Alicia's First Trout on a Dry Fly!

Alicia's first on a dry fly!

19 incher out of Elk!

20 incher out of Spring!

Alicia spent the morning schooling Marty, Ben, and me at Rainbow Falls and she caught her first trout on a dry fly! Not just any trout either but this sweet bow! She really was flawless in her execution. I think it took her by surprise a little (as it does all of us the first time we see a fish eat a dry fly) and she very calmly lifted the rod and held the perfect pressure as the fish made its first few runs. This was only after Alicia pulled in two other slabs up top!

We spent the morning fishing Spring, Eagle,Palmer, and Elk Lake. Alicia hammered a STRONG 20 incher in Spring Lake on a #18 bead head, flashback Hares Ear. This thing peeled some line. Alicia is getting very good at fighting fish! So proud of her.

Alicia has actually dramatically improved in a lot of areas over the last year or so. Casting, spotting fish, knot tying, fighting fish, netting..... Very cool to see Alicia enjoying this sport. She out fished all of us today and I couldn't be happier.

Marty also did very well today. He missed a brute on Spring Lake early in the morning but made up for it at the end of the morning on dries with some nice fish during the Caddis hatch.

It is bug season at Rainbow Falls as Richard pointed out in the last Tightline. Ditch the streamer rod, San Juans, and eggs and hit the midge hatch early with very small Griffiths Gnats. Trail one behind an Elk Hair Caddis so you don't go cross-eyed trying to see it on the water! Other good combos today were #18 Chocolate Shot Glass and #18 bead head flash

Marty with a nice one that crushed a dry!

back Hares Ear 12" behind an Elk Hair. Don't be afraid to move your flies. A slow retrieve with quick pauses was working well as Ben pointed out.

Great day at one of my favorite places soaking up some sun and catching some sweet fish. Always fun spending time with this crew. Even got to catch up with Richard who was, as usual, out and about working hard on the property. He has some great plans in the works for this coming off season and next season is only going to be better!

Marty again on a dry!