My 13 year old son and I stayed at Gastons for spring break March 25 and 26, 2014. It was the best fishing trip and stay that I have ever had. The staff at the resort were excellent hosts and very helpful. Robbie Shaw, our fishing guide, was great. He was very friendly and enjoyable to fish with the whole day. He was the best with my son helping him with everything. It was unexpected that Robbie would put us on the fish all day. I must add that my son, on his first trout fishing trip, sitting in the middle of the boat caught more fish than Robbie and I put together. But what else could top this fantastic day but Robbies willingness to get us to caught one more fish to finish our trip. So, I made one more cast with a half eaten shad which got me an unbelievable fish of a lifetime. The fight was on for 30 minutes from one end of Gastons Hole to the other. With fear of breaking my small 46 rod or snapping the 4 pound test line I just held on and waited. I had no idea how big the fish was as it took several runs taking line from my reel. Robbie was key in coaching and positioning the boat while the fight was on. Once the fish got in shallow water we could see its size. We all got very nervous knowing that we were trying to landed a wall hanger. I could see the fish was being to tire, thank goodness because I was too. I slowly pull my rod up and reel down on the line and again and again slowly. As the fish come to the top, Robbie rushes to the front of the boat with the landing net. When the fish turned from the boat to try to make another run, Robbie plunges the net in the water and dips the monster brown trout out of the river into the boat! With the fish laying in the bottom of the boat we all get a look at this unbelievable fish. It seemed time froze as Im processing what had just happened. All the sore muscle in my arms didnt hurt anymore as the adrenalin flowed. The excitement started high fives, whooping and howling and jumping up and down knowing that I had caught a fish of a lifetime. Robbie, keeping his head, raced to the dock so that the fish could be put in a submerged pen to be revived. Now the big question, do I mount it or release it? When the word got around the resort and as people came in off the river a crowd gathered. Asking the same question over again. Thinking to myself, if the fish does not make it I will take it home but if it is able to swim away, I would let it go. Robbie carefully handled the fish as not to injure it while we weighted and measured it. The estimate was it took 10 years for the fish to become 30 inches long, weight 17.75 pounds and develop a 20 inch girth. Once we saw the fish would live, I decided to release the fish back to the river so that the it might be caught again and someone else could experience the excitement that I had. Moreover, was the satisfying feeling I had once I released the fish back to the river. To remember this incredible day I will have a replica made of the fish from the pictures and dimensions. I will frame my lunker trout trophy certificate and trout release pin from Gastons with the picture of my son, Robby, myself and my monster brown trout! Thank you Gastons, thank you Robbie for an EPIC fishing trip!! Bill Byers Rogers, AR March 2014
Posted on: Fri, 28 Mar 2014 21:05:03 +0000
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