Go Stand In a River!

I highly recommend it. That's what I did today. It was highly refreshing after the exhaustion I got from camping. The river: my home stream. The fish: wild brown trout. The flies: Ausable Bomber and Hair's Ear Soft Hackle. The conditions: perfect.

Hendricksons and caddis were coming off, but rises were infrequent. The best way to get fish in these conditions is to tie on something that imitates both. The Hair's Ear Soft Hackle does just that. I caught well over 20 fish. It was remarkable. I went through three flies, as the vicious takes wore the dubbing away and undid the hackle. The fights didn't help either, they were vigorous. Short runs and sparkle spray throwing jumps signified that the water is the perfect temperature and that these fish are feeding well.

The bite mark on this fish's midsection says that there are larger predators than him in these water. And this fish is above average! 

I was floored when the holdover bellow took the first time. Then the second. Then the third. Finally I nailed him on the fourth and BOY DID HE FIGHT!!!! For a fish that spent a large chunk of it's life in a concrete raceway he ran from me like a dog with his tail between it's legs. With a risky bend in the 6'6" rod I gave chase and eventually brought the fish to hand. It has likely been about two years since he was put in this river, and the fresh color and repaired fins show it.