Adventures of Pudge

WYOMING SUMMER: PART III

Fourth of July was approaching and Pudge’s dad said they could go on a camping trip to the mountains. Pudge could

invite Cliff along but if he did they would need to find another tent as the Hammonds’ tent wasn’t large enough for four

people. Pudge decided to call Cliff on the phone to see if Cliff’s family had a tent they could use.

“Hi Cliff, we’re going camping over the 4^th and Mom and Dad said I could ask you to come.”

“I’d like to, let me ask my dad,” Cliff replied.

After a short delay Cliff came back on the phone. “Dad says it’s okay but I don’t have a fly rod. Do you have an extra I

can borrow?”

“I’ll have to ask Dad about that,” Pudge replied. “We’ll work out something. But we have another problem, our tent isn’t

big enough for four people. Can you find another tent we can use?”

Both Cliff and Pudge agreed they would work on those problems and talk to each other later.

That evening Pudge brought up the subject of a fly rod for Cliff. Mr. Hammond said he had an old one Cliff could use but

they would need to tie more flies, or buy some, if they were available.

“What about a tent?” Mr. Hammond asked. “Does Cliff have one?”

“He’s going to find out and call me back,” Pudge answered.

Mr. Hammond then suggested he could give Pudge a lesson in how to tie a fly if Pudge was interested. Pudge jumped

at the chance. To not only catch a large trout but to do so with a fly he had tied would be super. Pudge followed his dad into

the spare room, which was being used as an office. Here Mr. Hammond retrieved a large box from the closet. When he put

it down on the desk Pudge noticed that the box had many small drawers in it and that each drawer contained hooks or

feathers or small pieces of animal fur, and many other items unknown to Pudge. There was also one larger drawer that

contained a tiny pair of scissors and several other strange tools.

“This is my fly tying kit that I put together years ago but haven’t used for a long time,” explained Mr. Hammond. “With

what’s in these drawers I can tie most of the kinds of flies we might need. It’s been such a long time, though, that I’ll probably

be very slow at it and might nt be able to tie very many. But you can try some too, if you like.”

“Oh boy,” exclaimed Pudge.

In the next hour Mr. Hammond tied two tiny flies which he called “Adams.” As he worked he explained each step to

Pudge and repeated several steps that were difficult to follow. When he had finished the second fly he suggested that

Pudge try his hand at it. Pudge fumbled and tied and snarled and unsnarled for the next half hour, each time with advice

from his dad about what to do next. At the end of that time Pudge had a creation that didn’t look anything like his dad’s.

“The trout may laugh at it but if it will float it will probably catch a fish,” joked Mr. Hammond. “But, just in case, we’ll try a

few more tomorrow, perhaps a different pattern. We’ll need to have about two dozen or more if we’re to have enough.”

Following this Pudge called Cliff to let him know about the fly rod that Cliff could use, and to ask about the tent.

“Dad called his brother,” said Cliff. “He’s a scoutmaster in Wirth, which is about 20 miles from here. Uncle Jack has a

tent we can borrow that will sleep two. Maybe we could sleep in that and your parents in your tent “ “Sounds like a good

idea,” responded Pudge. “I’ll tell my dad.” After they hung up Pudge went out on the porch where his mom and dad were

listening to the radio and told them about the tent Cliff had located. They both thought that was a swell idea.

For the next several days Pudge and his parents got together all the gear they would need for the camping trip. Cliff’s

father brought over the tent he had borrowed and added it to the growing pile. Besides the two tents there were sleeping

bags, an ice chest, a camp stove with fuel for it, piles of clothing, and many other items they would need including their

fishing tackle and several boxes of food. Pudge wondered how they would ever get it all into the station wagon along with

their four bodies.

Pudge and his dad were able to tie a few more flies during that time, including some that looked like mosquitoes. At

least the ones Mr. Hammond tied looked like mosquitoes. Pudge’s creations would have been difficult to name but Mr.

Hammond was sure they would float and let Pudge know he was proud of his accomplishments.

