Meanwhile back at the Yurt...
Having been humbled by "Hank's" famous trout, it was time for a little change of scenery.
My little girl, and kids in general, don't seem to understand catch and release. Granted, I really hadn't caught anything to release,(except that seven.. err.. "FIFTEEN INCHER") it was still hard to return to the yurt and explain my lack of fishing success. She would greet me with her big "daddy can do no wrong" eyes, and expect me to tell her of the "whopper" that got away.Especially since she is used to Fishing success, since most of her fish are caught in Grandpa's Pond, where it is basically a "live well" ready to pull out the catch of the day on a moments notice. So, when daddy comes Home with no fish or no fish story, you can see the "daddy just dropped a peg" look on her face. BUT-kids being kids, she is ready to go on to the next thing, and that meant a bike ride through the state park to the old Harriman Ranch.
We rode the mile or so to the old historical buildings that sit on the grounds of the state park. The ranch was "one" of the summer Homes of E.H. Harriman, of Union Pacific Railroad fame,and is operated as a wildlife sanctuary now.
The bike ride goes along the Henry's Fork and while my daughter was chattering away whle pedaling along, I kept glancing to see if any fish were rising.
Old habits are hard to break.
We got off our bikes and started to explore the buildings. Unfortunately, this being a weekday, they didn't have many of the buildings open so we couldn't go inside. One of the groundskeepers saw us peering through the windows of the buildings and wandered over on his riding lawn mower. He shut off the engine and gave us the rundown on the buildings and told us a little background on the ranch. He mentioned that if we were still there on Friday, they would be opening the buildings and doing some tours.
Now, being a groundskeeper in a state park in Last Chance Idaho must not be one of the most high pressured jobs one can be employed in--because "Bob"--was a chatty fellow. You might be wondering how I knew his name was Bob?--Well, I of course read it on his name badge!
A.J. Klott--private eye!!!
Anyway, "Bob", was filled with questions. Where were we from? How long were we staying? What were my views on existentialism?
O.K.-- the last one he didn't ask--but if he did- I wouldn't have been surprised,because a guy can do a lot of thinking on the back of a riding mower.
But I digress once more.
So, the conversation eventually turned to fishing the Henry's Fork. I of course asked how the fishing was on the ranch here, and "Bob" proceeded to tell me that he did most of his Fishing above the reservoir in the "anything goes-six fish limit section".
He then did something that you would expect from a guy on the back of a riding mower in Last Chance Idaho. He offered up his "SECRET Fishing HOLE".
Maybe it was the look of undernourishment my daughter had, or maybe he just thought I was a "friendly sort"-- but nonetheless-- "Bob" was ready to unlock the key to Henry's Fork.
He told me he didn't usually do this, but he just thought that I looked like a guy that would appreciate his "Secret Spot". AND if you think I am going to breach "Bobs" trust by telling you where this spot is, well you are wrong!! What I will tell you is "Bob" went to great lengths to hand draw me a personal map--kind of like a Henry's Fork treasure map-- right on my brochure to the ranch grounds. He also gave me detailed instructions--like: "turn left at the Phillips 66, drive down to @#%$^* road, make a right and go EXACTLY 3.3 miles, make another right, drive down as far as you can go, hike on down to the river, walk downstream to the BIG ROCK, toss your worm or lure or fly behind that rock and I will guarantee you will catch a fish!!"
A guarantee!
I didn't even get that from any of the fly shops!!
"Bob" was pretty sure of himself, and I looked his map over carefully and contemplated eating the brochure, just to make sure that only "Bob" and I would be the two individuals in the lower 48 that held the whereabouts of the "Secret Spot". I asked if "Bob" needed a blood oath or if he had noticed any of Ashcroft's men in the area-- because I didn't even want the government to know about this spot. None of this seemed to wo
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