I finally made my trip to the river. I had been longing for this day for a few weeks now. It had been over a year since I had made this solitary float down the Clinch River. There are so many beautiful areas to put and take out. But I picked one of my favorites. I like it because it has enough shoals to congregate the fish during the summer heat. And since the water is low, there are plenty of places to park the kayak and get out and cast into several hidden holes. I spent the first hour only a few yards from the place I launched. I didn’t want to bypass some of the best fishing spots just because they were so close. And since I had arrived a few minutes before daylight, I knew I would be fishing at a key time. And I was right. It only took a few casts to land my first smallmouth. But that was just a part of what made it a perfect day to be there.
As I said earlier, I had planned to go a few weeks before. Even though I didn’t have a certain day in mind, this particular Monday ended up being the best day for me to go. My son followed me to the place where I would leave my truck, and then took me to my launch. He left, and I loaded the kayak for my 5-hour float. I couldn’t have picked a better day. The weather was perfect. The water was perfect. The scenery was perfect. And the smallmouth were eager enough to give me a productive day. But it wasn’t just the fishing that soothed my soul. It was the whole experience. It was the bald eagle and the beaver. It was the river otter and the crane. It was the solitude of the current and the shout of creation. I was enamored by the beauty of what only God could put together. It was a harmony that natural selection could never replicate. But I plan on trying to replicate it again very soon by taking another trip. Because once you experience the rush of God bombarding you with his first language, you can’t help but find a way to sit at his feet once again.
Gary Miller
gary@outdoortruths.org
Gary Miller has written Outdoor Truths articles for over 21 years.
He has also written five books which include compilations of his
articles and a father/son devotional. He also speaks at wild-game
dinners and men’s events for churches and associations.