By Nate Dean

By Tommy Ladson

As a senior in high school, I thought I owed it to myself to take a "sick" day from school and do a little fishing this week. It was the best decision I ever made!

I woke up early and got all of my fishing gear packed and ready to go. I met my girlfriend, Alli, at her house, and we were on our way. I decided to go to an old fishing hole my grandfather showed me on the Lehigh River when I was a little boy. After what seemed like a 10-mile walk, we finally got to the spot, which was under an old bridge. Once we got there we came across an old man fishing with his fly rod. He said he was trying to catch a huge fish out in the deep hole of the river, but he couldn't get him to bite. I looked out into a deep swirling hole and that is where I saw him: a huge rainbow trout. At first glance it looked like it had to be at least 30 inches long, but when it comes to fish I always exaggerate. Who doesn't?