Went out a very hot night to try for some bass with the 8 wt. and some very large streamers. Nothing was rising and in three hours I did not have any strikes. (This was on the same reservoir where a year ago at the same time of late evening I would catch many bass on the spinning rod.) But it is much hotter this year.

I was very happy, even not catching anything, and feel that my casting and especially accuracy gets better each time; and I see new places to fish in the future. I was surprised when a friend suggested the deep diving Rapalas on a spinning rod...

Caught my first bluegills on large poppers...a real thrill!!

Well, I have caught SMB, LMB, and bluegill on the fly rod this year. Hope to keep going. learner