So. I’m up at 6am - Bagel and coffee in hand. I get to the river, gear up. I have 57 mosquito bites on me already, but that’s fine. The morning mist is literally steaming - encroaching on every nook and cranny of the river banks. I stash my coffee in my car for later, and start the bank slide. I made it down, and everything around me was almost disgustingly beautiful. I watch for rises. I squint for bugs. It’s just as nice watching as it is participating. I can smell the freshly bloomed lilacs. I can feel those damed mosquito bites.

I spot a 6 pound brown.

I watch for another couple minutes to see how much she’s feeding. I’m still hungry. We have that common, obviously.

I start with a dry. I get it together. Leader on. Tippet knotted. Fly lookin like a SNACK.

Guess what I do then?

I fall straight on my ass.

Welcome to my world.