I negotiated a hall pass and today fished a 1/2 day on the Swift.

Yes, I was there yesterday. And, yes, it’s a lot of driving over two days. But, hey, it’s fly fishing after all.

The now-educated Swift rainbows continue to befuddle me. It’s my first summer fishing that river, as my first foray there was last autumn. I’m still very much a newbie.

The trout were just like yesterday: hanging out, gulping an emerger invisible to me, and, at times, rising in dramatic fashion. They casually ignored nearly all of my flies. Reminded me of middle school and being completely ignored by a large group of girls.

Still, I made a billion casts, and, as they say, even a blind pig finds an acorn occasionally. I hooked ten rainbows and landed five.

Of course, I remember all too well the ones that got away. Three fell off the hook (too soft of a hook set, small hooks don’t always set well–blah, blah, blah). Two immediately headed for a log jam and expertly broke free.

But, I do relish the five big ‘bows that I landed. These are large and powerful fish. The highlight was the stocky stockie up top. Big. I mean muy hefty. It’s height nearly covered my hand. Perhaps, 3 lbs.

Rumor has it that the hatchery has been stocking a Montana strain of rainbows. That might explain this trout’s Rocky Mountain-sized waistline.

Well, this Fat Albert of a fish also headed for a log jam, pulled my line under a sunken log, and was going ape on the other side. Thankfully, I had a sudden idea. I completely lowered the rod tip and pointed it at the fish. Feeling no resistance, the critter thought it was free and stopped streaking around.

Once it was calm, I slowly pulled in line, pulled the fish under the log, and once clear, re-raised the rod tip. Fat Albert then resumed its high-drama behavior, until it slid safely into my net. Come to Daddy, fish.

A good day. These trout are getting educated. But, slowly and surely, I am, too.

Now, time for a cold one.