The Hunt for Brown October – v.2020

Before I get any comments admonishing me that National Forests in California are currently closed, I’ll note that this report is from October 2020.

One of the cool things about keeping a blog over the years (okay, probably the only cool thing about keeping a blog) is that it provides a window into one’s own past. See, I’m typing now, while remembering a trip I took last year, to a place that I visited for the first time 15 years ago, and blogged about for the first time 14 years ago. It’s very meta.

And what I find gratifying and inspiring is that some things don’t really change over time. You can read a story about backcountry fishing in a lake written 70 years ago, and feel like it was written yesterday. The thrill of sight-fishing for big fall backcountry browns is one of those things. I’ll spare you much of the verbiage — I probably can’t describe this particular feeling any better than I could 14 years ago. But I will share with you some of the photos from this sunny day in October up in the mountains, prospecting for brown trout on dry flies.

This long, torpedo-shaped brown fell for a foam hopper pattern

This one got tricked by the same foam hopper — I thought the darker aesthetic with the big, bold spots ringed with white halos was striking

Some brookies were cruising around looking for food too, like this nice 12″ fish

A hefty brown with a distinctive spotting pattern

Another shot of the same fish — I measured it twice to double-check if I could call it a 20-incher, but nope, still fell half an inch short even when held with two hands

And the release, with a last look at this brown’s broad, spotted back

To say it was a good day could be considered to be an understatement. But it was a good day. The weather cooperated nicely, and I had the good fortune of spending the day tangling with some hefty browns. And last but certainly not least, I was back home in time to sleep in my warm bed instead of trying to brave a cold October night in the high country.