Yesterday was the first time Minnesota has allowed Catch and Release angling on ALL southeastern trout streams. I decided to head to a few sections of the Whitewater outside the park where I had assumed the fish would be less weary to take a fly due to the lack of angling pressure since mid October. I was wrong though of course, which you almost always are when you try to make assumptions about trout and the fickle waters they call home. You are subject to the conditions and variables within the water column that we can’t understand without being able to experience the life of a trout. When all else fails, take a look around and enjoy the scenery. Sometimes I don’t do enough of that, tunnel-vision like focus on the task at hand, tricking fish. Trout goggles if you will.
Winter fishing has never been productive for me. Fishing isn’t numbers for me but hundreds of miles and not a fish to show for it is humbling to say the least. I haven’t caught a fish since late October, it was a rainbow with the most beautiful colors. I had of course forgotten my camera, and my phone had died. That’s not what it’s all about though, I was still mostly satisfied and made my way back to the metro feeling accomplished either way.
I almost always learn something new when I get out, and in the new year I intend on both keeping a log of each outing in a notebook with weather/fish/flies/spots and other misc notes, and not habitually fishing any water. I hope folks had better luck than I yesterday! Show me pics! Find me on facebook @Tony Lang. Happy new year, and tight lines!
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