The Good Ugly

On my way home from school today I thought I would say hello to a couple friends.  I thought I would drop them a line.  Quite literally.  This time of year when I think of targeting angry spawning brown trout, words like "big" "nasty" and even sometimes "ugly" come to mind.  I'm not sure why, because I find these trout beautiful in their honey tones and proud black and red spots.  I suppose it has something to do with how aggressive they can be, or maybe its something I associate with those unfortunate fish that get sick because their immune systems are down.  Josh and I saw a few fuzzy fungified fish the other day on the South Fork, all of which would have aggressively bent a rod in their prime.

Ugly they may be in attitude, but for the healthy ones its a good ugly.  It's one to start up a symphony only I can hear in my mind, when they grab my fly and the fight begins.

 

There's something gratifying about setting into a beastly brown with your 3wt and feeling powerless.  It's one of those situations where you set the hook and the thought comes, "what now?"  Then you get to enjoy the ride.

Got a spunky bow in the mix.

I know God must be a fisherman, because fish seem to be one of those living canvases that he chose to spend a bit more time on.

 

This whitefish gets honorable mention, mostly because of how FAT he was.  I have caught some decent sized white fish, but the girth on this guy has to be a personal topper.