When departure day arrived they were all up early and immediately after breakfast began to load things into the car. Cliff

arrived with his clothes and personal gear. Mr. Hammond had borrowed a basket that could be strapped on top of the car;

many bulky items went into this. Somehow, everything fit.

At nine o’clock they all climbed into the car and were off. They drove on the same bumpy road they had taken on their

first fishing trip and within an hour were weaving their way higher and higher into the mountains. As they climbed the road

became rougher and the river smaller as they crossed a number of tributary streams.

“Jim Parker, at the hardware store, told me we should find a large clearing along about here, with a fireplace already

built and plenty of firewood,” said Mr.Hammond a few minutes later “The fishing is supposed to be good, too.”

About 15 minutes later they spotted what looked like the place Mr. Parker had described and stopped to investigate.

“This must be the place,” said Mr. Hammond. “I can see a fireplace over there at the edge of the clearing and plenty of

firewood.”

When they investigated further they also found a small spring bubbling up about 100 yards away, across the road from

the clearing.

“Perfect,” said Pudge’s dad. “Now we won’t have to boil water before drinking it.” They then proceeded to unload the

car in a clear space between two trees.

“This should be a good place to set up,” declared Mr. Hammond. “We want to be far enough away from the river so we

don’t pollute it. We can set up our kitchen next to the fireplace. Pudge, why don’t you and Cliff gather some firewood while

your mother and I set up the tents. Stack it between those trees near the fire. Make sure you get kindling also.”

The boys went off to work at their jobs while Mr. and Mrs. Hammond went to work on the tents. While they were

gathering one load from across the road they heard Pudge’s dad utter a loud yell. Pudge ran over to see what was wrong.

“We, somehow, don’t have the poles that go with Cliff’s tent,” explained Mr. Hammond. “We’ll have to scout around for

some we can cut. Why don’t you two boys come with me and help me find some while Mrs. Hammond sets up the kitchen.”

The boys were chagrined at this news but it didn’t turn out to be a serious problem. They were soon able to find several

long branches that had fallen from one of the pine trees By making a tripod at each end and placing a long pole to connect

them they were able to erect the tent.

“Not as neat as some tents I’ve seen,” said Mr. Hammond. “But I think it will stand up unless we have high winds. Don’t

lean on the poles, though.”

In the meantime, Mrs. Hammond had the kitchen gear all set up and watched them as they worked. “Looks like an elephant

sat on it,” she said. “Let’s hope he doesn’t return.”

After the boys collected several loads of firewood Mr. Hammond suggested they all go fishing. Within a few minutes

they had their fly rods set up and boots on their feet. They walked up the river a short distance and found a stretch Mr.

Hammond said looked like it would hold fish.

“One of the other skills you need to learn in trout fishing, in addition to casting your fly, is how to read the water. There

are sections of a stream more likely to have trout than others. If you learn which ones they are, and fish them correctly, you’ll

catch more fish. It’s something you learn by experience but I’ll try to show you as we fish.”

Following this explanation Mr. Hammond waded into the water and proceeded to cast toward a long ripple that ran along

the opposite shore. His fly floated easily along on the edge of the fast water, with Mr. Hammond constantly handlining the

extra line through the guides of his rod, gathering this extra line in coils as he did.

Soon he had a good-sized trout on and was able to creel it after a short battle.The boys watched, fascinated.

“Now it’s your turn,” he remarked.

“I’ll watch for a while to see if I can learn how,” said Cliff.

Upstream, Mrs. Hammond also caught a fine trout which she kept for their evening meal. Mr. Hammond and the boys

went past her to another beautiful pool where they waded in and Pudge began to cast. Occasionally his dad called out to

him, suggesting something he needed to correct in his casting. In a short time Pudge was able to cast and retrieve his fly

without any need for correction but they moved to another pool before he had his first strike.

Pudge missed several strikes and then, finally was able to hook a beautifully colored rainbow trout that darted first

upstream, then downstream, in an attempt to shake the hook. It was not able to do so and in a few minutes Pudge caught his

first trout, smaller than the ones his parents had kept but prized nevertheless.

