August 15th.

Summer trout fishing, nothing can beat wading threw a fresh stream in a green pine forest. Any chance I get to go fishing I used it. A national holiday - time to fish. I pick up a friend and we set off. Heading to a river known to both. It has ample amounts of trout. As long as we have the right lure, a presentation that suits the fish, an understanding where the trout lurk, right angles to hit the lure, clear but not too clear water, stable water levels we are guaranteed a catch. Simple. Right ?

We stop at a gas station for the ritual - a cup of coffee and a fishing license. 20 minutes later we are at the spot. The river is drastically low, but we are optimistic. I start with a Pontoon21 Greedy Guts 44F-SR, Spanish Red, a staple this season. Cast after cast, nothing is biting, water is just too low the sun is tropical the heat is giving us a hard time. 2 hours later with no trout insight we decide not to waste time and head to a patch further upstream.

We make the right decision, soon enough I hook my first trout, a small one, nonetheless satisfying to have the rod bend. Continuing upstream rod keeps shaking, bite after bite, but no hook ups. We conclude that it is small grayling chasing, nibbling our lures. We can see them quite clearly scattering to all sides as we wade the river. This continues for another hour or so. I cast to a shady area created by low hanging branches the lure disappears upon landing, fish on ! A somewhat decent trout. Not far from 35cm, beautiful colours. My friend still has no fish, but the grayling keep biting and after some effort he hooks one. I manage to reel in another small trout. And have a monster bite, but as soon as I realize I have a big fish hooked it already had spit my lure out. 20 minutes we decide to head home. 4 fish in a new spot, not bad considering how we started the day.

August 19th.