Dutifully fishing on Deer Lake sure did pay off for Jake Cagle on June 13, at 10:30 am. Just off the south dock in the Wanakiwin Association, a 7 pound 25” Rainbow wasted no time racing for the power bait craftily molded on the end of Jake’s fishing line that barely hit the water after casting out about 20 feet. Mom, Barbara Cagle, was there to witness all the excitement and hustled for the net. The two could see the fish was a big one as it kept to the surface before it took a strong u-turn to the bottom. Jake reeled it in slowly and steadily giving the fish some line so as not to break the pole as the tip nearly bent into the water. Pure luck the feisty fish didn’t jump up and spit out the small hook. The exhilarating fight was on between fish and fisherman while Mom prayed that the fish would surface without jumping so she could successfully net it. The two couldn’t believe their eyes when the fish took a nose dive into the net and saw its tail flapping above the rim. Jake hugged his catch all the way to the beach as seen in the photo. “I don’t want to let go of him,” he said. He didn’t care how fishy his sweatshirt got. Mom was there behind Jake holding on to his fishing pole with the hook and line still in the fish’s mouth. Jake wasn’t about to lose this one. His dad was watching from the deck and saw that it was a good size when Mom radioed him to come down to help unhook the fish and take pictures. Jake wanted everyone to see it and join in on his excitement. He weighed the fish with two different scales several times to be sure of the weight. You may think this is funny but there have been so many stories about the “Big One” that got away. Not this time, good for you Jake! Now he’s got a real story to tell and with proof to boot!

There are many larger fish in Deer Lake but these big rainbows are hard to come by. A fish biologist, Bill Baker, from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife said, “This was most likely either a carry-over net pen fish or a carry-over Jumbo. It’s a perfect fish and should make for some good eating.”

At first we thought it was a Silver because the fish meat was so red and the body mostly silver, but the spotted tail was the tell-tale of this rainbow trout.

Acknowledgements are given to Ken Ring associated with the “Northeast Washington Sportsman Group” and to Jim Santora for their efforts in raising net pen rainbows in Deer Lake. Thank you for making Jake’s catch a real story.

Written by: Barbara Olivo Cagle

Author of 16 x MOM: A Mastery of Motherhood

“It gave me such great pleasure to share this moment with my son, as it did him and his dad.”

PS: Another amazing thing happened an hour before the big catch. We watched a bald eagle swoop down to where we were fishing and nearly clip another fisherman’s shoulder while it went for a dying fish 10 feet in front of us. Wish we had a photo for that one.

     "Dedication and devotion are keys, both to the story told and the production of this book.  Growing up without the warmth of family love, Rose Nunez Olivo marries and showers her sixteen children with devotion. She dedicates herself to providing each of them with the love, guidance, and caring she never had. Recognizing the transformation in her mother’s life, daughter Barbara (child number thirteen) tells Rose’s amazing story to the world.
     "What emerges as a result of Barbara’s dedication is a massively complete work. It begins with the arrival of Rose’s immigrant father, Joseph Nunez in the historic mining town of Campo Seco where he meets, falls in love with, and marries Adelaide “Lydia” Madriago. When she tragically dies of tuberculosis at twenty-one, the couple already has three children. Jacqueline Rose is the second born. She has an older brother, Rodger, and a younger sister, Marie.
     "As a single parent, Joseph “Pa Pa” struggles to keep his young family united while providing for them. Disagreements with one of his late wife’s family, and a desperate need to see his children cared for, force him to contact Children’s Aid and place them in foster care. Rose and Rodger go to live with Teresa Espinosa, an older lady with a perhaps shady past, whom they know as “Ma.” The children are properly, if not generously provided for, and contribute to the household income from an early age, delivering Ma’s homemade enchiladas and tamales around their San Jose neighborhood.
     "After graduating from high school, Rose marries Nello John Olivo, Sr. She blossoms, enveloping their ever-increasing brood with all the love and care she had been denied in her childhood.
     "The laminated hard cover volume is well illustrated with family photos, genealogical charts, and excerpts of Rose’s philosophies. “16 X MOM: A Mastery of Motherhood” is an inspirational celebration of maternal love and well worth reading. As a gift, it is the ideal way for all to say, 'Thanks, Mom!'”