Almost There...

Yup, I'm almost there. I say "there" meaning my claim to the Grand Slam of Trout in New Mexico. Each of the four trout species I've caught and released to date was an exciting step toward my goal this year. And, this past week I added another species toward completion of the required trout list.

My buddy Steve was with me for two of these New Mexico trout species...the treasured Gila Trout and Rainbow Trout. He also guided me to a bonus fish for my first-time catch with the Arizona native, Apache Trout. All three of these beauties were caught during our southwest adventure through New Mexico and Arizona.

My home waters are primarily Brown Trout fisheries these days, and I've netted a bunch of these wild Brown Trout this year. The most special trout memory I have was just last week when Sylvia and I were enjoying the beautiful landscapes in our northern most parts of New Mexico. That trip claimed a checkoff with our state fish, the Rio Grande Trout...and we added some Brown Trout as a bonus. This trip was special for many reasons, but mostly because Sylvia was by my side as we explored and fished the area's streams. A precious memory for me.

For now, to reach my goal, I will need to slide a Brook Trout into my landing net before end of year. I know exactly where I'll make this catch. It's just a matter of getting a free day to make the trip, and hopefully it will be sooner than later!