Semper on the Fly: Classic Spring Day in Heaven -- On the river

11 April: Scott and I left NOVA at 0730 and headed to our favorite waters of the upper Rapidan . The weather was holding ahead of an approaching front, promising highs in the 80s and light breezes. When we arrived in Criglersville we found ourselves behind a slowish outback heading to the river, this company on the road was a harbinger of things to come. The TU member allowed us to pass on the 2nd switchback (thank you). We passed the 2nd bridge and decided to fish the river on the right hand side until lunch as we were not so familiar with it as with other sections. Anxious to hit the stream we both geared-up w 2-wts and waders although you could have made a fair argument to wet wade (next time maybe). The water was 56, clear & w optimal flow. We began to pick up fish immediately, Scott with an Adams Purple Parachute and hares-ear nymph and me w an elk-hair caddis trailed by a 16 bead-head prince. Action was pretty fast for about 90-minutes then trailed off towards the end of our section. We walked back down to our car .25 of a mile, although it seemed like more distance on the river as it always does. We lunched by the river and that's where we saw our first company a TU veteran who kinda snuck-up behind us. He was a gentlemen

and exited the river although we were happy to have him fish through. We moved upstream to survey our post-lunch stretch and found that 8 SUVs had rallied at the campsite just below the Marine Camp. They seemed like they were out for a good time so we gave them a good deal of river and put in upstream. As it turned out they separated and scattered every couple of hundred yards as we quickly were penned-in and were not pleased that they had jumped in just 75-yds ahead of us. We exited the river, moved upstream, only to have to repeat the process again as there were more of them. We finally resolved to go to the upper gate and out-walk them upstream, This worked well and we ultimately fished all the way to the presidential retreat unmolested.

Golden Stonefly Nymph

Quill Gordon Nymph

Mid-afternoon was slow for me as I failed to change flies as the day changed and was cursed with some messy windknots, but action stayed relatively constant for Scott who adapted better to the changing conditions. There was a constant hatch throughout the day and we were fascinated by all the action on the water. We still caught 60% on the droppers, but surface strikes were common and exciting, but all to frequently trout would rise and nose our dries only to resubmerge, so the issue became presenting what they were looking for. Small dries worked mid day and then larger dries and larger droppers worked better late.

Catching trout in President Hover's backyard

We ended the day as we like to, both catching a trout on our last casts within sight of the brown house. It wasn't a record day but it was a great day. I caught 28 trout Scott north of 50.