Trout Quintet by Steve Raymond

Author:Steve Raymond
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
Published: 2016-02-01T16:00:00+00:00

The letter was signed by someone named Carl Seifer and included a telephone number and email address for his assistant.

Seifer’s name sounded vaguely familiar, though I wasn’t sure why, so I went on the Internet and searched. What I found made me whistle. There were hundreds of articles about Seifer, a reclusive, eccentric billionaire software developer who seemed as cryptic as his name. Details of his background were sparse, but I learned he had never married and his only interest other than software appeared to be fly fishing. A pair of recent articles also described the purchase of a 60,000-acre Montana ranch by an anonymous buyer who was rumored to be Seifer. His letter seemed to confirm that.

Next I looked at the brochure, which advised that “the spring creek fishing at Troutwaters Lodge can be difficult and is not for the faint of heart. Trout in these creeks average several pounds and fish as large as ten pounds have been caught. Many are taken on dry flies by anglers of sufficient experience and skill. Cutthroat fishing in the freestone creek is somewhat easier, and although five-pound trout are not unusual, the average size is not as large as in the other creeks.”

There was information on what to wear and what tackle to bring, including a selection of fly patterns, but the brochure also advised that the lodge could provide virtually anything an angling guest might need or desire. As for what it would cost for a week’s stay, the brochure said only “please inquire about seasonal rates.” To my mind, that meant it was expensive.

The brochure had lots of color photos, including the usual assortment of “hero” shots—grinning anglers holding up obscenely large trout—a close-up or two of adult mayflies, some scenic views of the streams, and a large photo of the lodge. The lodge reminded me of a Cabela’s superstore at first glance, but a longer look revealed a structure much more tasteful in appearance. There was also a close-up of a sample of the lodge cuisine, an unidentifiable but delectable-looking creation posed tantalizingly on a china plate next to a glass of deep red wine. I wondered if anybody had eaten the dish, whatever it was, after the photo was taken.

There also was a map of the property, showing the location of the lodge and the three streams, but nothing else. There was no clue as to exactly where in Montana it was situated.

The brochure was impressive, though, and its descriptions made Troutwaters Lodge sound like a welcome change from the mediocrity of my recent Alaska trip, so I turned to my calendar to search for dates when I might go. It looked as if a three-day slot in mid-June was the only time I’d be able to get away. That was less than the week I’d been invited to stay, but it seemed the best I could do while spring hatches might still be under way, so I sat down and wrote an email to Seifer’s assistant.

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