First Still Water Brown

**WazzyP** · 14-10-14

A few weeks ago a thread popped up with 2 exquisite brown trout being showcased. It served as a quick reminded that despite having fly fished for over 20 years I was yet to catch a brown trout in a still water. Amazingly my luck changed this weekend while at the Underberg Himeville Trout Fishing Club's AGM. As part of the AGM the club hosts a 1 day fishing festival and dinner, which aids in getting the number of attendees up.

I had a good morning's fishing, picking up six fish, although sadly they were all stockies. Then, just as I was getting ready to leave, and was on my (fifth) last cast, I hooked into a bigger fish. It's first splash on the surface revealed it's buttery colour and quickly got my heart racing. I suddenly remembered that I had a wind knot in my tippet that I'd been too lazy to replace since I didn't plan on fishing for much longer. I carefully fought the fish until it came to net and then, much to my horror, my net tore and it feel through the bottom. Thankfully the tippet held and I was left fighting the fish through my net. Amazingly I managed to net it again by holding the hole closed, and then kicked over to my mate who threw me his net. All in all a fish I won't quickly forget.