Jack

 

This is Jack.  That's short for Blackjack.  21.  Inches that is.

Jack and I became friends, or at least we got to know each other really well.  You see, I caught Jack today. I saw him in a foot-deep flat, and it only took a minute.  There aren't a lot of 21 inch fish in here. He makes my day.  But, . . . the story is only beginning. (Man I wish I could have Keith Morrison reading this!)

Fast forward a day.  I'm staring into the same riffle, 6 feet lower, and Jack is back. There's no mistaking him, the largest I've seen all morning. It's noonish and he's on the feed. He lets no other fish near him in his riffle. He eats on the surface, then underneath, chases an intruder away, and returns to eat some more.  This pattern continues endlessly.  About 20 minutes in, he eats my CDC pmd emerger. Nothing but air. Strike one.

An hour or so and some fly changes later, he eats my grizzly hackle dun. Strike two. I think he eats a Timmy too. He certainly refuses it a couple of times. We're a couple hours in now, getting to know each other very well. More fly changes.  There's really nowhere to reposition on the little creek. He keeps rising in range. Perfect range. He's very careful, moving left and right, up and down. 

I've spent the better part of my afternoon with Blackjack. One of us is going to win, the other defeated. I'm sore and getting tired, taking 5 minute breaks to rest, retie, and come out for the next round.  He has some decent sized friends rising around him, but for now it's just me and blackjack.  At precisely 2:30, Jack eats my TTPT.  Tom Travis Pleasant Tail. The emerger version, half-in, half-out, down to 5X.  It's pretty quick, I win, and we shake hands. I love jack. He, and others like him, are the reason I still do this.  The day is complete.

Thank You Jack.  I loved our engagement. Sorry about the mouth.  I do love you.  Hope you have a great summer and there's plenty of bugs.  Maybe you'll have some other fish too. Watch out for them pointy things. Bon appetite.

After I temporarily relocate Jack from his room, some of his younger brothers move in. You know how siblings are I guess.  I think that is rude of them, so I remove a few of them from Jack's room on my way out the door. 

As a postscript, I revisit Jack's house a couple days later and he's still there.  I do serve him a Timmy for a short while with no eats.  I stick one of his smaller brothers, and move on.  He gave me more than I could ever ask.

This is Timmy.  He's messy, floats well, and is very visible.  Everyone  likes Timmy. (Charlie Craven pattern.)