The things we see.

[M_P]

Several years back I was fishing a quiet weed-choked bay on Lower Buckhorn with one of my sons. We could hear some bawling that was coming closer and closer until a black bear sow and two cubs busted out of the brush right at the shoreline. Mama didn't seem to concerned with us and the family mosied on their way with the young ones still kicking up a fuss.. You don't see that from your couch.

[Wired]

Took the wife and youngest son to my favorite lake one time July 10th to be exact (you will all understand at the end of the story). I got up at 4 am and had to do a long walk to the back lake for speckles because I left the canoe there. Zack got up to fish the main lake at the same time as I did. So I get to the lake and can hear some commotion at the narrows but can't see it yet as it is around the bend. Paddling out I catch a glimpse of something moving down the lake and to my surprise its a cow moose and her calf in the shallows eating the weeds in the lake. As I ready my line I keep looking up to see what mom and baby are doing I notice the cow is constantly looking over her shoulder (I wonder what has her spooked). Then all of a sudden she starts nuzzling the calf along and they climb the embankment into the safety of the thick forest. So I have it in my head that I have now experienced a perfect day when I hear a crashing through the woods opposite where the cow and calf left. I look up and out comes a big bull moose not a full rack on him yet but still early in the year for that. He stopped half way across to eat and I go about fishing knowing that I may not ever experience sharing a lake like this again. After some time he moved on but I stayed as I had many a short hit from the inhabitants of the deep and knowing the lake it will turn up at least 2 or 3 good fish before breakfast. Rounding the big submerged rock at the one end of the lake I get a massive hit and the fight begins. Back and forth for 20 minutes and finally I see it is the biggest speck I have ever seen. Bringing it up to the side of the canoe I realize the net is definitely to small so I have to make a quick decision. Putting my hand in the water I slide it up the side of the fish and luckily my finger goes right in side the gills and up she goes. I placed her in the bottom of the canoe knowing that she was going on the wall. I quit fishing that day then with the long portage back to camp but feeling euphoric (no high from alcohol or drugs can match this feeling). Zack caught fish but was ecstatic when he seen the prize for fishing 40 years after this king jewel of fish.
Had the fish weighed after it was frozen and it came in at 8.25 lbs. What a beautiful fish and still the largest I have seen in person

[Fishingfrank]

Oh I Love to read all these different stories! all so great, thank each of You for sharing them! I look forward to having children and hopefully watch them go through similar experiences.