Catch and cook a fish

“In a flash, my six-weight was bent over under the strain of a feisty rainbow. With limited gear, notably the absence of a net, wrestling a fish onto a float tube can be a bit tricky. Thankfully, the rainbow was cooperative and after a quick rap on the head with my Leatherman, I cut the gills to bleed him out. [...] To prepare the fish, I filleted and portioned out the trout into about three chunks per fillet. In a hot pan, I seared the trout skin side down, flipping once the skin had crisped up. These small trout take a surprisingly short amount of time to cook; once they’re opaque, they’re done.”

“After a long hike in the beating sun, there’s nothing quite like paddling around in a float tube with sore knees submerged in the icy waters. Despite being a scorching hot day, the lake water was not something you’d dive into without immediately hyperventilating, so I was thankful I’d hiked up a pair of packable waders. Armed with polarized sunglasses, I surveyed the water for any fish sign, be it a rising fish, insect life or spots that looked particularly fishy. For a good hour I fought the wind, paddling around the lake dragging a leech pattern trying to get an idea of what the score was, but to no avail.”