"2004" Angler of the Year

Thomas Venhuizen "V"

"The Passion of the V"

At trout camp there had been a lot of talk. Anglers making predictions about the season ahead. It is fairly common to hear the stories of past years, the large trout, the angling expertise. Almost everything was exactly how it should be this year except one camper who seemed overly researved and focused. V was quiet and kept to himself. This was out of the ordinary and looking back I realize he knew before the season even began that he was going to be "The Angler of the Year".

V didn't even fish during the daylight hours this year. On the days that we got to the river early he would leave his rod in its case until the sun went down and the stars appeared in the sky. He was in the boat when another angler caught a nice trout. As I celebrated with the angler and we took pictures, V laughed. He was not laughing with us but at us. I remember feeling scared at that moment. I saw something in his eyes that night. He was preparing to battle some very large trout.

When I became a guide several years ago I learned to read fisherman early on in the trip. I could tell if a man was serious about catching a trophy before he ever made a cast. Most of the time my clients are interested in the experience. If they catch a nice fish its a bonus. V changed all of that for me. He was so focused and ready that each time he arrived I felt nervous. I knew we were going to have an altercation with a big trout. You should understand that V is a lefty. His friends have even come up with a name for his cast - "The Lazy V". His reputation is that of a laid back, fun loving, relaxed fisherman. This summer he became the aggressive, tight lipped, focused angler that any guide loves to have in the front of his boat.

The Results

These two fish were caught on the same night on the mainstream of the AuSable in Conners Flats. Tom caught them both on on a HEX spinner. The Brown Trout was 17 inches and gave V a good fight. The Rainbow was taken an hour later and still remains a contraversial fish. The other angler in the boat (Chris) had been working this fish for several hours and could not get it to take his HEX spinner. After an hour of tough negotiation V was given the go ahead to cast and within seconds he had the fished hooked. Nice fight too. This rainbow circled the boat and gave him a run for his money. But V caught on to every trick and stayed focused. The rainbow measured 16 inches but had the fight of a much larger fish. V's trophy was caught on the Manistee river during the HEX. Fishing with Bob Smock Jr. he battled and landed a 20 incher. The first of his angling career. There was no photograph taken but we trust his word.

As I have reported the end of the HEX can be a very depressing time for all anglers. I found myself going back to fishing in the afternoons and early evenings. Throwing any pattern that might bring a six or eight inch trout to the surface. I spent hour after hour releasing small trout and dreaming of next years HEX season. This fall when V called and asked for a meeting on the river I knew there was something happening. After such a strong HEX season he had to have something up his sleave. We met on the Manistee around 7:00 PM. He told me to bring Woody II and to make sure I left the lights on at Sprouting Pines because I would be getting home late. That night on the river V had mice on the brain. He was determined to catch another lunker before the end of the season and he was going to do at night. The mouse pattern was his only chance and he knew it. I can't be 100% sure but I don't think V has slept more than three hours a night this entire season. He knew he would have to fish at night if he were to catch another big trout.

Our first trip did not produce. We moved fish that night but no hook ups. We had to try again and so we did. On September 14th, 2004 we made another voyage down the Manistee. Chris joined us and we had the makings of a perfect night of fishing. at 10:45 PM on one of the darkest nights of the summer V hooked and landed this nice Brown Trout on a Mouse pattern. He is "The Angler of the Year".