Sunday, October 13, 2013

caught & released, but still 'captured'

I caught and released a 7 or 8 pound spring salmon around 7:45 am today. I was standing in a foot of water and was able to quickly get it stream side, into a pebbly shallow. I lifted it out of the water, looking at it with awe and excitement. It may have been the largest live fish I'd ever held in my hands. I noticed the adipose fin and, as a wild, knew the fish would have to go back. I gently submerged it upcurrent in the Coquitlam River and - after a powerful tail-fin swish - let it go on its way, retaining only the memory ... but, oh, so tightly.