“All natural flies no bead heads.” “Your lead fly should be a #22 followed by a #24 and fish nothing heavier than 6x fluro if the fish are picky bring it down to 7x.” These words were rattling around in my head as my girlfriend and I drove through the canyon towards Ruedi Dam. The water was low, cold, and gin clear. If you concentrated hard enough you could watch your nymphs move below the surface. All of a sudden I saw a large shadow move into the seam I was fishing. No sudden movements I thought, you will surely spook it if you move too fast. It was then when I realized what I was casting to. It’s long bright red stripe became very clear to me and I could just make out the silhouette as the fish moved back and forth along the bottom. My indicator floated right over the fish’s head then twitched and I set the hook. Damn!!! Bottom, I got my flies unstuck and watched the fish move down stream. Patiently watching it began to move on the other side of me into shallower water. I spun around carefully trying not to make a sound, the fish was only 10 feet away in about 3 feet of water, and I had to make a perfect cast if I was going to have a shot at it. I made a cast upstream and watched my indicator bob through the current. As my flies approached the fish I softly said “eat it….just eat it” my white indicator twitched and I saw the fish roll. I set the hook and the battle was on. Quickly I loosened the drag and let the fish take as much line as it needed. With 6x on I wasn’t going to risk horsing the fish in. It was a 25min battle of tug-o-war that ended with me getting my picture taken with the biggest rainbow I have ever landed. The fish took a size 24 pheasant tail nymph that was tied on with 6x fluro. Believe me I am as surprised as you are. I give thanks to the guy from Florida who netted the fish for me and to my girlfriend Amy who was there to cheer me on during the battle.