While reading through his journal, Bob Howe found this fun entry about an exciting fishing trip on Big Creek.

June 14, 2002

There was a lot of excitement here yesterday. The fishing has been wonderful in the low and clear water-dry flies that normally work later and which work this early in the season is a great treat. So the guides left with a dozen very excited neophytes to explore Big Creek. They split into four groups and one of the guides, Scott Polancich, had his group of three by two likely-looking holes. He carefully gave instructions in casting, how to find the fish, and demonstrated various techniques for bringing them in.

One of the guests, ready to go so Scott gave him free rein and began working with the other two in a pool a few dozen feet upstream. For half an hour nothing happened in either pool, then from the lone fisherman a shout, and Scott, hurried upstream. Instead of a heels-up fisherman, he saw the fellow with his rod almost bent into a U and shrieking with excitement.

Through his polarized sunglasses, Scott could see a huge trout at the end of the line. Shaking with excitement himself, he counseled, “Be calm. Take it easy.” The big fish swam downstream then upstream but couldn’t shake the hook. When the fisherman’s wife heard the commotion she crossed the stream, stepped into a hole and filled her waders but retained her dignity and sloshed across anyhow.

Soon there were three or four spectators. As Scott brought the net under the fish he discovered it was WAAAY too big for the net so reached down and cradled the slippery fish to his body so it wouldn’t escape, almost as if he were tackling it. They photographed the proud fisherman with his fish then turned it free to fight again. Later that evening I talked with both the fisherman and the guide; it was impossible to tell who was more excited.”