Why We Don't Bait Fish: Reason #427

November 13, 2008 By: Marshall Cutchin

Jerry Maxwell admits that common sense doesn’t play a large role in reaching the big brown trout of fall, at least when you are toting lawn chairs and beer coolers across slick basaltic rock. “So, with mud-slickened tennis shoes I set out down that 480-foot path with all my tackle, fishing pole, fishing fold-up chair, cooler with 14 beers, live worms and fishing hat to hit that gorgeous piece of river…and made it about 22 feet. Then, Murphy’s Law of Physics took effect and I found myself (and 100 pounds of gear and beer) sliding and bouncing off basalt all the way down (458 feet) to where the lunkers were lying in that hole in the bend of the river.” In the Sierra Mountain Times.