I had a chance to wet a line this afternoon. Went to a small stream about 45 minutes from my mother'e house. The temp was near freezing as my line guides were icing and the slow pockets of water and stream sides were frozen. No wind, a little sun, but it had mostly gone behind the canyon wall when I started fishing at about 3PM. Not much water being released this time of year and it was a little milky looking so the fish were not too spooky. I tied on a big ole cricket pattern as an indicator fly and placed a beadhead invention of my own as a dropper off the hook bend of the cricket. The fish were sluggish, but I got more action on the surface with the fish going for the cricket more often than my nymph. They didn't really hammer it, they just finned up from the bottom, rolled over and sipped at it. I missed more than half of the takes as I was being too aggressive with my hook sets, but I caught my share and had a great time. If the weather stays mild like it has been for the past 10 days I may get a couple more days in before the first of the year, but another cold snap and that little creek will be frozen solid.
Wonder what the fishing has been like back home in Arizona? You out there lurking Alan? Been on the water lately? JoeL
