Story #1 (although I am not counted in the contest):
Daughter's Revenge (A true story)
One Friday afternoon on a steelhead river in southwest Washington I was pleased to see a favorite spot wide open except for one angler and his daughter, sitting on a rock and trying hard to pretend she was having a good time with Daddy. I walked up and said hello to both, and proceeded to string the line throught the guides. He didn't seem happy to have me arrive, so I made sure to grant him all the courtesy that I could and stay well up current. His daughter seemed to be a fine young gal, keeping busy braiding grass stalks and sitting with her chin resting in her hands with her elbows on her knees whenever she ran out of ways to entertain herself.
Dad was hardcore. His intense gaze never left the water and it seemed there was no room for a smile or small talk with his faithful audience. In fact as time went on there was a cuss here and an order there, it was not a happy sight to see the treatment she was getting from her pop. I started to feel a bit sorry for her and just as my mind started to wander the rod just about got ripped fom my hands and I was onto a bright summer run steelhead, hot as a pistol and tearing up the pool. That's not all it tore, the man was burning mad. His already bad mood turned to a darker one and things really started getting bad for the poor girl.
Hearing a sudden shriek of excitement, I looked down river to see that dad had hooked up. The rod was bent deep into the blank and it looked like a very solid fish. The girl was finding some joy in the moment, but that was short-lived as dad started yelling orders to get the camera and follow him down the cobble. She obliged, and faithfully tried to walk the loose stones with camera on one eye, trying and failing to capture the moment despite the angry yelling of the man each time the fish would leap in a spectacular fashion from the water. Each time she missed a shot he would become more nasty, and she was trembling with anxiety trying to deal with the pressure. It's not easy for a child to walk with an eye in the viewfinder, beach sandals, and a yelling father on a rocky shoreline.
Things were going from bad to worse, I almost turned my head when I heard "splooosh". Dad had stepped onto a clay bank and slid into the water such that only his hat could be seen floating! Just then the majestic 17 pound summer run buck came out in a manner that would rival any tarpon, and I heard a >click<.
She got the shot! A floating hat, arm and rod coming out of the water, a monster summer run in the air, and dad barely visible in the water! I nearly laughed out loud at the justice being served as the fish escaped during the man's desperate manuever back onto the shore. The girl was now too shocked to do anything but want to help dad, but she appeared to afraid to offer. He huffed out of the water, reeled up, and hauled his daughter up the trail back to the car. My last glimpse of the girl was of her being yanked down the trail, but with a giddy smirk and not seeming to mind the treatment as she fast-stepped to keep up.
Man, what I wouldn't do for a print of that photo, the only photo taken of the day I am sure. I looked up at the sky as it started to loose it's light and decided I should gut my (hatchery) fish and get it on ice before pitching my tent. It's one of those moments, looking up at the streaking colors of heaven, that noone could doubt that there are other forces at work in our lives than just sheer coincidence.
I hope the girl and mom got that roll developed and had a great gut laugh at grumpy's expense! :hehe: