish

While driving my dog down to the river for a cool swim on a hot August day I spotted a familiar figure on main street in Bellevue, my home town. I've named the familiar figure, The Sentry. He's like a guard on duty. It seems he's always standing there surveying Main street; checking out the scene. It is not much of a scene as Main street is short and simply a small collection of tired worn-out commercial buildings, many of them empty. He doesn't seem to do anything or have a purpose. He's just there, like a statue; an almost around- the-clock permanent fixture. It doesn't matter the temperature, he's always dressed the same: blue jeans; a black tee-shirt restraining a sizeable belly; and a ball cap. It is the official uniform of many Bellevue locals. Usually a black tee-shirt in this region has a Jack Daniels, Harley Davidson, or a Skull and Cross Bones logo on it; always something tough. The Sentry's shirt in bold print it read, "Shut Up and Fish!

That evening I debated whether to go fishing,or not. I eventually did go and re-visited a spot where a large fish has been feeding for quite awhile. He starts when the river bank cast a shadow on a section of slow water where insects get channeled. His rises have usually been sporadic but he's always there in the evening. I hooked him several weeks ago but didn't land him. I've cast to him since and fooled him with an small imitation but didn't get a hook-up. This time he was as challenging as usual; very selective and not interested in my offerings. I couldn't figure out what he was eating in spite of closely investigating the bugs on the water. Eventually he stopped rising; it was if he disappeared. I waited and waited. The light started waning and then I noticed a large fish surfacing directly across the river. I waded the short distance. It looked like the same fish; certainly the same impressive size. He was feeding more aggressively this time and took the tiny offering. Luckily I managed to land him. A great rainbow thanks to the Sentry's advice: Shut up and fish! Here's a photo...

20 Inch Crowsnest River Rainbow Trout