Great time on the Manistee with long-time friend and client, Jeff, and his new business colleague, John, who while having distinguished himself as an offensive lineman for Lloyd Carr during the Tom Brady era, had never fly fished before. John caught on as quickly as anyone I’ve hosted, and throughout the day was into salmon. Action was continuous and after lunch nearly nonstop. The river is loaded with Kings and spawning is widespread. We had numerous lip takes today on green caddis and steelhead buggers. A couple of the fish moved multiple feet to take the flies. John’s largest fish isn’t shown here (as of today) because Gramps Tom midway through the day couldn’t find his camera. When fellow RiverQuest guide Don Graham suggested over the radio that I look for it in my shirt, I fired back with a “Well, duh!!” or something like that-only, of course, at days end to find the camera…You guessed it: in my shirt! When I flashed the camera at Don at the landing, he started cackling like a demented chicken! Oh, he was so tickled to burn ole’ Captain Tommy! Needless, to say, this mind lapse of mine, will probably earn me the “What the Fat Award” presented each year at the annual RiverQuest guides/wives Christmas Party to the guide who has pulled off the biggest screw-up of the year! So, John and Jeff, I apologize for the cranial flatulence: I will post your big buck, John, when Jeff sends its photo to me.
Finally, a word for one Kyle Roy, turkey shooter extraordinaire and champion carp whacker and now new Kan-tucky resident. Kyle, as Jeff’s picture will attest and as the Almighty was witness, John took the 17 lb. male on a #10 caddis with a fly rod and fly line with fly affixed to the upper left lip of said fish. Hence, no dispute; no dissembling; just accept the fact that John topped your best!!
Thanks, guys, for a most enjoyable day. Looking forward to seeing you again, Jeff, in couple of weeks and, John, next Spring for some chrome steelhead action of the Muskegon.
Captain Tom Kuieck
