Well Ziggy and I went north today and found ourselves knee deep in the Connecticut.  And it was the kind of day that goes down in history!  It appears I had my moment to shine and show a master what I have learned.

First thing I caught a fall fish on a sulpher emaerger I tied.  Then it wasn't getting any bumps so I switched to just about everything I had with little success.  Brandon meanwhile hooked himself one or two and didn't land them as he was fishing a more powerful cascade of ripples above me.  We messed around a bit and had some bumps on Koda's Turkey fly, but nothing landed.  I do believe that where Brandon had his big regret however, as he is certain he was into a 20" fish with that fly and lost it.

Afternoon came and with it heat and no activity in the river, so we moved down river looking for a bit of deeper water.  We found a seep channel and I pulled a nice wild brookie out of it that was over 12" I'd say or atleast close to that.  Then a couple casts later out came a beauty of a rainbow.  He was probably 16ish inches, and then the sun came around and killed the shaded channel.  So off to town for lunch we went.

We debated going back but we ended up back there again and it was no better than when we left it.  After fishing the riffles and fast water for a good long while I decided the hell with this and headed up stream beyond Brandon's riffle where there had earlier been some surfacing fall fish feeding on black caddis flies.  With a wooly bugger in size 10 and a dropper 22 copper john I started fishing the flat water.  Soon as the sun disappeared behind the clouds and headed to the west the black caddis began to hatch and the I was pulling fall fish out left and right and one was enormous.  To boot that enormous fish had a massive bite bark on it that looks as though half of him was almost ripped off by a bigger fish.

As activity got better Brandon came to join me.  Shortly after catching fall fish on dries and seeing them really heat up, we decided to hit the riffles again.  Immediately I had three bumps on the same set up and every cast held bumps and strikes, I landed two rainbows around 12 inches, and for my finally one that was all of 18"!  

I faught that last one hard and he didn't want to give in, but I netted him and we got a picture, but he paid for it and almost wound up table fare.  I nursed him back in the shallows for 20-30 minutes before he finally took off into the river.  I was glad to see he made it.

Brandon fished all day along side me and had far less results.  I believe his couple weeks off the water has affected him.  But I think I have a remedy for that.  More fishing!!!  This could be nothing more than a blue moon like occurence, I suspect.  So I suppose I ought to be proud.  I showed my teacher that I can learn and apply that knowledge.

Photos are a contribution by Zig.  I'm glad he was there to share this day with me, because he's great with a camera and a great friend.  There is nobody I'd rather be fishing with.

T~

P.S.  The browns we were after have contiued to elude me!

 Nice job T Bone! Fishing the 2 weight? You have come far in a short time my friend. Soon the fish will run and hide when they hear you are on the water 

Theron it was the medicine i needed for a while , it was a great day fishing , you were the master of the day and i am happy to see you come along so much in such a short time you did good all day and the scenery and the fish were beautiful. i enjoy your company as well it makes the day much better . we will have to do our afternoon trip up there soon . browns will be had at some point just keep doing what ya doing and you will get em all

 Thanks for the accolades guys.  I'm trying hard to get good at it.  I just love doing it so much it is all I can think about other than the family.

Sorry Koda, I would have probably broke my 2 wt in that current with those fish.  I used the 6 hoping for a big brown, but they didn't cooperate that particular day.

The 2wt gets its exercise, but I do want to keep it, so in situations like that I go for a slightly bigger gun.  I do hope to down size to a 4 wt set up someday, but I can't justify it at this point.

I want the 2wt for brookies pan fish and fun small stuff or still water fishing, a 4wt to be my go to rod, and the 6wt, might remain in the closet more for bass fishing or pike fishing even.  Then after all that an 8wt saltwater rig will hopefully make it into the gear pile.  Probably wishful thinking at this point. 

 Sadly I'm ou ton this one.  The weekend is packed full of plans.  Hope as it is I can find some sleep somewhere.

Next weekend maybe.

T~