Caught a fish and a dog

'Twas an epic day. The Colorado Rocky Mountains. A high altitude stream. Family. Perfect weather for tight lines. Little could be better.

Jeff, a cousin and novice fly fisher, had casted a Crazy Legs with a chartreuse San Juan worm dropper. Nice drag free drift. Good hook set. Didn't horse 'em. However, bringing the high altitude 'bow to the net was a bit tricky. A family of locusts descended and had their two dogs with them.

I love dogs. I don't love out of control dogs interfering with my - or anyone else's - fly fishing. These beautiful beasts somehow learned on their own to "net" a fish. Gingerly holding the trout in their mouths the canines would wait until the hook was removed and then would lovingly place it back into the water. Or so I was told.

I wasn't convinced the pups wouldn't add more stress to the trout, so the shooing away commenced. Jeff deftly netted the fish, removed the hook, and released him all while keeping it wet and minimizing the intrusions of two of man's best friend.

The fly line didn't fare so well. After we were gratified that the trout was released in a healthy manner the task of untying the pooches began. Line was twisted around every appendage a dog could own. The Crazy Legs was firmly "hooked" into the long, thick hair of one of the four hind legs. At least it wasn't buried in the skin. A firm grip and tug and the fly was released without harm to either. All was right with the world.

Later that night when the fish tales and yarns got going Jeff was heard to ask boisterously, "How many of you have ever caught a fish and a dog on the same cast?!"