My First Trout

I got to spend 4 glorious days fishing the southern branch of the Root River in southeastern Minnesota a couple weeks ago. You've heard the phrase, "a fish out of water" well I was a fisherman out of his element. I have never fished for trout and I have never fly fished small rivers and clear water. Thankfully the trout didn't mind. I landed my first trout of my life on my second cast with an elk hair caddis fly pattern I tied up for the trip. It was a beautiful brown trout. I spent the next days wet wading going for trout as often as I could get to the water. My wife and I tent camped and our camp was 20ft from the river. I also got the pleasure of teaching my wife how to fly fish and she was able to land 2 trout of her own! I also got 3 leeches on my feet since I wasn't wearing boots. Gross, but that didn't stop me. It made me take a look at them and tie up some patterns to match their size and shape. We also got to witness a sulfur hatch one evening. I was blown away at how many bugs come off the water.

We had a wonderful trip and I highly recommend Forsetville State Park in Minnesota. I wasn't sure how I would feel going back to my urban trash filled home waters after fishing pristine clear water in a peacful wilderness setting. When I cast a line into the murky brown stillwater I fell right back into my rhythm. I guess I am home.