‘Twas the night before Christmas; Santa needed a break
Work had been non- stop and there was lots at stake.
As he flew over the South Platte he knew it was fate
It was time to break out that new Sage five weight.
So with a pull of the reigns Santa’s sleigh went down fast.
He had merely moments to make a few casts.
The reindeer were worried and looked quite concerned.
They had fished with Santa before -- he had lots to learn.
They landed the sleigh; Santa jumped out with a chuckle,
He slipped on his waders and cinched up his belt buckle.
Santa meant business that cold winter's eve.
A fish he would catch – you just need to believe.
He played the line out in loops smooth as silk.
Then Santa cried out, “This beats cookies and milk."
Looking upstream and down, he spotted a trout,
But the fly he was using did not have much clout.
So he opened his fly box as if to find something good in the fridge
and thought to himself, Please, anything but a size 32 midge!
Oh Adams, oh Cahill, oh Sulphur, oh Pupa,
Oh Hopper, oh Coachman, oh Olive Matuka,
Oh Dun, Oh Humpy, Oh Copper John,
Is there anything in here that wouldn’t be wrong?
He looked once again in his box for a fly,
when a pattern compelling attracted his eye.
"The Reindeer Caddis!" he muttered and grinned ear to ear.
“Tis the season to believe in all that is dear."
So he cast once again and his magic was true,
And the trout it looked up and it knew what to do.
He rose in a swirl and the hook set with a sting,
The trout jumped and ran… Santa's reel it did sing.
"Ho!" shouted Santa, "You're making my day.
If the heavens were water, you'd be pulling my sleigh.”
So, Santa prevailed and released his great rival
First taking great care to ensure its survival.
He then mounted his sled and rechecked his list
His mind all a- race, toys to deliver in his midst.
But his soul was renewed and everything was now right
As the sleigh took off he shouted, "Merry Christmas Rainbow Trout and to all a good night.”
