by The Troutist, June 04, 2013

As everyone knows I conduct most of my business matters in my boat on a lake somewhere, this week was no different. I am heavily involved in lining up speakers, guides and venders for an upcoming event at JBLM which will be held on the 22nd of June starting at 10am. This has become quite a challenge on such short notice but thankfully I have all the speakers and about half of the booths filled. I think this is the least I can do for our troops and I find it to be personally rewarding. As luck would have it I needed to get together with my friend and coordinator of this event Paul Claxton from Thurston County.

Upon our arrival at the ramp I found out that Paul had never fished with a fly rod, never trolled a fly, never caught a trout on this type of set-up and he had never worked Spencer Lake. Yes I knew this was going to be a good day, these are the types of things that I live for having opportunities such as these are priceless. We prepped the boat and I explained to him the set-up and was giving him coaching lessons on how to angle this way and all of the little tricks of the trade in fighting and landing these trout. We were on the water by 9am and I had my first hook-up of the day in less than five minutes, a nice fat 16-inch trout, one for the cooler so that he and his wife might be able to enjoy a fresh trout dinner.

I had hooked and released another three and Paul was still getting the hang of it. Shortly after I released another feisty 12-incher Paul had his first solid hook-up and the fight was on. I was coaching him on how to work the rod and reel and then he brought his first trout boat side a nice fat 12-incher the joy and excitement he had in doing this was great. Then the questions started coming, how to use the rod to fight the fish, the reel, stripping line, enticing a solid take after a quick strike. He was also amazed at the sensitivity of the rod and how he could feel even the slightest strike, the smoothness of the reel to and how the trout would take such a small offering without using flashers and bait rigs. To make a long story short after a few more trout Paul had mastered this technique.

I then proceeded to tell him our goal was to hook and release 30 and keep a couple for his dinner. He gave me the look like that was wishful thinking or I was just full of shine-olla. In a matter of six hours we had hooked and released 30 and kept two, one at 14 ½ inches the other at 16. We lost several and missed some more, but all and all a very good day. Paul told me he had never caught that many trout in his life and could not understand why you wouldn’t enjoy this type of fishing. The things he really enjoyed, was the steady action and the peacefulness on the water. Yes it was also great day for me, being able to share an adventure like this with a friend.

The black bugger and purple blade was the ticket on this day working the straight that separates the shallow and deep ends of the lake and the bay just before you get into the main portion of the lake. Idle speed and a lazy “S” pattern was the strategy that paid off for us in a big way. The launch is in great shape as well as the parking area. I have been posting photos of the lakes I have been working on my Uncle Wes face book page if you would like to check them out.

So until next time may your next trout be your trophy mount.

The Troutist-“Uncle Wes” Malmberg.




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