In the depths of last winter my friend Vincent went flyfishing for the first time. He picked up the basics of casting very quickly but it was hard to find big blocks of time to get the finer points. The fishing during winter is always tough, but especially so during this long, cold winter and the aftermath of the record fall floods. Still, we got out and enjoyed a few hours on some nice streams.
Unfortunately, the year was also broken up by some other things, mainly linked to my illness, but also trips abroad and the ever present work. I tell you this not as an excuse for Vincent not catching his first trout sooner but more...........well, let's be honest is kind of an excuse. I won't mention it too much as it's documented earlier in this blog but it was a tremendous lift from me when Vincent struck a fine hatch on one of my favorite streams and scored a few fish.
We've had some interesting stories and adventures over the season, and fished some of Minnesota's most famous trout streams, from the Whitewater and Root Rivers to Trout Run and even Foster Arend Pond. Perhaps the most spectacular hatch was a late summer hatch of tricos on the Root River, which lead to some challenging fishing with tiny spinners in crystal clear tailouts to well educated and selective trout. Together we didn't catch a lot of trout I tried to introduce a wide variety of streams and techniques to Vincent. He began with streamers, then nymphs and finally learned the art of casting the dry fly. In fact, Vincent has fished tiny dries down to #22 and #24 on tiny spring creeks. That's pretty good progress in one season.
Well trout season in Minnesota ends here on Monday 30th September so after an unsuccesful late evening session Friday night, we headed out a little earlier on Saturday. The first pool we fished was just beginning to develop. A heavy hatch of tiny black gnats were buzzing overhead, a few mosquitos could be heard (along with the odd .22 shot from the squirrel hunters close by) and occasional miscellaneous mayflies dancing in their mating rituals could be seen. Almost first cast Vincent had a good strike but was a little too eager in setting the hook. It wasn't long though before he hooked up again, and this time brought to hand a feisty little brown trout.
A few minutes later and Vincent was again hooked up and brought to hand a larger and well colored brownie. It was then I needed to find out what fly he'd been successful with. Turns out he'd selected a small sparkled nymph that I only carry to fish for rainbows. Turns out it works on brownies as well. I know I'll be carrying a few sparkle nymphs next time I fish that little spring creek again. We fished that pool a little longer and I finally hooked up with a nice fish but after a good fight I lost the fish after it scooted under a log and liberated itself. We headed upstream to take a look at some other water without much success and by the time we got back it was too dark to fish. The girls were back at my place and almost certainly hungry (Vincent's wife is pregnant) so we called it a night and went home.
It was a fitting end of the season whereby I was outfished by my student, which must mean I was doing something right. Hopefully before the winter sets in the two of us will have the chance to catch a few salmon but time will tell. Sunday I couldn't help myself with a cool overcast day and went in search of a BWO hatch. There was a few coming off on the upper Whitewater and although I got a couple on the dry most of my fish came on an emerger. The majority of the fish were small with only two or three adult fish, but the fishing was steady and the fall colors were pleasant. My guess is that's the end of my Minnesota season but there's still tomorrow but maybe I should use that to pack for Montana.
Vincent Hooked up to his first trout of the evening
The smaller of the two trout
The last stage of the fight - note the large mouth
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