I started fishing for trout just before dawn at the big dock by the amphitheater. I was fishing with a friend, and we worked our way up along the western shore and back. Had one pole rigged with an egg sinker rig and power eggs, the other with a chrome kastmaster. I would cast and retrieve for a while, then still fish with power eggs for a bit. When we had no action, we'd move on down a ways and repeat. My friend was fishing with earthworms on the bottom, or on a bobber. Neither of us had so much as a bite for well over three hours. We talked to one guy who had recently gotten three rainbows in a fifteen minute period, so that kept us going.

Eventually we got back near where we started, at the little dock the WDFW uses for putting in the planters. I was about ready to call it quits, but I thought I would give it one last shot, and I borrowed one of my friends worms. I threw it out on the same egg sinker rig I was using for the power eggs. Before I even had a chance to put the rod in the holder I felt a strong tug, and I set the hook. My pole bent over, and the drag started screaming. The fish was pulling with such force that I realized I must have a carp on the line, and I started to worry about that six pound leader I was using. The last time I unexpectedly caught a carp, I had not brought a net with me, and the line snapped right at the dock before we could come up with a plan to land it. Fortunately this time I had a net with me, but I still had visions of that leader snapping. It made several runs and I fought it back to the dock, while my friend got the net ready. I couldn't believe my eyes when we got it in the net and on the dock. It was a 12.5 pound carp. I was buzzing with adrenalin after that unexpected fight. Not exactly the 12" rainbow I had in mind when I left the house. I asked my friend to take a whole bunch of pictures, then we gave it a weigh and put it back in the water. It swam off seemingly no worse for the wear. I was smiling from ear to ear for the rest of the day.

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