Sunday, February 21, 2010

Soul Searching


After a rough week I found myself stream-side early Saturday morning for a bit of soul searching. I began my search with a 10’ intermediate sink tip and a small tube fly. I wasn’t expecting much..the water was low and clear, the fish are few and far between, and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. With the odds against me I began swinging my fly through some of the deeper sections of the stream. My first cast at spot number two heightened my moral, I missed a brutal take. My reflexes improved on the follow up cast and a nice holdover brown came to hand.

Sweet Little Fly

First Fish On a Tube


I proceeded down stream until the water became un-fishable with a sink tip. The last section of stream is a slow and extremely shallow run. I sat down to admire the glassy run and take a few pictures of the little black stoneflies that peppered the snow. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a dimple form on the waters surface, then another. Midges were on the menu, and there I was with a sink tip throwing a streamer when I could be indulging in some winter dry fly action…typical.


Ready to Drop Some Eggs



Cold and Swollen

Sunday afternoon was no doubt spent sitting in the snow anticipating a repeat scenario. Armed with only two size 16 CDC BWO emergers, I waited, watched, and wondered why my dry fly box was 45 miles away...beggars can’t be choosers right? Size 22 black midge...size 16 BWO...same thing...


The waiting game had ended, two fish began to rise...using a huge snow pile as cover I crept into position…cast number one…tree. Tying on my last dry fly I wondered if the fish were even trout, the glare made it impossible to tell…probably doing all this for a shot at a six inch chub. A few casts later I was rewarded with a splashy winter rise and one very unselective wild brown.


Beggars Can't Be Choosers...

So much for auto-focus when your shivering.

No comments: