PART ONE: On what's become my favorite day of the year, Kelly takes me fly fishing to our special spot, completely off grid. Once we get on location, we hop on two four-wheelers and take them seven miles up river and drop one.
Then we ride tandem about four miles downriver where we start the trek. We'll hike upstream to the fourwheeler we left and...you get it, the shuttle thing.
Fish on!!
Snack time :)
Feisty one.
Another snack.
Don’t judge me
Truly untouched nature. So beautiful.
Did I mention this hike takes five hours?
We've been doing this for over twenty years and here's what I've learned. There are four species of fish in this particular river. Between the two of us, we usually catch all four. Every year, the river is a little different--huge volumes of water will do that. Sometimes the fishing is slow, sometimes we kill it. One thing is always the same. The native rainbow trout.
Everyone who fishes this river knows, the native rainbows hit different. From the moment they touch the fly, you know you've got a native on. They attack with an attitude. Natives survive the winters so there's a toughness and tenacity the other planted fish just don't possess. They're found in the most remote parts of the river, where few people ever go.
I couldn't help but compare these native rainbows to the people in this world who have natural qualities that set them apart. Who don't belong in the main stream. I think of tough old cowboys who know hard work and basic goodness are lasting qualities. People who give all and expect nothing. People with integrity you don't have to question. People who care more about their principles than your feelings. I realized my guy Kelly is one of those people. He loves and fights and works and believes with a ferocity that's almost unexplainable. And I've come to believe it's more nature than nurture. It's in his DNA.
Who do you know that's a native? Do you know them the minute you meet them? Who will deliver exactly what you expect, and then some. Who will go down fighting. Who you can count on time and again. Who just hits different?
Some would protest, they're not for everyone and I agree. The world needs variety and most people either love them or hate them. But I do know we could use more of them. And when I'm in my favorite spot on my favorite day, I choose the native. And boy am I glad I know the difference.
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