Brown Lures

Tricking Texas Trout

An excerpt from Tricking Texas Trout

by Captain Kevin Cochran

Posted January 7, 2006

“Paul Brown is one of a kind,” he began one night as we shared a bottle of California Cabernet Sauvignon he’d brought from his collection. “He never sold out, even after his lures became famous and feverishly sought after.”

I recalled the impact that Jim Wallace’s record fish had on the popularity of the Corky, Paul’s now-famous lure, while the phantom opened a tall, elegant bottle of Caymus Special Selection, 1995 vintage. It proved to be a sleek, powerful wine, bursting with strong flavor, yet soft on the palate, balanced and true to its reputation and that of its maker.

“Paul is like the guy that makes this wine, a craftsman of the highest sort. He is what he is because he’s a fisherman first. He makes lures that he would want to use, and more importantly, by selling them from his house and inviting people over to purchase them, he created a kind of pipeline for fishing information. It’s like he’s at the hub of the ultimate big trout network. Many of the modern greats in this game have sat with him, sharing their secrets and knowledge and telling him what they need.”

He swirled the brick-red wine in his glass, but didn’t send a pompous amount of time contemplating it before he began to drink. With a satisfied smile on his face following the first sip, he continued. “Some things just don’t change. Taking time to do things the right way requires dedication to a craft and an understanding of what makes something good in the first place. Paul was never willing to cut corners in the attempt to sell more product, preferring to remain in control of those things that make his lures what they are.”

I listened, even as the intriguing bouquet of the wine wafted up from my glass, screaming for attention. Then I sipped, and as the ripe berry and toast flavors filled my mouth and lingered on my tongue, I heard him echo what I and my friends had said that night in the cabin.

“Paul changed trout fishing forever when he invented the Corky family of lures. No other lures are more productive in all seasons. Big fish love ‘em in the worst way. All of us who pursue this sport passionately owe him a giant debt of gratitude.”

“Salud,” said I, and I raised my glass high; the phantom did the same. After the glasses clinked, we drank silently in the warm shadows and the growing glow of our satisfaction, comforted by the near perfection of the flavors in the wine and the smug camaraderie of those who share the same beliefs.

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Tags: corky, fishing article, Fishing Reports, kevin cochran