I knew the day he arrived in my life that there was something special about Smokey. I just didn't know exactly what it was and it took a serious downturn in my fishing life to discover Smokey's truly amazing gift.
The downturn I referto happened during trout season and I found myself suffering from "NCD", translated meaning "no catch disease". On my last several outings I came away 3 and 0. That is three trips and zero trout. Needless to say I was despondent, depression had started setting in and I was seriously considering "angler analysis" with a fishing therapist. I found myself watching late night talk shows, searching and seeking for any available information similar to the situation I was experiencing. I was becoming quickly sleep deprived, because not only would I stay up late looking for information, I would rise early trying to catch as many "fishing shows" hoping and praying they would have a segment on NCD. Although all of these outlets fell through and I was seriously considering therapy, I wasn't quite ready for a therapist and his deep monotone boring questions...at least just not now.
I decided to give the trout one more try before seeking help and it was a beautiful Sunday morning that I chose for the fateful adventure.
As I was dressing and gearing up for the trip I noticed Smokey watching my every move and it was then and there in my living room, watching Charles Osgood, I thought "why not?" I asked Smokey if he wanted to go and his response was an excited leaping, barking, turning circles YES! I thought it would be pretty cool and about time for me to have a "sporting dog" so were in the truck and off we go!
Smokey is a solid black miniature poodle. Allright now....try not and laugh too hard. Oh yeah, go ahead...I can just see all you folks out there with your big "Black Labs" or your big "Red Setters", your "Walkers" and your "Black and Tans", just rolling on the floor with hysterical laughter asking yourself what kind of guy would choose a poodle for a sports dog?
Well now, before you laugh yourself into a hernia let me give you some interesting information. Poodles were used quite extensively for hunting and sporting purposes in the 16th and 17th century. Indeed, they were used to hunt ducks, used in falconry, as guides and what was known as "arrows and truffles". HA HA!What do ya think about that?!!! In addition, such notable figures as Winston Churchill, Charles Dickens, and John Caius were proud owners of the hunting and sporting breed known as the poodle (then called spaniels).
In any case, I will betcha' my dog can do something your dog can't. You see, Smokey sets point on trout!
That's right, he is a trout scout with a snout!
The great thing about Smokey is not only will he tell you where the trout are, he will also tell you where there are no trout. Here is how it works. If Smokey is working the water and he suddenly stops and raises his right front paw.....well, you can bet there is trout in these waters, however, if Smokey is working the water and he suddenly stops and hikes his right rear leg...well, I hope you can picture what this action symbolizes. Putting it in other words, it means "Phooey on this place, no trout here, let's go."
One fellow from Claremore, Oklahoma heard about Smokey and this guy drove all the way down just to see for himself. To say the least he was a "Doubting Thomas." So Smokey and myself loaded this gentleman in the pickup and drove him to Blue River. Here, Smokey went to work.
We had been on Blue just a short while when Smokey set point on a pool of water directly below a waterfall. The gentleman from Claremore got his fishing gear ready, cast into the pool and "BAM" landed a trout. Although happy with the result, he quickly dismissed it as luck.
We proceeded on and Smokey stopped at the next pool of water and quickly hiked his leg. I promptly informed the "Doubting Thomas" that there were no fish here. But he insisted on trying his luck. After about thirty casts and no results, this man of little faith, this "Doubting Thomas" had become a believer.
And on this day at the beautiful Blue River, a non-believer from Claremore, Oklahoma attested and laid, I believe, the highest accolades Smokey should ever expect to receive. The gentleman told us that he had been to a world's fair and a lot of goat roping's but he had never seen anything like what he witnessed today. How's that for a kudos?
It wasn't long after this event that we started receiving calls from all these different televisions shows such as "Crazy Amazing Animals", and "Zany Crazy Canines", and the same late night talk shows I had sought for answers prior. They were wanting Smokey to enter the limelight, stand in the spotlight, become famous for fifteen minutes....but Smokey declined. We agreed, Smokey and I, this just wasn't our thing. We loved what we loved, and that was relaxing, no hurry time or stress, just being a part of the Blue.
Smokey and I have been to the Blue many times now and he always goes directly to work. Smokey even caught a fish one day. I remember that day distinctly. I noticed he was working the water terribly close to it's edge and suddenly he set down hard on point and I do mean hard. Before I could blink an eye, "SPLASH", Smokey was in the water and just as suddenly as he was in he came out with a 12 inch rainbow in his jaws. Well....Smokey was feeling pretty good about this feat, but I had to chastise him and remind him he didn't have a valid Oklahoma fishing license or for that fact a trout stamp. My message must have got through because he has never repeated this wistful action.
So folks, if you are ever have the opportunity to be on the beautiful Blue River and you see something that looks like a solid black fur ball bouncing, leaping, and hopping along the edge of the water leading a fellow wearing a cowboy hat, then be sure that Smokey, the amazing trout scout with a snout, is in the hunt.
