I fished a stream in the Park today. Got a late start, had to dodge all kind of tourorrist traffic but I finally dipped my feet in the cold water just before noon. I started with a caterpiller pattern I tied last night, fished it for twenty or so minutes with no dice . Fell back on old reliable. A #10 BC hopper with a #16 black bead head pheasant tail ( w/red rib) and finally got lucky. I was using my 2 wt. Scott and he took me into an undercut bank, so I didn't get to put my hand on him:(. Figured I had it dialed in, but that was the last fish I hooked today. I fished about a mile of stream and didn't even see another fish. I was pretty far in, and no one else had fished in front of me. I figured I have made the trout gods angry with all the attention I have paid the local smallies this summer. About 2 hours in and pretty high up the valley, I felt a chill come over me. The temp. dropped about 10 degrees, black clouds came rolling down the holler and the trees started to rock. One minute it was sunny and calm, half a minute later, I am crossing the creek trying to find something to get under. I got drenched, even the inside of my chestpack was soaked. Lightning danced on the ridge above me and I decided that was it. The water had come up a foot, and I wasn't sure that would be the end of it. I crawled through the Rhodo and Laurel and took the straight shot back to my truck up ( I definately feel 40 ) over the opposite ridge from the lightning. Thank goodness for bear tunnels.:cool: I looked like something that had crawled out of a swamp. Tried to get some pics pre storm, it doesn't do it justice, though.
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