My First Native Cutthroat

Do you remember the very first native trout you caught in your fly fishing life? I do. And it was an absolute thrill...even if it was a little specimen. I was fishing a tiny Rio in northern New Mexico that no one really considers fly fishing...except me. My wife gave me a new 3wt rod and reel that I used to land this little trout, making my "first native catch" even more special for me. So, yes, my wife started my small stream fly fishing passion with an Orvis rod and reel that she gifted me. Until this day, I had been chasing big trout on big rivers for fifteen years and didn't know what I was missing.

It was a fun afternoon of fishing that day, and I had many splashes from lots of natives hitting my dry fly. From then on, I knew this would be the type of fly fishing I would pursue going forward. Yup, the lure of big trout died that day for me, and my passion changed with that first Rio Grande Cutthroat hitting my dry fly (top photo).

Since that first cutthroat catch, I have enjoyed tight lining with native cutthroats in many parts of the Rocky Mountains and in the small streams that flow there. Native trout are what make fly fishing in the western states a blessing for those of us who live and fish here. Nope, I'll never take for granted what I have been gifted in view of living in the southwestern part of the USA...and, more importantly, being married to Sylvia! She put me on the right path with small stream fly fishing.