A Small Stream On Black Friday

After a few chores that were laid out for me were completed I sat enjoying a cup of coffee and looking out the window. I was thinking what the rest of the day held. I am aware it was Black Friday and the thought of going anywhere there might be a sale was a thought put quickly out of my mind. About halfway through the coffee Jeanette said why not go fishing. I looked at the clock and said to myself you probably have a couple of hours. That was an easy decision....I'm going.

Arriving at the stream I noticed the sun was hitting the water, hopefully taking that chill out of it. I did not take a stream temp, but placing my hand into it I knew it was cold. There would be no dry fly action today.

I fished the tails of the pools with a Picket Pin, one with no hackle, this would allow the fly to ride deeper in the stream. The offering was the right choice for suddenly I had a hit, and a miss. I tried the same pool again hoping lightning would strike twice, but it was not to be.

I had several more hookups, but the jewel to hand was eluding me. It was then that I tried dropping the fly into the plunge pool. Has it hit the water it appeared to be pulled into the log. Pulling back on the line it felt as if the log had won. As I retrieved the slack line, suddenly a trout shot forward to the back of the pool. This brookie took to the air like a rainbow. In has battle for survival he repeated the leap twice.

With some gentle coaxing the trout was at hand. He was beautiful, with a tail of such size I have not seen in a long time. A brief photo and this wild jewel was released. Two hours well spent on Black Friday.

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