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I clearly remember the first Rainbow Trout I ever caught for it was not
very long ago. After fly-fishing for Bass and Panfish for 30 or so years I
landed my first Rainbow on a cold and drizzly April morning. It was a feisty 8
or 9 inch fish with colors bright and fitting of the name. You see I live in
Northeastern Indiana, which can in no way be considered prime Trout country,
and I suspect that is mostly responsible for my lack of obsession with the
fish, which seems so common an ailment with those who live close to it. This is
country lacking in cold running water, but full of big deep lakes.
Oh there are trout here, Rainbows, Browns, and even Lake
Trout in some of the deeper lakes. Some of these trout
even reach respectable size, the State
record for Rainbows is a bit over 18 pounds.
I caught quite a few Trout that morning, maybe 18 or 20 of
them, all about the same size, 10-13 inches. I even caught
a Brown Trout of 13 inches just before a heavy all day rain
moved in and washed me back to the truck and home. I caught
all these Trout on an old reliable fly pattern, the Woolly
Bugger. First a black one in size 12, then after breaking
that one off in a bush on the far side of the channel I
tied on another size 12, this one with a black tail and
hackle, but with a body of Peacock herl. I like that
particular recipe very much, it seems to sparkle a bit
but is still dark enough to hold the interest of fish
who like black things to eat.
After this first dance with the famous and much written
about Rainbow Trout I can sort of see what all the fuss is about. They are a
strong and stubborn fish, not easily brought to hand, not sluggish and
short fighting like the Bass and Panfish in the cold water of early
spring.
They are an acrobatic fish too, capable of leaps and flops
that few Bass will ever make. They have a stamina which I have seen
in few other fish, driving them to pull against the constant bend
of the rod and the pawl of the drag far longer than one would think
they could. Oh, there is definitely an allure there which could draw
a man into a lifetime of searching and casting in hopes of feeling
that powerful tug at the end of his line.
A romance of sorts I guess you could call it. I have read
about it many times. Maybe I'm just a little bit in love
even now. ~ Rex Lengacher
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