warning- kinda long-o.k., pretty long ;-)

so, yesterday after my anthropology class, my instructor and i got to talkin
fishing, as she had spoken during class about a fishing outing she and a
friend had enjoyed the previous evening. She spin casts, but her friend fly
fishes, and so the invitation was extended for me to fish with them, or just
with her friend. she said she felt her friend and i would really hit it
off, and so i gave her my number to give to her friend, in anticipation of
cultivating a couple of fishing buddies. during the exchange, i asked my
prof where she and her friend had been fishing, since they had clearly been
"successful." so, last night, during a break from studying for an exam in
her class, i drove down the road to check out the spot- (i am blessed to
have access to many great fishing options quite close to me in all
directions). it looked great, and i vowed to return with my rod friday,
just as soon as the exam was over.
well, after a great study session today, and knowing i still had the whole
evening ahead to study more, i decided to take a break and head out there.
i just couldn't wait until friday.
the stream was running shallow and clear, with pockets of "deep" pools here
and there, and even though it was just off the road, it felt isolated, and
it was quiet. although there were lots of trees, and laurel bushes, there
was still room for some decent casts. the spot where i stopped was at a
very small, old wooden bridge, and i could see the trout hanging out under,
and just beyond it. what a great advantage. i cast my line (with an
attractor adams) just to the side of them, so that the current would carry
it toward them, rather than cast it right at them and spook them. my first
cast missed by about two feet, so i re-cast. my next three were much
better, and when i made the next cast, boom, as soon as it hit the water i
felt an incredible tug on my line! i flicked my wrist just a little in
hopes of setting the hook, and sure enough- there he was! the water was so
clear that i could see him as i reeled him in. what an incredible feeling!
i just couldn't believe it had happened! i brought him in, and had my son
take a picture, and then got out my measuring tape (thanks again frank) and
measured him at 10 inches. he was beautiful- a brookie. i had never seen
one close up like this before, nor felt one, and his beauty, and smooth,
soft skin, or whatever you call it, help me out, took me by surprise. after
admiring him for a moment, i carefully released him to go back to his home.
by now my hands were shaking, and i was weak in the knees- too much
excitement :-)
well, i had allotted myself only an hour for this outing, since i still had
studying to do- so i changed my fly to a nymph- just to see what would
happen, and re-cast. on the third cast, i hooked another, just when the fly
hit the water! ****, this is great stuff! i brought that one in- another
brookie- seven inches. he was just stunning, and in spite of my still
shaking hands, i managed to work the hook out of his mouth, and return him.
feeling more than just good about my experience, i decided to head home, and
hit the books. *that* took a lot of self-discipline. i wanted so badly to
stay- how does one walk away from that?
anyway, that was close to two hours ago, and i'm still on a high from it!
*this* is amazing.
i really feel like a fly fisherman now.....

snakefiddler- who is having more than a little trouble concentrating on her
studies now.....