Back in the saddle again or back in the stream again...

Good morning folks. Well after two plus weeks I finally got out to do some fishing. I want to tell you I was wound up tighter then a drum from being indoors for that amount of time. I mean fly tying and reading along with some minor home repairs just does not replace being outdoors and fishing. The day was perfect, I hit the parking turnoff and it was muddy. This is good because the overnight temps were above freezing. As I was gearing up I felt a slight breeze and it was actually comfortable. Starting time temps were in the mid forties. I started fishing my normal places riffles and tailouts. The fly was a soft hackle and that's pretty much what I stayed with. Various colors and sizes were tried and some proved to be better choices then others.

What was enjoyable was the fact that I was able to get on the banks and walk. The snow had obviously melted some since the last time I fished. It felt good getting back to almost normal.

 

 

 

Water levels were good and the color outstanding. Snow melt can cause off colored water and luckily it had not got to that point.
 

The first brookie in two plus weeks. Man did that feel good.
 

This guy got my attention as I got close. He appeared to eating something near the waters edge. He kept an eye on me and then finished what he was doing then took flight. I not certain but could this be a falcon?
 

You can see just how beautiful the woods can be even in late February.
 

I approached this likely looking pool and woody debris trap with good thoughts. As I scoped it out something swam upstream in a hurry. Thoughts of beaver? No it was a brookie of at least 15". In my older years the one thing that has always stayed sharp is my outdoor eyes. This was a big fish.

I knew I was not the day to catch the one that slipped away but a spot like this had to hold one or two more brookies. So out went the wet fly and the swing then pause and lift. The water erupted and the fight was on. Bigger fish will head for the nasty stuff but this one just held his ground and dogged. He chose to move up and back. I had full control and was confident of actually seeing him up close.
 

He was a very respectable small stream wild brookie. So healthy and an impressive hook on the upper jaw. Should be a sight come October.
 

This turned out to be a day that the "fly doctor" would have prescribed.