The Crib Dam
The past two days of fishing have been outstanding; at least for me. Why not make it three in a row? I woke up this morning; scraped off my car of the newly fallen snow and like a hard fighting trout I was off. On my drive to the Swift I thought to myself this is too good to be true. Another nice day for December, a bit colder and with a little more wind than the past two days but what did that matter. I made sure that I had my fleece gloves and pants; it can get really cold in a New England river in December!
I suited up and found my way to the gauge station, I figured I’d try a new spot and stay away from the crowds at the “Pipe”. I didn’t stay long at the Gauge and worked up to the Crib Dam once again. I had a few hits on a Rusty Palmered Caddis from brookies but couldn’t land any. While fishing below the dam I looked up to the pool above the dam and saw a huge rainbow leap out of the water at least two feet in the air and for some reason it reminded me of Mary Lou Retton; you know the 1984 vault. It was a perfect 10!
Well I stayed put and worked the dam for some time mainly practicing my roll, and double haul casts. Then I thought to myself why not chase the big one. Well the pool above the dam is fairly deep and the water moves slow; I thought my chances were slim to none. I made my way to the center of the pool, and like I said it was deep, up to my vest. I made a long cast to the area where I had see the Wheaties girl. After a few moments I saw a rise about twenty feet further up steam. I thought “Man I can’t cast that far”; well what the hell. I picked up the line and in my humble estimation made one of the longest and straightest casts of my life. The fly landed nicely on that smooth clean surface.
Last night I came across one of the caddis patterns on the Orvis web site. It talked about the benefits of the palmered hackle and that it can be “skated” on the water to attract fish. Well this thought came to mind a a few seconds after the fly landed and so I pulled a little line in a quick motion, saw the fly “dance” and like that “Miss 1984 Gold Medalist” attacked my fly. Fearing too much line was out I quickly tried to set the hook, and sure enough felt the long bend in the rod. She fought hard and I tried to get her in the net as quick as possible; she wasn’t having any of it. I kept telling myself “keep your rod high” and what ever you do, don’t lose this one. Finely after missing with the net a few time I had her. I made my way to the bank and took out my Nikon that I finely remembered and took a few pics.
Now that I think of it this is what fly-fishing is all about, finding the right fly, remembering a technique, practicing casts, doing what you think is impossible with a rod and just going for it. It’s seems to me that landing this trout was the culmination of everything that I have ever learned about the sport and having it pay off.
Miss 1984 Gold Medalist
THIS IS MY FLY-FISHING GOLD MEDAL!!!!!!!!!