I caught a couple of browns in the 12 to 13 inch range and lost 3 or 4 more. The odds were stacked against me because I don’t use waders and there were tracks of other anglers all over the banks of the section of river I was fishing. I fished for a couple of hours and headed back to the in-laws to eat.  Dinner was not yet ready when I got there, so I picked up Footsteps and started reading.

I can’t explain how much I enjoyed it. The stories were real: funny, relatable, some left me a little misty eyed. It was quite refreshing to read about spinner bait fishing for trout for a change. It seems that everything written about trout fishing involves a fly rod. I would like to learn fly fishing some day, but I currently don’t have the time or money to do so. Another thing I loved was the fact that Thurston had no problem throwing baits as large as a no.3 mepps, which has been my bait of choice for quite a few years. Friends I fish with and people I meet on the stream all seem to be locked in on using tiny baits for trout. Some even see my no.3 Black Fury on the end of my line and ask, “Are you actually going to use that for trout?” to which I reply, “Big lure, big fish.”

I finished reading Following in the Footsteps of Ernest Hemingway around noon on Easter Sunday. Once I started reading it I couldn’t quit. I wasn’t planning on fishing at all that day, but Thurston had me so fired up (and with dinner not being for another 3 hours) I was eager to test some of his theories. I heard the trout calling so I jumped in the car and headed for the Pine.

I drove further down stream than the previous day. I pulled into the park in Rockbridge and walked down to the water for a look. Visibility was at 12 inches and I contemplated getting in the car and heading back, but just for the heck of it I threw my black maribou up under the bridge. To my surprise about a nine incher crushed it. I figured, what the heck; I fished for about an hour until thunder and lightning forced me back to the car. I caught two browns in the 14 to 15 inch range and only lost a couple.

I headed back for Easter Ham. I wondered if Thurston ever fished maribou jigs.  I use spinners most of the time but for many years, back as far as when early trout season started in January, I used maribou jigs: one-eighth ounce black ones. The trout just tear them up, but in the beginning or middle of May, depending on how warm of a spring we’ve had, the trout quit going after them. Then I switch to spinners—which is something I know Thurston and I agree on.

Thurston’s book also convinced me to go out and get some waders.  For years I fished from the bank with knee high rubber boots and caught lots of big trout.  But the combination of reading Following in the Footsteps of Ernest Hemingway and the fact that I am now married and a homeowner made me get waders. When I was single I had so much more time to fish that it didn’t bother me to pass up great spots. My fishing time is more precious now, and there are so many more of Thurston’s tips that I want to try, waders will help a lot.  Thank you, Jay Thurston, and good fishing to you!

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