Fishing Journal: 5/01/06

Well, we finally made to the Rapidan River for our camping excursion just before the sun was going down.  Yes, we ran there because other commitment kept us from getting an early start, but nonetheless (it still amazes me that that is one word) we were on the river by 6 P.M.  I don’t think I have ever put up the tent fast because of course there was a hatch going on when we arrived.

        So into the new hip boots, the old ones had the nerve to rot after ten years, and I tied on a 14 parachute Adams to the mountain rod.  I love how this rod works on the Rapidan.  It is a four weight, only 6 feet long so the back cast stays low and out of the trees yet it flexes so deeply that is still loads well and throws a pretty line into all the pockets.

The hatch was Hendricksons, Sulfurs, and a size 20 white midge so the book trout, usually not so choosey, were being choosey.  And of course I bragged the whole way up to the kids about how beautiful these brook trout were, so now I needed to catch one. 

The first fish rose to the Adams and actually refused it.  Not only that, this fish refused it a second time.  Okay, okay, I admit it; I broke down and changed flies to match the sulfurs; who said brook trout were gullible.        

The trout took the sulfur casually like that was what it was looking for all along and actually pulled off some line.  Nine inches of pure beauty, deep purple with vibrant red spots.  My daughter wanted to get a picture but my son wanted to hold the fish (actually he wanted to eat it but I convinced him that putting it back to grow a bit more was a better idea) and back it went without leaving Taylor the opportunity for the glamour shot.