8 Nothing that veterans of the White River would consider a trophy fish, but all fish landed from a surface take are trophies to me. With the water up, Jason thought we would take a swing and swing some streamers. Again, we are targeting bigger fish. I’m not too proud to admit that I spent more time fighting with the motor than I did fish. Just a reminder that I have a long way to go as a fly angler, but that hasn’t kept me from having a world of fun trying. After each satisfying day on the water, we returned to the lodge for a cold beer, a hot shower, and fantastic food. This experience was a birthday trip for me, and I indulged in a bacon-wrapped filet and Oreo cheesecake for dessert. And yeah, it was good. Over the past several years, I have been blessed with traveling to some incredible places to hunt or fish. Usually, when the trips are over, I am generally ready to return home. However, two destinations have given me pause and a feeling that I could stay and continue my experience. The White River Inn was one of those trips that instantly made me comfortable and relaxed. I worried about nothing during my stay, and everything was taken care of so I could have an absolute focus on the task at hand. There is tremendous value in being present, completely immersed in the process of something you love, disconnected from all the mundane thoughts, tasks, and obligations of the modern world. That is how you increase the value of your most precious asset, your time. I was home for five days and booked for the following in May. Fast forward to May of this year, I found myself there again! I can honestly say that the second trip did not disappoint. The hatch may have been a bit light, but the weather was great, and the fish were hungry. Our guide, Matt Stinnett, at White River Fly Anglers, was fantastic, and the food was killer. I slept like a baby, drank like a fish, and cast like Flip. Well, at least a couple of times. Catching fish on dries never gets old, and you just want to watch a 20-plus-inch brown eat a hopper repeatedly. We worked the banks harder on this trip and brought close to ten if not more, 20-plus-inch browns to the net. The White River is an outstanding fishery, and the White River Inn is as good as it gets.
