Early morning sunlight casts a hint of gold on the hills behind me as I find myself once again knee deep in Mann Lake while holding a 20" Lahontan cutthroat trout. Mann Lake is located in South Eastern Oregon about 80 miles south of the small town of Burns. This is sage covered high desert country with an abundance of mule deer, antelope, coyote and chucker visible most days along with the beautiful Steens Mountains as a backdrop. There is just about no other place I would rather be.

Mann Lake is the place they were talking about when they said, "If you don't like the weather, just wait five minutes ...It will change". Extreme! Mann Lake is where I discovered fly fishing for the first time. My good friend Bill Johnston taught me how to cast and tie flies at this vary lake. What I experienced that first day changed my life in regards to my whole perspective on fishing.

Quoting Bill regarding fly fishing ..."It's Slow Motion Fishing".

For the first time I was not bothered by catching only one fish in a weekend. A new fishing challenge with so much more to it. Though one fish a weekend was not our experience at this lake full of Lahontan Cutthroat. My first day wadding through the shallow waters rewarded me with over 30-fish and as many as 60-fish or more on other days. No trout under eighteen inches, most were twenty and twenty four inches or larger. It was the most insane fishing I had ever ...well, experienced.

My good friend Bill has since passed away, lost his battle with cancer and I am forever grateful to him for his friendship, humor and knowledge of the Great outdoors.

Click the "Next" button on the right to view Bill with a large rainbow trout.

Thanks again Buddy ...and how about another cigar?

-Eddie