Sharing the Trout

This morning, I woke before 6.  I didn't get up early for the first time in a week.  My pursuit for the Lake Shawnee trout has been accomplished. 

Yesterday, i caught one more making the count four. Sharing the trout yesterday and today has been great.  The funny thing... I did not catch one until I shared the quest with others.  Little JJ and Chuck came Wednesday.  Chuck, in fact, hooked one before me.  I was swearing!  Chuck said later, he felt bad that it was so easy for him!  I guess it was just me.  I caught my first on Wednesday.  Thursday morning was two.  Thursday night was one.  Each one was 18 inches.  I am happy to say, I fed my family with them!
Mom, Marv, and Chuck had a great breakfast yesterday.  Last night, Barb marinated the fillets in Thai seasoning from the "spice man" of the KC farmer's market.  She grilled them on her cedar planks.  It looked beautiful.

Wood Chuck Would

Carver brother Chuck getting his woodchip-flying action on!

Buffalo Gap, Tx Egg Cooker

Thank you, Stace, for the most fantastic egg cooker!

Telepathic fish princess

I have been on a quest.
Lake Shawnee has stocked trout for decades in November and February.  A trout in Kansas seems far-fetched, but I had to try.
I became attached to the little boogers while teaching Job Corps in the northern Black Hills of South Dakota.  Rebecca and Bruce taught me to flyfish.  They taught me a lot.  They taught me their love for the rivers and the mountains.  Flyfishing and rafting.
Trout were my companions in the four corners.  Alta Lakes by Telluride, Colorado was my dream spot.  10,000 feet elevation, the treeline, glaciers, and marmots were the setting for high mountain camping and trout with pink meat.
Now, how could it be that I could have trout five miles from my house?
Every morning since November 3, I have been at the lake trying to catch one!  I woke at 4:30 AM Saturday morning dreaming of catching them by hand.  I better get up for opening day.
I sat with 37 other fishermen.  Frozen and tired, I gave up at 9 AM.  By then, I only saw 6 trout.  Beautiful, beautiful. 
Well, I became relentless.  I have tried the past 5 mornings.  I finally became lucky tonight.  It happened about 10 minutes after sundown.  First, my brother, who came for the first time got a bite and pulled it close.  I was left cursing and almost stomping mad in jealousy!  It got away!  Then one hit mine. 
Tomorrow, Mom and Marv will come for breakfast.

Farmer Fred