Study in Appreciation #1:

I was fortunate enough to come across ~45 minutes recently to nymph a bit. Very challenging conditions right now, with small streams showing dead clear and low. With limited time I focused on one hole, and resolved that I would fish all parts of it: front, middle, top and all seams everywhere, etc. From above I could see the streambed over most of the pool. I took this to mean that the fish could easily see me. Could not waltz up like a goon and start flailing around. Camoflauged my outline and crouched a lot. Slow fishing. Repeating casts over and over while changing weights and indicator location. This was effective. The fish are there to be had. Some in the freezer now but most still swim. The only pictures worth sharing are below. This was a remarkable brook trout. Ate a BH prince nymph. When I looked at it in the field, I figured it was 11-12". However, a brown that I kept had been estimated at 10.5". When I got home, I measured it with a ruler and found it to be 12.0". Felt like a major failure there - poor estimating skills. Applying that ratio to a guess of 11.5" puts the brookie at 13.14". Down to the hundredths place... right on. Point is that it was a large brook trout and a damn pretty fish. I got to thinking that I sure appreciate the opportunity to cradle a fish like that and then let it go.