Fishing Report: Back in Business!!

Today I received Tenkara USA Sato rod. I was planning on doing some prospecting on the Lil E tonight anyway, so I threw in the back of my wagon with my pack, put on my waders and headed to to the river. As I backed out, I heard an awful CRACK! I was sure that I had toasted another skateboard, but to my shock, I found what was the carbon fiber tube of my Sato split in half.  Fortunately, the rod was in pretty food shape. The tube did its job. I put the rod into my pack, and went on my way. 

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This is not the start I was hoping to have for my excursion, but I was to excited to FINALLY be back in rubber pants, standing in my river, waving a stick.  

The river is still high, and pushing hard. But the water is clearing up still running a cool 65 degrees. I'm always amazed how many things change in the streams after the floods. I fished a few runs and hoped for the best, but expected a rough go. So you can imagine my shock when what I thought was a snag started moving upstream. I raised my rod tip and a golden flash shot 2 feet in the air. After a short fight I netted a plain looking golden broo??? Bone? What I thought was a Brown Trout turned out to be a sucker. Oh well, at least I felt a tug.  

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The river seemed to improve as I fished. You can see shades and structure pretty well and the bottom in some places. The fish are holding in the middle and back of the runs, as they tend to do when the water gets high. I set my Orvis Recon aside and strung up the Sato. On the third trip through the run a soft bump turned into a fat Brown Trout! A beautiful fish with a huge gash on the one side. After safely releasing the fish, I switched back to the Recon and missed a fish on the swing, only to take a 13" brown a few cast later. Not a bad day all things considered. After all, this was a prospecting trip. 

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A couple things to cosider if you get a chance to get out there. The Mosquitos are awful. Make sure you pack and use the nastiest stuff you have. Just keep it away from your fly line, sunglasses and anything else plastic. We have had a few cases of West Nile reported in the Middlebury area, so be careful. Also, the water is really strong and things have moved around quite a bit. Use your sea legs.  

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I think the fishing with only get better over the next week. We should have plenty of water for a bit... Hopefully we can keep it cold.  

-ak