Should auld acquaintance be...

“My dear Watson, the criminal always returns to the scene of the crime.”

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

After a hiatus of two weeks, the Tangler finally found time to go fishing on June 16. This was a pressing matter, as a column was due and I needed grist for the mill. The question was what my destination should be. Trout Brook was a long ride out and a long ride home in the dark. The Delaware off the mouth of Hankins Creek was ripping along and wading would be limited. A tributary then. Why not the brook where I had such success four weeks ago? Indeed, why not. This would perhaps give me a chance to meet old friends. Both of those large trout had been released and quite possibly could be tempted again.

I parked the car and walked over to look at the brook. Hmm, it was a bit lower than the last time, but still was at a fishable level. The water temperature was 66 degrees. Perfect.

I elected to start at the top of the run, which is rip rapped with huge boulders on the left bank.

Now, the top of that run is overhung with low-hanging branches from a tree on the bank. True to form, on the second cast, I hung my flies in one of the tree limbs. Luckily, a good tug freed the flies from the leaves. My memory had marked the spot well where the first trout had taken on the previous trip. As my flies approached that location, a certain feeling of tension and anticipation rose within me. In this evening’s lower flow, I could clearly see a large rock, just off the bank with a dark line running along its bottom where it lay in the stream. This might be an indication that the rock was undercut, a fine spot for a large trout to take up residence. A well-placed cast sent the flies drifting exactly into that slot of water. This time there was no sudden, violent strike—only the realization that a heavy fish was on. The fish went along, head shaking, wallowing, running line off of the reel. The whirring of the reel was music to this fly fisher’s ears. The fish fought valiantly and was no quitter, but eventually the supple pressure of the fly rod wore my quarry down. I beached him in the shallows of the right hand bank. Indeed, he proved to be my old friend, the 16-incher I had landed and released earlier. Even the fly he took was the same, a Copper John nymph. It appears he is making a living at this location. He was every bit as plump and full of fight as the first time we met. Out came the fly and I cradled him in both hands, moving him gently back and forth in the current to get his gills to pumping. I could feel him regaining his strength and in seconds he slid from my hands and glided away across the shallows into deeper water. I wonder if we might meet yet again. As the stream flow goes down to summer depth, will he seek different living quarters? A fragment of a tune runs through my mind, “So long it’s been good to know you.”

Now, for a super evening, I should proceed to hook and land the 17-incher that I had also taken the last time. Wouldn’t that make for a perfect story? Alas, it did not happen. Ah well, life is not perfect.

While walking the bank a little ways downstream in a large area of Reed Canary grass, I was startled when an animal bolted practically at my feet. My first impression was that it was a large rabbit. However, when it stopped some twenty feet away, I saw that it was a tiny fawn. We both stood staring at each other long enough for me to take a picture. At dusk I saw a large doe slowly making her way towards the spot where I had flushed the frightened fawn. Possibly this was the mother coming to check on her child. This was a nice end to a pleasant evening.

On June 24, the Upper Delaware Chapter of Trout Unlimited will hold its monthly meeting at the Fremont Center firehouse. The meeting will start at 9:30 a.m. and as usual will be open to nonmembers. To get to the firehouse, go to the juncture of Route 97 and County Road 94, go east on Route 94 till you see Newman Hill Road. Turn right and the firehouse is just down the road. If you go past the Bjorkland baseball field you missed the turn at Newman Hill Road. If you would like to know where they are biting and what flies are working, drop by and say hello. At the end of the meeting, there will be a dollar raffle with super prizes. See y’all there.