The "Leaper"

It's 5 AM and I've been up since 4. I'm working on my second cup of coffee. A bit of a side note, I'm a coffee drinker, and have been since childhood. All brands, and all methods of brewing have touched my lips. Some of these have been disgusting, and some very good. About 6 years ago I bought a Kuerig coffee brewer, along with those K-Cups and gave it a try. The best coffee brewer going. One cup at a time, always fresh and hot. My favorite brand is Green Mountain Nantucket followed by Eight O'Clock, an old A&P brand of coffee. Enough of that.....

Friday was a cloudy day. It had produce a sprinkle or two but not to bothersome. The night before had produced a heavy shower so the woods were wet. Care was required when moving through the brush, and bump of a small tree or bush sent water down ones neck. The smell of a wet Spring woodland with flowers and grasses in bloom is hard to describe. I started fishing wet flies and soon had my first fish, a brookie about 4 inches. I continued to toss wets and they proved to be the fly of the day.

I noticed several sulphurs about and then a rise or two. I tied on a sulphur parachute and sent it off to hunt. The fly brought no response, even though I continued to see the rise.

I realized these fish were taking the fly as it emerged or lying in the surface film. I tied on a light colored emerger and started working the section below the fallen pine tree. As the fly started to swing at the end of the drift a fish struck hard. He was hooked and proceeded to put on a display of airborne moves designed to throw the hook. The trout gave me the thought of a salmon with this display. I counted four leaps, along with some fast runs.

The pressure of the 3wt eventually prevailed and the brown was subdued. As it lay quiet in the calm water at my feet I reached in and gently lifted the trout. I admired this brown, both for its tenacity and beauty. I placed him back into the cold stream and a second or two he was gone.

The "leaper" released and always remembered.