I saw a recent article announcing that Canadian scientists will soon begin searching Lake Simcoe in the province of Ontario for a "lake monster" named Igopogo.

Much like the Loch ness monster, Bigfoot,Ogopogo, and the Abominable snowman, Igopogo has never been verified to actually exist beyond the random sightings of residents, boaters and --of course-- some fishermen.

Indian legend handed down from the early nineteenth century,and some sightings in the 1950's and 60's have helped to fuel the speculation that a serpent like animal lives beneath the lake surface. Sonar and shaky Bigfoot like videotape have also given more added "proof" that Igopogo exists.

In August of this year, evidently a study funded by Discovery Canada science program, was to search the depths of Kempenfelt bay with sonar and underwater cameras searching for Igopogo, hoping to find the "dog like, horse faced, stovepipe necked, impish looking ,fishlike serpent".....

No word yet as to the findings, but Toronto's Molson ale plant is also being investigated for exceeding the seven percent alcohol content restriction for their beer.

It of course only figures that fishermen have been responsible for a number of these sightings, as we all know that bobbing about in the waters of a lake with copious amounts of adult beverages on board your vessel, (especially Canadian beverages) will most assuredly induce sightings of many mythical creatures, some folks even claim to have seen God.

But that's another story.

I myself, never being one to scoff at or be a naysayer to the mysterious, am here today to announce the finding of another mysterious and legendary creature.

The Huckleberry fish.

Now, before you get on your search engine and start your quest for this heretofore elusive fish, let me explain a little about the discoverer of this rare specie.

My five year old daughter.

Again, not to dispell the validity of her findings, but simply to inform the public I will give you her official "press release".

According to the" my little toot" science program, the Huckleberry fish has been spotted in...someplace in Africa and resides in several lakes and rivers that flow through... oh.... let's say Botswana.... It is a purplish fish that gets it's color and flavor(evidently it is not catch and release) from the famed African Huckleberry. The "my little toot" science program hopes to use government grants, unused milk money, and any lottery winnings to help fund her research in Africa to prove that the Huckleberry fish exists. Her assistant and chief fish biologist,"dad" is expected to go along on the "investigation", since he has a highly qualified propensity to fish aimlessly for hours, enjoys eating Huckleberries, and has been seen quaffing a few Molsons down from time to time.

I can assure you, that in her mind the Huckleberry fish exists and I am equally sure that it most certainly has nothing to do with the fact that she knows how much her dad likes fishing and huckleberry picking.

Either that or her kindergarten class has now been officially sponsored by the Molson brewing company.

Anyway, she informed me of this discovery just the other night and described the Huckleberry fish in depth, so I know it is real.

Nothing was mentioned about an "impish smile" though.

If you would like to fund the "my little toot" science program, be sure to send your lotto winnings, but please---no scratch offs, because that will only delay our research!!

In the meantime, we will be continuing our research of Bigfoot, since we had a recent sighting while investigating the Applegate Bigfoot trap here in Oregon.

We also found a bunch of empty Molson bottles---what a coincidence!!!!

A.J. Klott Author, writer of fishing humor,and "fly tack" peddler.A.J. writes about the people,characters and modern day events that surround the fishing world. His first book is due out in December of 2005. If you need a laugh or a fun gift, visit his website at: http://www.twoguyswithflys.com