$175 per pound

We were only going to go fishing for a couple of hours. Probably the last decent (as in no frost on the ground)day to get in a bit of worm drowning before the weather settled back into spring-break rain for a solid week. After the last trip, we knew we needed more PowerBait, larger sinkers, maybe larger hooks. So Chris and I left at 7:20 a.m., made a quick stop by the Sporting store to get me ANOTHER one-day out-of-state license (robbery, for sure), then headed for the lake at Cape Meares.

Did I mention what a perfectionist my brother is when it comes to his gear and fishing? Everything must be in it's place, before the line hits the water. You can't waste time when rebaiting or switching rigging, not when "the bite's on"! (That means the fish are really hitting the bait; which is only intermittant, as they swim in schools around and around the lake - you never know for sure when they will come by...)

But who's complaining? He's the best guide in the county, and here's the proof...my first trout in 50 years! Looks like a whopper, doesn't it!!

Let's see...two license fees, Power Bait, hooks, sinkers, gas, worms (at $2.50 a dozen)...that makes this a pretty pricey fish. Weighing in at about 6 oz., I figured it was around $175 lb. Now that is exotic eating!!!

Of course after you get ONE, you have to try for more. We ended up with 8 trout for the day. Which brought that price-per-pound down a wee bit...and as the TV ad says, "fishing experience with your brother...priceless!"

We had so much fun...a goofy guy fishing next to us for entertainment, eagles and terns and kingfishers competing with us for the fish, not to mention a flock of cormorants, a bit of sun, a good fishing buddy - what more could you want!

We ended the day with 8 trout, some bigger than others, all imminently edible. When we finally climbed into the truck, I looked at the clock and asked if it was correct time. Chris said, yep. It was about 3:30. So much for "just a couple of hours of fishing..."

Did you know that fishing is a diet aid? We hadn't packed a lunch, I had only a little baggy of nuts for a snack. And neither of us had been hungry all day.

Until we got in the truck.