So when finally the situation arose to get out for a change I couldn't wait. I thought I would head up to the same spot where I have been taking clients in the park, The T above the Fern lake Trailhead. Not only is this just a great piece of water, but I know it is fishing great from taking clients up here. And truth be told, I have seen some nice trout coming out of here recently.
As I drove up, I at one point almost stopped and turned around as I realized I had no clients with me. It was actually weird to drive up to the park by myself. But once it dawned on me that I did have the day to fish I think I honestly found serenity for the first time in a while. (No T.V. and no beer make Homer go something, something. Go crazy? Don't mind if I do!)
After a stop at the Donut Haus to pick up a proper fly fisherman meal; a pecan covered cinnamon roll, I was en route. It appeared that it wasn't too busy and it looked like most, if not all, of the vehicles passed the "is that a fly fisherman" test.
I hiked up about 15 minutes and hopped in. I threw on a Amy's Ant and a CDC PMD Emerger just to kind of search. This combo has been pounding these trout lately. First hole, I missed a bite. Second hole, fish on.
It appeared to be a cutthroat while pulling him in. That would be great as that was the ultimate goal today. I pulled in the larger than average trout (for this section) and sure enough, a cutty.
That was (just about) all I needed today. A really nice cutt on a dry, out of the picturesque stream. I sat down, drank my coffee, and smoked. This is what I wanted. But I figured that while I was here, I would continue. I did come to fish and it was only 8:32 a.m. I had only been fishing 15 minutes, but yet somehow managed to receive all the joy out of what normally takes me a full day out on the water. Mission accomplished.
I moved on and found a great hole. Super deep with an adequate flow coming through the middle. I knew there was a trout lying on the other side so I tossed my offering. After about 6 casts, I got the prize. He was immediately on my reel and suddenly the sound of serenity was all though the forest. I fought him for about 3 minutes and then managed to pull him in. A real chunky for sure, especially in this area. Day made, times two.
No need to stop now though right. Might as well go for the slam. It started to get pretty buggy and I decided to not key in on one thing and rather, just put something real tasty and easy out there. Answer, Purple Haze. It was the money. I couldn't keep em' off that thing for at least an hour. I managed to start catching a bunch of these things.
Beautiful in color, and they wanted it. Real aggressive takes, sometimes more than one a drift. A lot of fun.
I kept moving on and tried to find my rainbow. I never did find him, but the fishing never tapered. Around 11 or so I threw on a Little Yellow Sally. Same story. Couldn't keep em' off it.
After about an hour or so of that, it started to slow just slightly. I threw on a tan Chubby Chernobyl and while I was catching fish with that, it was what was below that was the real ticket; a black and olive hotwire prince nymph. It was hot. Probably the hottest fly of the day. And the others, especially the Haze and the Sally, were really producing so to say it was the hottest is quite the statement. I fished another hour or so and being about a million times more satisfied than I had set out, I called it a day.
Well worth the wait, indeed.
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| Made! |
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