The Rapid Anne

Why do they call brook trout specks?   Oh I see.

Fritz hadn't been able to come with me on Wednesday, but Saturday opened for him and even though it was finger numbing cold we decided we'd give it a shot.   Any day on the river is a great day.   We met along 28 and I was very happy to see Jacob too.  

Chilly Gear up

We loaded up Jamie and had a nice time catching up on the way into the mountains.  When the chances of trout are low it seems that I almost always head to the Rapidan as that's where I have the most confidence, and, OK, I like the four-wheeling to get up the mountain.  

first (micro) trout of the day

Jacob had never been to the Rapid Anne before so we had fun showing him our favorite spots.  We got up to the SNP gate and like Wens was the only car on the mountain.  The forecast teased us with hints of 45 at 1600 but it was only 34 when we hit the water at 1010.  Fingers didn't work as well and the 6x tippet with #18 eyelets was a challenge, but heck we were together on a trout stream and out of cell coverage! 

This what its all about

Icy entry point

We geared up with nymphs under colorful indicators and were ready to go. We literally slid into the icy water and  I was happily surprised when I caught a game spec in the first couple casts.   As it turned out the trout were there and more active than I would have thought for such a cold day.  

Weird to be trout fishing with the air at 34 and the water at 38.   We moved up the stream slowly, successfully avoiding a would have been day ending tumble, spotting for each other and willing strike indicators to twitch out of system. 

The art and learning point of the day was differentiating the difference, as evidenced by the movement of the strike indicator, between a dropper bumping over a rock and the gentle sub-surface sip of a cautious brookie, no easy feat.  Answer: when in doubt lift that tip and see if there's an answer. 

Jacob watches his strike indicator 'Like a Hawk'

Jacob at rock face run

Rock face run -- always good for a strike

Fritz and Jacob at long log run

cold hands cold fish

The (active) fish were holding in water at least a foot or deeper in the slack water just out of the main flows and there were enough small brookies to keep smiles on our otherwise cold faces.

one of my favorite pictures --  father shows son the best way to fish Long log run (Jacob doesn't need a lot of help)

together we BTH 15 brookies

Jacob at island intersection pool

icicles guard the river

The most fun of the day came when we were able to guide each other onto fish and have some success together.   After a stream-side lunch Jacob caught two in a row with Fritz and I watching -- great success.  With that as our high point we decided to call it day, walk up to Camp Hoover and take our winnings (dry clothes, smiles and trout) to the bank. A great February fishing day.

these icicles formed on root threads -- amazing -- they looked like dipped candles

Presidential smiles at the Hoover Cabon

thanks for looking