They then moved further upstream to a pool large enough for all four of them to spread out and fish. At first, Mr.

Hammond worked with Cliff, giving him the same kind of instructions he had given Pudge on their earlier trip. Cliff was a

natural at it and in no time was casting as well as Pudge. Then, Mr. Hammond also returned to his fishing.

About an hour later it was decided that they had better quit for the day as they needed time to prepare dinner and clean

up afterward before it got dark. They had kept a dozen fish which Mrs. Hammond would prepare for them along with some

rice and a large can of New England baked beans.

Later, as it began to get dark, they sat around the camp fire relaxing and talking about the big fish they were going to

catch tomorrow. Mr. Hammond suggested that they pack a lunch and hike further up the river to try some new sections for

fishing. Soon, they were all yawning and swatting mosquitoes, which seemed to have come out in force as soon as it got

dark.

“I think it’s time to turn in,” Mr. Hammond commented. “If we stay out here, we’ll be eaten alive. Be sure to take some

insect repellent into the tent with you. Your tent isn’t as bug proof as ours.”

In the middle of the night Pudge and Cliff were awakened by the sound of something moving outside their tent.

“Do you hear that?” asked Pudge. “I hope it isn’t a bear.”

“Yeah,” replied Cliff. “I hear it.”

Suddenly they heard a thump and a crash and the tent came tumbling down on them. Fortunately, the ridge pole stayed

secure at one end and didn’t fall on them. They shone a flashlight around and discovered that the back end of the tent had

collapsed but not the front.

Then they heard Mr. Hammond calling, “What’s happening out there? Are you boys okay?”

“I think the elephant came back,” said Pudge. “We’re okay but the tent is not.”

When Pudge opened the front of the tent to look out he could see nothing except a light shining in his parents’ tent. In a

short time his dad came out and strode to Pudge’s tent.

“An animal did it,” said Pudge. “He must have been poking around and bumped into the poles at the back.”

They surveyed the damage and decided there was nothing that could be done for the night and the tent seemed secure

enough for everyone to go back to bed.

The next morning when the boys awoke Mr. Hammond had already started a fire and Mrs. Hammond was preparing a

batter for pancakes.

“Well, did you sleep well after your midnight intruder? inquired Mr. Hammond. “I’ve been thinking it was probably a

raccoon that is used to people being near and got curious. We’ll have another look at the tent after breakfast.”

By this time breakfast was ready and the boys felt like they could eat a horse. When Pudge and Cliff finished their after

breakfast chores they wandered over to where Pudge’s dad was surveying it with a bemused look on his face.

“I don’t know why the entire tent didn’t come down,” he remarked. “The other end of the ridge pole was within two inches

of separating. Let’s see what we can do with it.”

They walked all around examining the situation and finally Cliff came up with the suggestion that they use a forked stick

and three lengths of rope to anchor each end. Mr. Hammond thought this an excellent idea and they soon got to work on it.

Less than an hour later they had finished it to everyone’s satisfaction.

“Let’s get a lunch together and go fishing,” suggested Mr. Hammond. “I’d like to follow the river trail for a couple of miles

and try the fishing there.”

A well marked trail followed the river, crossing occasional small tributaries. After following this trail for about an hour they

came to a stretch of river more beautiful than any they had seen so far. Cascades splashed past large boulders creating

pockets of still water that made everyone say, “Ahh!”

“Looks good,” said Mr. Hammond. “Let’s get to it. I think we should spread out, one to a pool and, when one of us has

fished a pool long enough, move up past the rest to the next open pool. We won’t keep any until we’re ready to go back, and

then only enough for a taste. That way we won’t get tired of eating them.”

In a short time they were all spread out along the stream with Pudge at the lowest pool and the others above him. Pudge

began casting and realized that his technique was improving. After losing one fly to a tree branch he attached one of his

own flies to his line and resumed fishing. On his third cast Pudge had a hard strike, which he missed. When he recast to the

same spot the fish rose again and this time was hooked.

