An old friend recently asked me what was so wonderful about cold water fly fishing. He wanted to know why I would travel so far just to catch trout. This was my response.

The sound of the water as it moves down stream slipping around and through exposed rocks

Stringing up your favorite rod

Tying on one of your hand tied flies

That first step off the bank

Wading in the cool water with chest highs

Water so clear that you can see your boot laces

Watching the trout under the surface with your polarized sunglasses

Rising trout sipping on the surface

The first cast

Watching your dry fly drift along the surface

The water exploding with the strike

The hook set

The fly line tightening and the bend of the rod

Stripping in

Holding one of the Lords colorful amazing creations

Gently removing the barbless fly

Releasing for a new encounter.