Evening Rise

Looking back.

A long time ago before all this rain the rivers were clear and calm(ish) I got to spend some time doing something i really enjoy...Fly Fishing into the sunset, mainly because I haven't really got any other time to fish and I don't mind staying out a little late. Back to the story, before all this rain I had some great opportunities to fly fish in one of my favourite rivers in southern ontario, the Grand River.
The sun resting just behind a tree line of cedars, highlighting the surface of the river with pinks and purples. With the smooth sound of a river pushing against my feet in a subtle manner. looking both up stream and downstream there are both little splashes and big splashes followed by a ripple.

So while all this is going on I have Caddis, Blue Winged Olives, Some PMD's and some Grey Foxes all buzzing around my head, behind my ears, in my nose...You name it! bugs get there...Sounds fun eh?! You get used to it.
I now have my favourite fly tied on and my knots tied and checked thoroughly.
I begin casting and as much as I would love to say I got a fish within the first or 10th cast, I would be lying. After numerous attempts at fish that cannot seem to sit still I am ready to call it quits, after all, rumors, be it true or not of cougars being re-introduced kind of has me on my toes about being alone on a trail. I turn around to make my way back into safer lower wading water (not willing to fully quit..last cast syndrome) and I notice a little nose barely making any disturbance in the water. The only way I could have spotted this fish is if I had moved (which I did). I began pulling line off my reel which I love the sound of by the way...Sorry..
This fish is holding right between two rocks in about a foot of water just lazily picking off the Spinners as they give into to flow of the mighty Grand river. As my cast rolls out I felt confident in catching this fish and patiently watched where I thought my fly was and sure enough with my first cast (at this particular fish) he was hooked and ran straight downstream with a few good jumps turning the soft click of my reel into a screaming monster which probably scared away any cougars, probably not but it helps me sleep at night. Soon enough the fish is in my hand the silence is back and already planning my next trip!

Spectacular story and pictures, thanks for sharing!

Very nice! Congrats on a beautiful fish.

That is a beauty.

you do catch bigger ones than that most times or its not worth my drive up here what was it 8 inches

I'd rather catch a nice 8" trout on the fly that a 20lb puke green salmon out of bronte park. To each their own, right? And that fish looks like it's starting to thicken up a bit. I'd say closer to 12+". A respectable river trout on the fly.

great story!!! congrats on letting the last cast syndrome kick in!!! sometimes it pays off!!!

Love the read and a beautiful fish!