Pudge soon knew he had a god-sized fish on. It tore up the stream and back down again, causing Pudge to quickly

follow. For almost ten minutes Pudge played the fish and finally was able to land it. It was a beauty, with a very heavy body.

Pudge guessed it to be about 14 inches long. He admired it for a few seconds before reluctantly releasing it back into the

river.

In the next half hour Pudge worked his way up the river, catching a few more small trout as he did. One section was so

beautiful he stood and gazed around for a few minutes before resuming his fishing. There were cliffs on each side that

dropped vertically to the edge of the river. At the head of this section he could see a small waterfall that dropped with a

thunderous roar into a pool at its foot.

“Well, I can’t catch fish just standing here,” Pudge said to himself. With that he approached the foot of the pool and

began casting. In a short time he caught and released three very small trout, each about eight inches long. As he worked

his way toward the head of the pool he saw movement in the water ahead of him and had a momentary glimpse of a large

trout. Apparently, it was feeding in the shallows at the head of the pool.

Very cautiously Pudge edged his way forward and began to make false casts toward the trout. When he was close

enough for his fly to reach the fish he allowed it to drop very gently onto the water. To Pudge it was a perfect cast. The fish

rose and gulped in his offering, causing Pudge to almost drop his fly rod, he was so excited. He couldn’t believe he had

hooked such a beauty.

Then the challenge began. As soon as Pudge set the hook the fish jumped high into the air in an attempt to dislodge it.

When this wasn’t successful, it took off downstream so fast that Pudge had to run to keep up and also hold his thumb on the

spool so the fish wouldn’t strip all his line. Back and forth they went until Pudge was finally able to reel it in and pull it up on

some rocks at the edge of the stream. Pudge gasped when he got a close look, it was at least 18 inches long.

Pudge was exhausted from his battle with the trout. He lay on his back at the edge of the stream and thought about it.

His dad would be proud of him. No way was he going to throw this one back; this was his prize.

As he lay there Pudge heard a sound to his left where he had tied the fish. Thinking it was one of the others he turned to

say something and there, to his amazement, stood a large black bear with Pudge’s fish between its giant paws. The bear

was actually eating HIS fish.

Not knowing what else to do Pudge yelled at the bear and threw a large rock at it. The bear raised its head, grunted,

and continued eating. Only then did Pudge realize he should be frightened instead of angry.. He yelled at the bear once

more then began running downstream to warn his family.

As he ran he was once again so angry at the bear that he didn’t see his dad coming toward him and ran full tilt into him.

“I heard you shout and decided to see what you were shouting about,” said his dad.

Pudge stood there for a moment trying to catch his breath and finally was able to stammer, “A bear, a bear.” Pudge

pointed in the direction from which he had come and said again, “A bear, a bear.”

“Slow down and talk so I can understand you, said Mr. Hammond. “Did you say a bear?”

Pudge nodded vigorously and pointed again. “He ate my fish.”

By this time they were close enough to see the pool where Pudge had been fishing but there was no sign of the bear.

“Are you sure?” asked Mr. Hammond.

“Yes, he ate my trout,” wailed Pudge.

“Show me where your fish was.”

Pudge led his dad to the place where he had tied his fish. All that remained was the head. By its size Mr. Hammond

could tell it had, indeed, been a large fish.

“I think we had better collect the others and go back to camp,” suggested Mr. Hammond. “Find your fly rod and let’s go.

There’s no telling where the bear is or what he’s going to do next.”

The others tried to calm Pudge down and let him know how sorry they were he had lost his fish. Eventually, Pudge was

able to settle down and even joke about the incident. They then gathered all their gear together and headed back to camp.

That evening, after dinner, the four of them sat around the fire and discussed the bear incident again. They all expressed

the hope that the bear went off in a different direction from where they were.

“We have to go home tomorrow afternoon,” said Mr. Hammond. “Unfortunately, I have to go back to work. We can fish

some more in the morning before we leave.”

Next morning they all fished the river near camp, where each caught several more trout, mostly small ones. Reluctantly,

they then packed up for their return home.