Another Trip for Euro/tight line Nymphing for Trout

I returned from a week-long work travel that had me constantly thinking about going back to try for more of those trout.  Still learning the tight line technique, the conditions this day were a little more challenging. 

Analysis of the stomach contents of a few of the previous trout had me tying up a few lighter colored orangish flies combined with some bead-head midges.

 It was a weekday afternoon, mostly cloudy with an intermittent stiff breeze.  The water exhibited higher and cloudier water clarity.  Still, there were maybe a dozen other fisherman working the area with mostly spin gear, except for a younger fly-fishing gentleman who saw my Delaware Citation patches on the back of my fishing vest and stopped to chat briefly.  He told me he has landed a nice rainbow and used to live in the same town that my 95-year-old grandmother currently resides.  He fished the same creek that ran through my farm property and where I learned to catch trout.  

The breeze made it hard to get much distance in the cast, and really affected the drag on the flies as without heavier flies the line would bow.  It took me awhile to get my first hit.  Trying for a large palomino I saw for a good chunk of time, I ended up with nothing more than a fish scale on my fly hook.  I think it was because I drug it over him instead of a strike.  I moved upstream working systematically into the edge of a deep fast riffle area.  After a sharp tug, I had a good fight on my hands. This was a decent sized brown trout, that I landed without much difficulty.

Soon the bait casters left the 'good area' from the previous outings, and I moved up in.  Fishing this area for about 25 minutes without a strike, I decided to move back downstream feeling a little dejected.  Going back to my starting point, I decided to work the area a little more upstream.  There was a deadfall log in the water across the creek from me that was jammed up against the far shore.  it was a deep shady area and I figured a fish might be in there.  I made a good cast well upstream from the log to give the flies enough time to sink properly.  I wanted it right on the first cast, and figured the line would either get snagged on the log, or I would get a strike.  In text-book fashion, a good-sized rainbow flashed sideways and started a strong run. Switching back, it tumbled end over end in the air making a series of leaps.  I was overjoyed at this combination of events. The cast, the placement under the log, the feel, the strike and landing was all a great memory.  It was akin to the feeling of making that perfect heart shot on a deer at ground level and watching it crash within sight.

Soon, my fishing time was wrapping up as I had been at it for a few hours.  I was happy with my double but really wanted one more fish for a three-person meal.  I figured I would go back down and try around the Palomino again.  I presented a variety of selections, but that fish was having none of it.  When I was about to call it quits, I was midway through a drift, when I felt a bump and I tugged back.  It was another rainbow.  A strong fight ensued, and after the fish was tiring, I had it coming upstream to my net.  This is when disaster almost struck.  The two fish on my chain stringer that were tethered to the bottom loop of my fishing vest were dancing in the flow.  I am still not used to using my fly reel to play a fish (this model has a drag even) so the stripped fly line was inter-twined with the chain stringer.  The fish was pulled right up and swam strongly into this combination of fish, chain, and fly line!  Thin 5X tippet the only connection to the trout required quick thinking. I scooped the entire lot and 3 fish into my landing net and saving the day.  

The rainbow was hooked in the outside of the mouth with the midge.  I had to cut loose both flies in order to untangle my line from the mess.  This was a sign that it was time to call it a day.  

The perspective of this photo is not good making these look like small fish, but each was over a pound to pound and 1/2 size.  Not your typical small, stocked fish type. 

At home I analyzed the stomach contents and found a similar scene, many small midge larvae with a few other types mixed in.  I 'm going to tie up some additional smaller weighted midges.