Farmington River Trifecta And A big Brown

As I drove along the river on this early morning looking for the pull off where I was to park. I was thinking about how this day would be. To myself I said as long as I don't fall in and I don't break a bone, or maybe break the rod, I would be OK, and a few fish would be some icing on an already good day. Stepping out of the car the woodland smells filled my head. Damp morning air is something all should experience.

I got geared up and was soon at the river edge. Gazing at the surface for a feeding fish I saw nothing. So a probing soft-hackle was tied on and the first cast of the day was made. I fished the nice run and into the start of a riffle. About the second or third cast the line slowed and the hook went into the lip of a fish. Soon a feisty brook trout was at hand.

I continued to fish the riffle and was graced with another brookie.

I moved back upstream to a deep run. It was full of the necessary structure that would hold a trout or two. Looking to the bank I saw some movement and spotted this little critter looking for his breakfast. I watched him for a spell and he did not mind the company. That changed as I lifted the rod to cast...like a lighting bolt he was gone.

Just past the wood jam I saw a fish rising. He was feeding on moths that were being blown into the river. I promptly tied on a big, size 12 elk hair caddis. I floated that fly several times and it was refused. Not wanting to put the fish down I decided to tie on something bigger. Into the box I gazed and a yellow Hornberg smiled at me. The fly was a size 10 with lots of brown hackle. Tied on and ginked up I made my cast as the fly floated perfectly right over the fish the rise came and the hook set. The first run that fish made sent a message to my brain..."big fish on ,your in trouble"....

Well I was prepared to do battle, but would the small glass 3wt, and click and pawl reel be able to do their part. The fish ran and the fish went down, he went left and right and broke the surface many times. Just as I felt I had the best of him he ran again and it seemed he got stronger as the battle went on. I finally managed to bring him into shallow water and got my first look at him. I don't carry a net so I said you better take a picture of this fish now because you'll never land him. I did however bring him in. As I reached for him he bolted like I just hooked him. I had a tough time turning him and gaining the upper hand. Luckily the hook held and he was at my feet again.

The next few pictures are of him in the water. The male had an impressive head with a hook to the jaw. The shoulders were wide and strong.

This photo shows the size of his head. It it bigger than the size of the reel.

That's a size 10 Hornberg in his lip.....I'm not good at measuring but I estimate 20".

The CGR 5'9" rod held, the reel did it's job, and the hook held....the angler had frayed nerves and a big smile.

To complete the trifecta a nice rainbow was taken also on the Hornberg.