Green River Brown 

Kenneth and I have gone to Green River Cove turkey hunting. We will fish if we do not have any luck with the turkey's. At about 1:00 observe a moment of silence cause I will have just caught a monster brown, right! Blake you be good at school. Have a nice day Kiva, I Love You Both, see ya this evening, Rick.

This was the note I left on the kitchen table that morning for my wife and son. It was the opening day of turkey season 4 years ago. My friend, co-worker and brother in Christ Kenneth Meece and myself had a big day ahead of us. Upon arriving down in the cove we were greeted by a howling wind. Hoping it wouldn't affect the birds too much, we headed back into an old home place we knew about with several small fields surrounded by high ridges and dense thickets. By 11 am we had not heard one single gobble, so we decided to scratch hunting and catch a fish.

Green River has usually done me right as far as fishing is concerned. I usually spinner fish, while Kenneth loves his crawlers. I knew of a huge hole farther down river so away we went. As we approached the hole we realized that it was going to be tough to even get to the water. The banks were high and undercut, not to mention the acre briar thicket we somehow had to get through. As I started my way into that mess I sure missed my machete. I could hear Kenneth grumbling behind me as a saw briar tried to remove my left ear.

At this point I took my fishing pole apart to make it shorter and I ran towards the river. That really was stupid but I made it. I jumped down onto a sand bar and walked out to the head of the hole. The river above us was about 30 yards across but funneled down to about 15 where it entered a long run before a huge slow green hole. My son had used my pole last so it had a hook on it instead of a spinner. So to save time I asked Ken for a night crawler. I threaded it on the hook and flipped it to the head of the hole. Before ever closing the bell on my reel, I took a dip of skoal, if I'd been an avid worm fisherman I would have done that before baiting my hook.

Anyway, I then wet my hand in the river and wiped my face, I dripped some water on my sunglasses so next I cleaned them. Finally I was ready to fish. I slowly reeled in some line to see just where I was. First I thought I had snagged a rock since my line was still at the head of the hole. I kept slowly easing in line until I felt a light pull. I just lightly flipped my wrist and a monster brown rolled up almost at my feet. He saw me about the same time I saw him. As he headed for the lower end of the hole all I could do was hang on.

I had 6 LB test and a light action rod and believe me it was getting a workout. I hollered for help, if I hadn't seen the fish I would have been a lot better off. He rolled and rolled, I prayed and prayed. After approximately 25 minutes I landed a male brown trout 28 inches long and weighing just under 8 pounds. After a mighty "Thank You Jesus", I looked at my watch and it was 10 minutes after 1. Some places in the world this fish was a baby, but for me it was a trophy of a lifetime. I don't know the reason God smiled on me that afternoon, I'm just mighty thankful that he did.

Many times you'll find that the big one gets away, just keep on fishing and say it wasn't meant to be. One thing that is meant to be however is the fact that you need Jesus Christ in your life every single day. He died for us, he loves us, and for some he's been fishing for a long time. Don't miss out on your God given birthright. The next time Jesus casts his word in your direction grab it, swallow it and wait to be reeled in. You yourself can become one of Gods trophies. Imagine that, God Himself looking at us as prized possessions. He does you know, each one of us is as important to him as the next one. He cares and loves us all just as He did Jesus Christ His only Son.

 God Bless,
Rick Fuller
4 Outdoorsmen Ministries 

The glory which You have given to Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one. I in them and You in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, so that the world may know that You sent Me and loved them, even as You have loved Me. John 12:22-23

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