Fishing More Than Testing

As you may have noticed, lately I have been fishing more than testing. There have not been as many new rods or other tenkara equipment that I have been interested in as of late, so my attention has been focused on fishing. I have been using a few prototype rods, but for the most part I've been exercising the trout in my local streams.

One such trip was just the other day. I visited one of my favorite streams, but this time I hiked cross country to it's upper reaches to see what the topography and fish population was at that elevation.

As I fished further and further upstream the fish population seemed to change. Lower down cutthroats predominated. But as I ventured further upstream, rainbows and even a few small brook trout (unfortunately) entered into my net. I found that sort of interesting (except for the brook trout, which I don't find interesting at all. I find them usurping little river rats, although they are sort of pretty).

The stream's topography was pocket water all the way. I love pocket water, but in a moment of reflection I felt that I needed to start fishing some meadow streams, as I feel that my skills for that type of stream are lacking. I have become less comfortable with more open and less high gradient waters. Maybe it's time to make a shift. Maybe. I'll have to think about it a little longer.

But in the meantime, I'll keep fishing my pocket water freestone streams. How can I stop? They're just too much fun!