Joe and I finish up work for the day and head to the trout hole. Not just any trout hole. A little run that Joe knows well. A little run that is holding nothing but large brown trout. Joe tells me where to stand and then tells me not to cast for 10 minutes. He tells me that I will start to see these big browns move up into the feeding lane. So, I make my way out to the spot and stand there. I rig up my killer Steelhead rig. 9 ft leader – barell swivel – tag for splitshot – 14 inch tippet to wooly – 16 inches of tippet from wooly to beedhead – 14 inches of tippet from beedhead to wetflly. So, I am rigged up with a 3 fly nymphing system and I am ready to go. I look into the water with my polarized glasses (thanks Jason) and I can see the trout. Not just any trout, big trout. I can see them eating off the bottom. I cast upstream and let my weight tick across the bottom. Fish On! Fish Off! Joe and I both saw it flash. I had him on for a second or so and then he was gone. I cast for a while and then give the hot-spot to Joe. Joe gets a monster on. Rips line off his reel and he breaks the tippet. Wow! This is amazing. These are all big fish. I cross the river and and fish the same run from the other side. Like Joe says, “It’s all about the drift.” So logic tells me that if I fish the run from a different angle, I will achieve a different drift. Sometimes, I think the fish get used to seeing the flies presented a certain way. When the same flies are presented differently it can produce results. So, I cast above a submerged rock and my flies work their way downstream. My line works its way into a little eddy/cross current and I feel the tap. I set the hook and the fish is on. He heads downstream in a hurry. Line is peeling off my reel and I am a happy camper. I land the fish and cross the river again. Paul and I enjoy a smoke while Joe is casting a small dry caddis with trico emerger as a dropper. I turn my head, just in time to see a beautiful trout sip Joe’s fly off the surface. Joe sets the hook and the fish is on. What a battle. Joe was fishing with his 3 weight and that Brown Trout made Joe work for every inch. Joe brought the fish in, Paul netted it for him and life was good. We had a great evening. Very relaxing, nice weather, good people, light conversation and smart trout. These trout were not your run of the mill stupid stocked fish. They were hard to trick. When the trout are educated try small flies, use the right amount of weight and try to achieve the perfect drift. All good practice for Steelheading!