"This Happened To Me"

Years ago when I was an avid reader of "Outdoor Life" I was very fond of a feature in each issue that was titled "This Happened To Me". It would feature outdoor mishaps, wild animal encounters, and various other nasty and hair raising experiences of outdoors people. The story I'm about to tell probably would not fit the terms mentioned, but it is quite special none the less.

Thursday evening I was at the vise and was in the process of tying a soft hackle fly that I saw somewhere in my surfing the net. The fly was called a "Partridge and Flash". The pattern was so simple, "something I love" that I had to give it a try. The pattern calls for a little holographic tinsel for the body and a turn or two of partridge. After tying it I took it to the window where I do a lot of my photos of flies. I placed it on the board and then took the camera to take the shot. As I moved the camera the carry strap hit the small fly and it was gone. I took the area apart searching for it but no luck. I suppose I should have tied another but I didn't.

Friday morning I was on the Farmington fishing at a favorite run. The water was near perfect, with wonderful flows. I began fishing wet flies, then streamers, followed by various dries and then a few soft hackle patterns. In about 2 plus hours of fishing I managed one salmon, which was about 14 inches, he took a streamer and really showed some jumping style. A brown that slipped off at my hand, and several decent hits.

As I gazed at my open fly box for the next candidate I noticed some sparkle. Pushing aside the flies surrounding the sparkle I saw the "Partridge and Flash" soft hackle I had tied the night before. I think it may have fallen into the fly box, or perhaps something else was at play. Needless to say I tied on the fly and began to fish. It did not take long and I was into some trout. In an hour I had several beautiful brook trout to hand. There were also a few salmon parr in the mix.

This was a very productive spot for me that day. Fish were taken in every area, with the best action coming from the area just below the riffles.

The "Partridge and Flash", simple and so deadly.

A wild male brook trout. Can you see the hump that is starting to form on his back? He's going to be awesome come late October.

The photo says it all.

The remains of the "Partridge and Flash" after doing battle. This warrior will be put into retirement and placed in the "Journal"