On the water at 6:20 am to light rain. Mmmmm, I love this overcast, light rainy weather for big browns. I wasn’t even in place when I saw a fish flash deep on the far side. About a dozen cast later and the first fish was on. It was the violin player. A nice, lightly colored female 26 x 14. On the run down I spooked a smaller fish, Still, this was a great way to start the day. I was by myself so a photo of this lovely against the length of the rod is all you get. It took a black collared leech with dark green Liquiflash in the collar.

Anytime one starts the day with a bang, there’s always a chance that the rest of the day will fizzle. But, then, too, there’s always the chance that it will be a clarion call for the day. But the first couple of hours didn’t produce anything more . Then Lou showed up and we trundled off in search of other fish. We fished for a bit and I spotted a couple of big browns. They wouldn’t even sniff the leech, so I called Lou over that have a shot. He was dragging an egg behind his leech, and I thought perhaps they’d take it. They didn’t. He tried a green cadddis. Still nothing. Then a big Prince nymph. It snagged up under the chin of one of the big browns and Lou broke it off immediately. I wandered off and left him to it. Back at my favorite riffle, I spotted a big male. Not even a look. So, I hung a big black stonefly under the leech and began nymphing it—only a few casts and the cello player took the fly. Hefty and brightly colored, it played a great song that came to an end with a lovely photo.

Lou appeared a few minutes later. He’d tried a Hex nymph and one of the fish tore it to pieces, and bent the hook out. Lou turned back, and there were three browns where before there had been only two. On the first cast he’d nailed a 32-incher on a black leech.Then we broke for lunch. Lou headed home; I grabbed a sandwich and went to a different section looking for  browns. Nothing. So I went back to the riffle. Lou showed up and we went off to a new area for me. We saw some big browns, but they were very spooky and not in the least cooperative. Back to the riffle.

There we came in from the other side and spent time spotting fish. There were some big ones moving about, so we crossed and began fishing. I was working a really nice fish and snagged it accidently. Fortunately, it gave a little flip of the tail and was off. I say fortunately, because I was using my last black stone, and fortunately because the fish didn’t spook. A dozen or so casts later and I had the bass player. Black belly, copper-sided, and decidedly big—34 x 20. Of course since Lou was there I had to get the “hero” shot.

Oh, and by the way, these brutes know how to fight, too. I don’t know what’s left for tomorrow, but I will be there, rod in hand. I’ll have to tie a few flies tonight, but it will be worth it for even one more like these.

These are for you, Nancy.