Still the one

I was able to find some cold water and wild trout this morning, but I had to drive 1hr 45 minutes to do so. It has been a scorcher with low water for weeks here in SW Virginia, but I had hope after recent rains and it bore out.

After struggling for months with tennis elbow I decided today to fish tenkara to keep everything very light and I think it was the right decision.

I started at 715am and finished at 940am or so before it got too hot (it was still 80+ degrees when I left the water but the water was 62.

I began with my ONI Type 1 and the only change I made (about 1/2 way through) was to move from an 11’ level line (#3) to a 15’ #3 line. All fish were caught on Tom Davis’s Pink Squirrel with a brass bead (I still have some from a batch he tied for me last year and they are treasures).

Without question, the ONI is the finest casting fly rod (tenkara or western) that I have ever had in my life hands. So precise and so beautiful in motion.

I was into the wild rainbows within 10’ of entering the water (after shaking off a tick from a 20’ walk through grass…they are horrible this year).

What I love about the ONI is that I find myself casting into any spot that might hold a fish because of the joy and confidence it inspires. I landed a bunch of rainbows and had double that strike at and bounce off and that is just fine with me.

There was no activity in the runs and flats so I focused on the faster water and was rewarded for doing os. After I put on the 15’ line (first time fishing with a 15’ or longer line) I was amazed at how well the ONI handled it and it made a big difference as I am not the most stealthy wader on the planet (by a far measure).

I had some loose plans to fish another stretch of the river, but as the heat rose so did my desire wane in greater measure. It was just enough, a complete joy to fish with a longer line with that ONI 1 and I returned home happy and just a little tired.

How are you dealing with the heat?

All the best and tight lines,

Mike