Prehistoric Fishing
It was about 2 p.m. on the Snake River. Jeff and Alex had already caught a sturgeon each. The guide said the fish tend to get less aggressive by the afternoon, so the feeling of restlessness settled. The tip of my fishing pole had bounced gently every five-to-10 seconds before I yanked the pole into the air finally hooking my elusive prey. The guide said he had never landed a fish on this particular part of the river which intensified my anxiety ever more. The boat was pulled downstream by the tug of the fish, all without snapping the line or freeing itself from the hook. When the boat abruptly stopped, my pole was placed then in its holder and the real battle began. It lasted roughly 20-to-25 minutes with the sturgeon jumping out of the water twice, trying to release itself from the hook. My left hand was starting to cramp from holding the pole. Even though my pole was in the holder, it was still a natural reflex to maintain a grip on it. A sudden thought comes to mind, could I outlast an aquatic creature that weighs more than I do? In response, more adrenaline kicked in and the cramp was gone. As the fish approached the boat, it was clear it was starting to tire and so I guided it to the bank. The battle was over-and I had never felt so alive. I went down to the water to claim my trophy.
