A Nice Winter Day

  
  I have a lot of stuff going on the next few days.  First, as i write, my truck is being worked on.  I need to have some maintenance  done to it.  Second, my boat will finally be worked on tomorrow.  I had to juggle plans around so my life would not be put on hold.  Most Importantly, I wanted to get a fishing trip in.  With the mild winter we are experiencing, why not?

     I dropped off my truck, and walked to Jan D's house with my waders, fly rod, and tackle bag.  We had a cup of coffee and suited up.  Upon arriving at the local TMA (Trout Management Area) i selected a #14 black Hare's Ear Nymph I created last winter.  The weather today was 45 degrees and overcast.  It was more of a March day than a day in early February.  The river, was a little low and ice free.  I found a nice spot and made some drifts through it.  I had no luck, but i was not worried since Jan got nothing in his first spot and we had a lot more fishing to do.  As we walked along the path we noticed some deer hair in the trail.  People are not throwing big deer hair bugs in this river so i knew one deer did not make the winter.  I looked in the woods off to my left and sure enough i saw a set of ribs.  I walked over to check it out.  The coyotes had eaten all the meat off  and only hair and bones were left.  From the looks it was a small deer.  I jokingly said to Jan "the survival guys on the discovery channel would eat that".  Pretty gross, yes, but it was good for a few laughs. 

   I walked up to my second spot and unloaded my rod.  Half-way through my first drift the strike indicator went down and i was hooked up!  The small confines of the pool did not allow for a big fight, but it was my first trout of the year.  After a few High-Fives and a photo it was back to business.  My third spot produced another brown, and the fourth sport gave up a nice rainbow.  The fish were hitting the nymph lightly, and the first fish was the only one that brought the strike indicator down.  I was only noticing a slight pause in the indicator when a fish hit.  The fish were locked up in only the prime locations.  Unlike in the spring when they  stock and fish are holding all over.  With the weather being so nice we did notice a few big stone flies coming off and we even saw a trout rise. After sitting on the bank we decided to walk out and get lunch.  The weather had become cooler and we decided to pack it in. 
    When it comes down to it, nothing beats a few hours fishing with our friends.