A little catch and release...

[Aaron Hitchins]

Today we went fishing again... the trout weren't hunting and the river supposedly wasn't the nicest but I still had one heck of a good time. I now feel that I am approaching the level of my French counterparts, and I say that because I caught the sole and only fish of the day!!! My exchange partner was using a dead shiner with a weight and swimming it past a little boulder when he saw a fish dart out after it, but they just werent aggressive enough today, so it didn't hit. He told me there was one there but he figured it had already seen us and he told me that 'It will amount to nothing to pass your worm by'... about 4 seconds later I had the fish out of the water. It was good because the three of us were there and we all got to share in the excitement and laughs as I landed the fish with finesse and grace (I set the hook, it launched out of the water, I started slipping on the boulder I was crouched on, I lost my balance, my rod went up among the branches ad for some inexpliacble reason my reel started letting line out, and the fish fell back in the water, so I just jumped in the water and wrangled with the fish for a few seconds before it started to swim downriver and my goalie instinct took over and I dropped into a perfect butterfly cutting off his escape and at last he was in my hands) That was probably the longest sentence ever put in brackets... But I just cannot tire of this fish, every spot, every tint, just spectacular!!! They even have a tinge of red on the adipose and tail fins... every one is different, and each better than the last. A little slab of gold that is silky to touch, freckled with pure black spots on top, and then enhanced by the dozen or so blood red spots on their sides. My words just can't describe it, and pictures don't do it justice either... but I'll put up a few anyways to give you an idea

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h158/Aaron-Hitchins/HPIM2916.jpg

Ahhhhhhhahahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h158/Aaron-Hitchins/beautyII.jpg

Today's beauty (I think he is my favorite)
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h158/Aaron-Hitchins/beauty.jpg

The ecstatic fisherman... (I have big hands that is why the fish looks so small)
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h158/Aaron-Hitchins/HPIM3132.jpg

The river...
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h158/Aaron-Hitchins/HPIM3120.jpg

Fishing at the bottom of a heart stopping, jaw dropping, eye popping waterfall... (I could walk these rivers without a fishing rod and it would still be Perfect)
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h158/Aaron-Hitchins/HPIM3130.jpg

If you think that was fun, stay tuned for Episode II...

[Aaron Hitchins]

Now this is the fun part...

On our way back downriver, walking back to the car, my exchange partner spots a rabbit... just hopping along, doesn't really notice us there. My exchange partner decides that hes going to go try and catch it, I roll my eyes of course... try hunting snowshoe hare for a while and then try and think its possible to catch a rabbit with your hands. So he's dressed in my old camo, some advantage timber shirt with a fishing vest overtop, and apparently it is the stuff for rabbit hunting!!! He climbs up the hill a bit, keeping a low profile, then he finds a rock about the size of a softball and throws it, and on the second bounce it hits/rolls over the bunny. Your thinkning the rabbit is in the next county, but not quite. It doesnt move, either with it's bell rung a bit or confused and trying to hide (it was a young of the year and it was only abut the size of my two fists together, I'm personnally not too sure about the species). Charles (my french counterpart) stays frozen, the rabbit turns its head away, and he jumps about 6 feet, the rabbit sees him, but is tangled up in a couple of raspberry canes and ferns, and they absorbed enough of his bounce that he doesnt make more than a foot of headway. Next thing you know Charles has the rabbit by it's ears. I still can't believe it, the kid has hunted before when he was in Canada, but he took it to a whole new level. We got a few quick pictures and then let it go.... who says hunting can't be catch and release!!!

Here are the pictures of the god of the hunt and his quarry...
http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h158/Aaron-Hitchins/HPIM3136.jpg

http://i63.photobucket.com/albums/h158/Aaron-Hitchins/HPIM3137.jpg

Enjoy

PLEASE NOTE: This is a completely true story, it took place in the French Wilderness, and the photographs are authentic, not photoshopped , and taken on location of where the quarry came to hand.

[Rusty Hallock]

Aaron,


Very nice. The pictures and the scenery are outstanding.

[Wayne Radcliffe]

That bunny never knew what hit him.

[Fowlquest]

Great stuff, sounds like you guys had fun. love the rabbit thing I'm gonna try that.

[Curt Wilson]

Nice post Aaron. That is beautiful country and the rabbit story is unbelievable.

[Paul Cupka]

Aaron,
Have you ever thought of being a writer? I'm serious, you write like some of the great outdoor writers from long ago. I catch a little T.R. in some of your words. I have really taken a liking to your adventures. Never a dull moment with you, keep it up.

[Nate051]

Aaron you sure seem like you have a blast. That bunny story was pretty funny. You stories are always an adventure.
Nate

[Nate Tegtmeier]

I agree your story's always make me feel like im right there. The pics are sweet to. Nice Work

[Cory Johnson]

Sweet pictures and story!

[Christian Curtis]

Aaron...you might want to take Rick and Eric and show give them a how to session!

[Daryl Neal]

That's a heck of a throw with that rock...great story.

[Doug Steinke]

"Man, you're killing me Smalls!"

Keep the reports coming. That water fall photo is awesome.

[Josh Brugmans]

Aaron me and you are going to have to go fishin when you get back.

[Eric Larsgaard]

Aaron,

Thanks for the posts. That area is awesome..

Thanks,

Eric

[walleye killer]

Sweet man I agree, you always write great stories. that bunny story is pretty cool.