Roy Tassava

Brook Trout and Uncle Willy Roy Tassava

"Hey Jim buddy, after we finish the farm chores today, what do you say we go down to the crick and see if we can catch some brook trout." Uncle Willy sensed that his 9 year old nephew, Jim, was ready to be introduced to brook trout fishing. Thus began a long-lasting nephew-uncle relationship that led to a strong bond for each and a mutual love for the brook trout. Their many fishing adventures, often including Jim's buddies, are told and illustrated with genuine enthusiasm and realism, taking us to the stream, beaver pond, or lake, and providing a real feeling of participation. They catch, clean, fry, and eat brook trout on the crick bank. Together they build a log raft from which they catch brook trout in a beaver pond. To gain access to even more fishing sites, Jim helps Uncle Willy build a canvas-covered canoe. Jim and his buddies search out a secret beaver pond and are mesmerized by dozens of brook trout rising for flies. Weeks later they hear about a hidden lake and decide that it too must be teeming with large trout. So, they pack food and fishing gear, and after hours of trudging through brush and mud, find the lake and view its crystal clear water. These adventures bring the boys together in body and mind. Finally, Jim, now near retirement, brings his 86 year old Uncle Willy to the beautiful trout stream that flows cold and clear through his own property. They catch trout, enjoy each other's company, and reminisce about their experiences 50 years earlier. Uncle Willy says, "I remember when you caught your first trout from Crooked Crick. It wasn't so big but it sure was exciting." And Jim says, "I remember when we built a log raft to fish that beaver pond. You caught that colorful 12 incher the first evening and it slipped between the logs back into the water. You laughed and said, 'Don't worry, we'll catch more,' and we sure have."