May is still deciding if it will yield to spring, alternating between 70-degree days and 30-degree nights. Today it rained off and on, only adding to the confusion. After a day indoors, I needed an outside adventure.
This evening I had just enough time before dark to make it down to the local pond for a few casts. I took along my latest fiberglass build because of the way it casts small poppers from the bank. The action is slower and the presentation is delicate enough not to spook the fish. On glassy water like this, delivery and retrieve speed are key.
I only caught two fish, but it was worth the trip. The first was a small bream, but the second was a nice crappie that strongly resisted and worked the rod all the way to the bank.
After I placed him in the water, I headed for the path over the hill that takes me back to relative civilization. For some reason, the walk back always seems longer than the time to get there.
Some nights a spare hour is all it takes to make the day. Enjoy!
While my 3-day camping trip was ultimately cut short by bad weather, it contained all the ingredients for a perfect weekend, including . . . .
. . . An early start . . .
. . . Dirt roads just asking to be explored . . .
. . . Rising fish and and no one else on the water . . .
Time to rest and reflect . . .
. . . And fish!
Although fish were rising throughout the day, I caught my first trout on a BH prince nymph. Later, at dusk, they were keying on tiny flies (26+) that tested my eyesight and knot tying ability. A small rainbow came to hand on a black caddis. BWOs and Adams dries were also effective. Size trumped color.
And while I was too tired at the end of the day to take more pics, I fished with new friends, ate good food cooked over the campfire and enjoyed the stories that come at the end of a day of fishing.
I’ll save the part about limping back to my car through the woods in the pouring rain at 4 am, after spending most of the night sleeping on tree roots, for another post. Enjoy!
It’s hard to believe, but due to my personal schedule and the increased distance to really good fishable water, these are the first trout I’ve landed in 2013. Both were caught on the Farmington River using the same dry fly, which not surprisingly resembles a Hendrickson.
The first was caught in a fast moving riffle that was less than 2 feet in depth. Measuring 16″, the brown gave my 9′ 4 wt a really good bend and made several escape attempts before landing in the net. The fin is not cut on this fish and there are darker blue dots on the face, so this may truly be a wild brown.
The second wild brown, which measured, 14″, I’ll refer to as the Accidental Trout. It was caught in a large, slow moving pool. In truth, I was just casually straightening out my line while watching my friend launch a hero cast for a really large fish. I felt a tug and the acrobatics started. This one came to hand pretty quickly, but was a also a healthy fish.
Hope you’re spring is starting off well. Enjoy!
