It had rained less than a tenth of an inch the night before, but enough that the quiet air carried a heavy pine scent mixed with damp earth.  Anglers were silhouetted above on Schoolhouse riffle and below on the Little Slate Pool - the run between was open and that's where I started. 

   A #14 caddis was above the water and the surface was broken hear and there with a few swirls. My caddis landed as the day's light was beginning to grey. Sip, and the fly disappeared. Actually three casts produced three sips with the same result - three fall fish. The caddis came off and was replaced by an #8 Stimulator. More casts and all I got were swirls but no real takes...no fall fish either. As the shadows extended across the current and the fall's vividness turned into haze, the other anglers moved off. I slowly moved upstream to the mouth of Schoolhouse, the dark moving water became even more alive as time crept on.

  Change flies? Nah... I already matched the hatch (as if it were spring), and caught chubs...Let's stick with the Stimulator and play! It turns out, what the trout wanted was movement. The fish have only so long to take or pass up the imitation - the current and movement of the emerging flies dictate quick instinct. The next cast put the Stimulator quartered upstream and immediately glided with the current. A twitch brought the big fly cross current and swirl, lifted rod, and the first evening trout was on. Several more casts produced more hook-ups... I don't think it was the Stimulator, the fly could have been most anything, as long as it was presented with motion and therefore sparked the quick attack they were using. What a great evening, and it was even better to get the free lesson from the browns. 

  I walked back up the hill in the dark... slight silver from stars highlighted the road and made the walk back a little easier. A great horned asked its question, "who," and next to the car, in the dark, I thought of how much richer I was for what Pine Creek gave to me once again...  

    

 

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