Urp....the other one got away from me.

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 :-)
Step back, take a long breath, and/or a long draw of squeezin's and
you'll be ok.

But prepare yourself for the upcoming fall when the mountain streams
are shrouded in reds, russets & golds, when spawning and the chill of
autumn deepen the colors you saw in your summer brookie. If your hands
were trembling from excitement today then you will be completely
overcome by the display you will see in a few months. Mother Nature
shows her mountains well in the fall but her crown jewels are kept in
the autumn waters of the Blue Ridge.


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.....
When you wake up some cold winter night & realize you've been dreaming
about casting a fly to trout on your favorite stream and as you sit
idly in the early dawn sipping a coffee not worrying about the bills,
the kids or the spouse but instead are thinking about being back
onstream, you will be a fly fisher.
Catching trout is only a part of it.

Kiyu