There's not much persuasion needed to get me out on a stream. I am one who will angle in most conditions but I must say the fair weather days seem to feel so much better.
On my last outing the weatherman was calling for a mixed bag of conditions ranging from sunny skies to afternoon showers. So I grabbed the little 2wt and headed out to find a few fish. As I parked the car I sat there finishing my coffee and just felt the sun work its warm magic. Getting out and preparing to find my way to the stream I saw a rock wall. The sun as it hit the various stones reflected a multitude of colors. These colors were not vivid but muted but seemed to be all working together to inspire.
As I continued to work the stream with some success in the ability to attract trout to the surface, I said attract not catch. I came to a pool where it seemed to shout,"there is a brookie here for sure". The pool was deep and dark with good flows and lots of hiding places. As I floated the fly through I was ready for the violent confrontation I though was a sure thing. This did not happen, and repeated drifts accomplished the same.
Keeping an eye to the ever changing sky, along with a distant rumble of thunder, made me realize the day might end soon. I came to another pool that appeared to have a fish rising. I observed one rise and soon placed the fly in the feeding lane. The fly worked through without a notice. There was a large boulder at the head of a swift run. This looked very good and on the second attempt the trout struck. A brief confrontation ensued and a beautiful wild brook trout lay at my hand.
By this time the thunder was closer, with rain and a few hail stones mixed in for comfort. As I made my way to the car I thought about being inspired.
Looking at such places one has to say "The trout of the day will come from here".
Did my feeling for the certainty of success in the last pool which proved wrong inspire me to seek success near the boulder?
A brook trout taken on a changing day. Inspiration you bet.
