With the Celcius pushing upwards of 37 today, some might have stayed home and hidden in the air conditioning, working on getting their website launched. But, I am not some, so I was in the car early this morning to get a jump on the hot weather in search of some new waters in the high country. Given that we have had very little rain of late, I was expecting water levels to be low, especially seeing that the last lot of heavy rain hadn’t fallen for about 6 days.

So, into the unknown I went and was greeted with some amazing scenery. The lack of rain hadn’t dried up the intended stream to a point beyond fishable, and what I was left with was clear tannic waters that allowed me to spot fish without even needing my polaroids. That said, it also meant that the fish could spot me just as fast, and given that I was in waters that are not generally high traffic areas, these fish were flighty, to say the least. Of all the fish I actually go to cast to, there were twice as many that I spooked on my approach. So, still plenty of opportunities for a return visit.

And, speaking of a return visit, I have a score to settle with a 2 pound brown that won the battle today. Here’s what happened. Having cast at a movement under and overhanging branch, a small rainbow took the fly and darted up the pool in question. Then the real shadow from beneath the branch moved out to reveal a sizable brown that casually lunged at the rainbow which was on my line. Seeing this happen, I swiftly pulled hard dragging the rainbow back downstream and out of the pool. All the while, keeping an eye on the brown which didn’t seem too put off by all the commotion and was now just cruising out in the open. Dispatching the rainbow downstream, I laid a second cast to the pool, a little further up this time, and watched as the brown slowly slid forward and sipped the Royal Wulff from the surface, taking it down to the bottom. And lift, and set and fish on! And a bloody good fish this was too for the water I was fishing in.

However, as I got him to the net, about to scoop, the fly popped from the fish’s mouth to my horror. What astounded me even more though was that the fish did not make a break for it, he simple held in the current at my feet, nonchalantly holding his ground. Well, I thought I might as well just try and scoop him up if that was how he was going to be. But, without any real effort, he shrugged off the net and slowly turned to cross the pool and sit out of my reach. That was it. He didn’t run, he didn’t do anything, but hold his ground and watch me for a few moments until he decided to casually slink away back under his branch.  What a sight to behold. Brown Trout wins this round. I will be back!