So a few years ago at a SNBF event, I was talking to Pinoyfisher about my new position at a new company and he gave a cringe saying something along the lines of "Dude, that place is a mess". Well, he elaborated more, but I have to say was spot on. I literally went from one position I was escaping from to the EXACT same situation...
In any case, after a close nervous breakdown, I stopped at the puddles for a quick 2-hour session. $10 for 2 hours of unwinding is a pretty good price these days for easy entertainment.
(I'll get pictures up when I get home, but my work has blocked all of the picture sharing sites, so I'm dead in the water with pics until I get home)
First hit and I saw my SI (Strike Indicator) in the water! I ran down and reeled up 15 yards of slack with no one home, not even a crawler.
There's 45 minutes left before they kick everyone out and I see my SI pinned to the guide! Rod bending and screaming drag! I saw a glimpse in the distance, and it definitely was bigger than the average 2.25 pounders I get there. I even thought I saw yellow, but my mind is always playing tricks on me these days.
I get it up and it was a beautiful rainbow with all of its fins in perfect shape! I was amazed more at the fins and colors than the fish actually being a 3.28# model. I thought it was bigger than that but the scale don't lie... Still another quality trout from here and the meat was about as red as the lightning trout! I am so impressed with the quality of these trout.
(https://i.imgur.com/PHPGYmz.jpg)
I actually changed lakes and saw everyone fishing catching which looked like 1.5# trout, but everyone was fishing so close together. To be honest, my one 3+ pounder was way worth more to me than a bunch of smaller banana sized ones.
Well, the Ranger was giving everyone the boot and I saw my line moving sideways, but the strike indicator wasn't doing much. Fish on! No wait... Hmmmm... What a weird fight and then I realized it was another pond chicken. Thankfully, this yellow-bellied slider only barely got hooked in the corner of the mouth, so it was an easy hook removal and release.
That's it. Ended with a turtle and stress was gone at least for 2 hours of the day.
(https://i.imgur.com/ZTt6JAC.jpg)
Thanks for reading and I'll get pictures up later.
The quality of trout you're finding this year is pretty unbelievable. Really hope you find a solution to the work stress, that sounds awful. Lion taming sounds healthier and safer at this point.
Updated...
Wish it was easier on you Tom, hate to see you so stressed. That trout has some clean lines for a hatchery fish...............
That turtle looks like it could do some damage to a finger !