First Trout of the Year – A Rewrite

by Alistair

I decided to rewrite this post after a comment that Tom Chandler left on my last post he stated:

Nice fish, though you really need to work on your posts a bit.

Admitting that the fish pretty much hooked itself is a violation of the Fly Fishermen’s Writer’s Code, which stipulates that every fish comes as a result of Extraordinary Skill, a Predator’s Instinct, and at Huge Personal Sacrifice.

In other words, you waded dangerously deep, made a heroic cast, and set the hook when you felt the tiniest of taps.

So here my friends is the rewritten post utilising Toms Code.

 First Trout Of The Year

I walked to the river in nothing but my shorts and my raincoat (and only that because it keeps my Orvis chest pack steady, nothing to do with the fact you can’t prove anything from below the photo). I wanted a Trout and I wanted it badly – I turned on my extraordinary trout seeking fifth sense …I scanned the water and selected a pool where I was positive a trout had just switched itself on to eating something big and olive – No, not a large dark olive – an olive weighted Woolly Bugger.

It was going to be a tricky cast as there were trees behind me – I waded as deep as I could – the freezing water above my waist – No kids again this month I grimly thought as I prepared to cast. The wife will not be happy!

I decided on what is called a “Windmill” cast – you spin your rod tip around so fast that the line follows it in a circle – once you have done this for several minutes building up sufficient momentum to cast 10 yards of line you let fly – I let fly! I was glad I had been pumping iron on specifically that arm for the whole winter especially for this moment…

First cast to the pool – BAM – trout on, whisked in and then a quick photo and returned to the water.

And that my friends is the story of how I caught my first trout of the year.

 

21 thoughts on “First Trout of the Year – A Rewrite”

  1. You really are a hero and an inspiration to us all. I think the cold water is good for the sperm production so be careful, having children means less time on the river in my experience.You may have to start a blog on the joys of fatherhood.

  5. Alistair, in the best possible sense, I seriously think you should have a go at writing soft porn. In my (limited) experience, you’ve just demonstrated the necessary level of imagination..

  6. Alistair,sorry to bother you mate-but do you have any idea what the catch returns for salmon were on the kelvin last year?.Any information greatly appreciated, cheers!.

  7. I have no idea Charlie – I am no longer on the committee, anecdotal evidence suggests however the catch returns for salmon was greatly increased. Did you manage along to the AGM?

  8. Nicely re-written. However, you should have mentioned your second cast, when you put out the entire fly line and turned over a 30-foot tapered leader. According to some writers, they do that all the time on English reservoirs…

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  10. Enjoyed that, both versions.

    Now that you’ve broke the streamer cherry you’ll find a lot more confidence when you tie one on … at least that’s how it worked for me … and with success this early in the season there’s plenty time to experiment and find what works best for you, well done.
    Streamers rule… well at least until the fish start rising anyway.

    Jim

  11. Alistair-didn’t make it to the meeting,but then i never do!.How come you’re not on the commitee anymore-did you eventually realise that they do nothing for the system?.I myself had ten,my mate had six,and i witnessed about another 30 being caught-not bad considering tha the runs were about a month late last year!.

  12. Great post Alistair – you do your sport proud and inspire us all! I would only suggest using words like behemoth to describe the catch that you so skillfully brought to hand.

  13. Charlie,
    As a committed silver tourist hunter, iam very interested in the migratory runs on the Kelvin , but what stops me from chasing them on the Kelvin is the fact that when the water seems to be at a good height it is always too coloured for the flee and often for the spinner, are most of the fish caught on the worm or are there certain times when they can be caught usuing sporting methods? So far this year i have had 3 springers from my river but would love to get one from the K

  14. You and me both Alan!-i have been trying to catch a springer for years now on the kelvin,and the only two i’ve hooked have been lost!.However-I dont give up easily,and will keep trying.-You say you’ve already had three-well done-which river/beat was this on and what were the sizes.Also the first springer i hooked on the kelvin was on a single handed rod and 6lb tippet and a size 10 stoats tail.

  15. Charlie,
    I had three springers on the Teith 2 weeks ago. It was a great day’s sport with another fish lost, the sizes were 15lbs, 8lbs and 6lbs. Probably a day’s fishing that i won’t repeat in a long, long time. It was just one of those day’s when everything felt right and nthe fish werein a taking mood. I would love to catch a silver one from the Kelvin and would welcome any advice that you may be able to pass on. Obviously, knowledge is precious, so if you can pass anything on e-mail me at alan.atkins@eastdunbarton.gov.uk

  16. cannot believe I use to work with alan atkins in d’arcy of princess square many years ago !meet him in the fishing shop the other day !!He love his salmon !!what a small world!!

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