April Daydream

Honestly I did not plan on fishing again yesterday but knowing it was going to be even warmer than “Brookie Fever” Monday I could not resist.  I told my boss I felt guilty asking for time off again but my work load was all caught up and when were we ever going to see weather like this in January?  Leaving work at noon and driving home I called Tommy on the road who first turned me down, said he had to focus on work.  Then two minutes later, the phone rang, Tommy calling back saying he changed his mind.  Work could wait, time to go trout fishing and we decided to met up in Cannon Falls so we could carpool the rest of the way.

Short on time I suggested a new favorite of ours in Red Wing.  Upon arrival my car registered 53 degrees and it was bright and sunny which made me worried.  Was I being selfish skipping out of work and trying to catch skittish trout in broad daylight?  It sure felt this way for a while.  Downstream of the pasture section does hold trout however we were not getting any bites, nor were we spotting any fish.  Trout or no trout, this was an April daydream.  I actually wore shorts and a cotton long sleeved t-shirt under breathable chest waders along with an open top golf cap, typical attire for April or perhaps early May.  A light breeze and no snow and chirping birds, the weather was all surreal.

The area ahead was heavily wooded which made for difficult casting, especially for Tommy who decided not to wear waders.  With the bright sun I decided the only way I was going to get a trout to bite was staying down at water level keeping a low profile.  Tommy was looking for openings through the trees making occasional casts but the banks tall enough that I think the trout clearly saw him and would spook before his spinner even hit the water.  Tommy was also in a lot of back pain (likely from overexertion from Monday’s outing) and told me he was going to rest for a while and do some stretching exercises; he would catch up with me in a bit.

My low profile approach staying in the creek paid off.  A couple blocks up from Tommy now all on my own; I came across a couple of zig-zag runs that looked deep.  I casted my spinner up to the top of the first run, started the retrieve and then paused to let it drop where the run got deeper, then started the retrieve again.  Five more cranks in my pole bent in half, a big fish flopping around only about six feet from my feet.  I could tell the trout was enormous as it thrashed about and started peeling drag.  “Zip zip zip” went my line with my pole pulsating.  I was like a deer in headlights, honestly I don’t even think I set the hook.  I had my doubts about landing this tub however the fish did not fight half as strong as he looks.  Perhaps the cold water made him sluggish.  Into the big net he went, actually in short order for the size of the fish.  My heart was racing.  In the net the #9 PM fell right out.  The lure was just lightly hooked by only one of the three hooks of the treble on bottom of his massive kyped jaw.  Out with the measuring tape, just a few hairs shy of 24.”  I hollered out to Tommy who did not respond to my call.  The fish in the net I dragged the fish in the water downstream who found me and took photos.   

 

 

The fish released in fine shape and high fives with Tommy, I waded right back to where the fish hit and cast another 30 feet upstream into the second run, tight to the right bank.  Almost instantly I felt another fish.  This one was fighting harder than the 24” male and it rammed itself under the cut bank and appeared stuck.  I waded upstream and yelled at Tommy “I got another one!” with a big smile.  “No way said Tommy.  “Bullshit” he added.  “Come and see for yourself Tommy” I replied.  “I’m going to need you to take photos for me.” I added.  First I was not sure if the fish had tangled in the cut bank got off or if she was still there.  Close to the fish I gently followed the line and untangled from the roots in the cut bank and the fish pulsated downstream ripping out dag and me and my big net chasing after her.    Tommy was speechless after the second fish was landed right in front of him.  I clearly had the advantage being at water level being able to cast underneath the tree branches.  Not nearly as fat as the 24,” she sure was a fighter and a prized fish measuring at an even 21.”

This fish also completely unharmed and released, I crawled up the bank to join Tommy and review the photos.  Unfortunately Tommy’s back was killing him so we decided to head back to the car.  Tommy had multiple back surgeries last summer and I think all the hiking from Monday as well as the long car drive really did a number on his back. 

The April daydream has come to and end.  We made Hay while the sun was shining but now snow and temperatures in the high teens are expected tomorrow.  We took full advantage of this fantastic weather.  For Tommy it did not matter that he did not catch a fish, he was there to experience both of my fantastic trout.  Last Thursday was Tommy's lucky day landing a 26" and yesterday was my lucky day with a 24" and a 21."