Back Country

Sylvia and I met some friends for Church Service on Saturday night. Very nice evening of worship with dinner later in the evening. I always enjoyed Saturday night services because....well....it means the next day is open for fishing. I kind of feel bad for writing that, but it's true and I think God is okay with it.

The warm temperature on Sunday was nice and it gave me a chance to drift a fly in the preserve, before it shuts down for the season (11/15). The upper part of the mountain is beautiful and I wanted one more solitary jaunt along the Rio as it meanders through the high valley floor. This place is perfect for a peaceful Sunday immersion into the high country.

I decided to take my favorite fly rod, give it some sunshine, and an opportunity to dance with trout before winter ends dry fly fishing for the year. On the way up the mountain I was wondering how the recent cold snap would effect the trout and if they would even be interested in a dry fly. Well, the little guys were interested, but I didn't fool any of the big ones. Still yet, it was fun putting several browns into the net.

Gear: Winston TMF 8' 4wt fly rod; Hardy Perfect reel 3 1/8"; Rio LightLine WF4F fly line; #14 Black Caddis dry fly.

Click on photo for larger view

NOTE: I don't know the angler in the photo above and took the shot to provide perspective of size with the meandering stream. He was the only other person, besides me, who was fishing. However, there were lots of hunters roaming the forest in the area. The constant strong wind made fishing very difficult, but I was there for most of the day, until it became too gusty for a fly to land on the water.