Trout

𝘚𝘦𝘱𝘵𝘦𝘮𝘣𝘦𝘳 22, 2020

We finally got on the water yesterday.  We had scheduled a float trip with a local guide for what was supposed to be 7am.  He contacted me while we were on the road and I did not get the text until Sunday night.  He identified the debarkation site along with directions and said to meet him at 8 am.  The water was down slightly but he assured us the fishing would still be good.  I cannot say I was sorry to get the extra hour of sleep. 

When we pulled into our lodging, we were both surprised how nice the “cabin” was.  It was two bedrooms and two baths.  The inside had been made to look “cabinesque,” with fishing poles on the walls, a wood burning fireplace, and textured walls and ceilings.  It also had all the small appliances to be comfortable and all new stainless appliances.  There was a gas grill on the back deck which we used to grill bratwurst for dinner.  I even tried my hand on the river that flowed down the stone steps to the Little Red.  Sadly, no fish were to be had.

After getting skunked the night before we entered the water with trepidation.  We had hired a guide to fish a lake in Minnesota and while I caught some fish, Melissa had no luck.  Today’s guide set up our lines and then motored upriver to a deep spot.  It did not take long to hook into a small Rainbow.   The next one was a little larger.  The fish kept coming for the next three hours.  I even made an elusive “two fish on,” with a fish on both the sow bug and the nymph dropper at the same time.    About 11 am things started slowing down and we started drifting back to the launch ramp.  While I continued to catch an occasional fish, Melissa really took off in this new environment.  We caught and released 30 Rainbows for the morning.  Even better, I got some insight on how to fish on my own.

𝗧𝗛𝗢𝗨𝗚𝗛𝗧𝗦:  Our guide asked where else we had fished.  While we do not get out often, we have fished some quality waters.  We have done the San Juan in New Mexico, the Dream Stream in Colorado, the Yakama in Washington, and now the Little Red in Arkansas.  He said the place he would like to go was Montana (where our store fly experts had gone “testing”).  I looked up fishing in this state and the web said, “Choosing a favorite river in Montana is like having to choose your favorite child.”  While much of fishing still revolves around luck, it also depends on knowing where and how to fish.  I was in the right place at the right time last night and did not catch fish.  Today I listened to the expert and found the fish plentiful.  Perhaps the climate, pandemic, and social science experts really do know what they are doing, and we should listen.  Follow the science.  Change is coming and it starts with you.