Crater Lakes: The Reward of Being Stubborn.

She rose in greeting...only once. The perfect lady, she kept us waiting. Baiting with brook trout we could see -- but please, do not touch. Kept safe behind glass walls. Right there, just beyond reach. The trout were finicky. And deep. Every time we thought we had them figured out, turns out we didn't.  Appetites change, loving in youth what cannot be endured in age. Altered with age...by the minute.

The water was clear, as were the refusals. Over and over and over again. Like a high school boy just not taking the hint, we asked her out again...and again...and again. Accepting a few times, she toyed with us. Letting Jay and I each touch a few trout, here and there, playing along a bit, showing us that there was still hope. But, not much. Even so, I think she enjoyed the attention.

We kept on following the trail, casting the whole way round; and, were given crumbs along the way. Though, just enough to keep us hungry. This, the most desperate state -- just enough. Too much feeds no interest, and semi-starvation breeds adaption. But just enough, is never so. Yet, we had just enough to make it around the lake. Walking the circumference, like foxes stalking a coop...

.....hungry.

Snagged and frustrated, Jay said, "I'm fine with leaving, whenever you are."
"Ok, same goes for you." I replied, equally snagged and equally frustrated.
"Yep."

That conversation obviously quickly forgotten, we both unsnagged, re-rigged and kept on casting, not wanting to be the first to quit. Evenglow peaked over the continental divide finding us deep in its cirque, and reaching to rises finally breaking the glass.

Quickly now, tie on a Parachute Adams. Cast along the bank. A pine bough graveyard of leaders and flies -- it's difficult, and awkward...but you'll be rewarded. 

"This is what we get for being stubborn, eh?" Jay said, grinning with another brookie on a dry. And as I waded out  through a log jam to release my last trout of the day, I smiled....this is more than enough...

And yet, I'm still hungry.