I started out fishing upstream with a tandem nymph rig, but the only hits I got were on my strike indicator. So I switched to a Royal Coachman wet and hiked to the top of riffles to allow the fly to swing down and across. I immediately started picking up small brook trout of 6-7" in length, typical of these streams.
Below one riffle tailout was a long glide where the canopy allowed one to actually open up with a cast versus having to resort to flip/roll casting. I noticed about 30 feet downstream of me that every time a flurry of ironwood leaves fell on the surface of the run, a trout viciously slashed at them. I finally decided to target it and as soon as the fly hit the water, the trout jumped at it and took off downstream. This was a larger fish than the previous and it actually took some clicks off the Hardy's drag. It was a strong fish for its size but I horsed it in and grabbed a couple images before I released it:
Even though it wasn't even 4:00 yet, darkness was closing in and the humidity was becoming really heavy, so I decided to head back downstream to the bridge. I hit some pocket water on the way and I picked up a couple more brookies in the deeper runs like this:
I could hear the rain hitting the leaves in the canopy above and by the time I made it back to my truck, it was coming down pretty good, which stuck a fork in any thoughts of hitting the other streams. This was traditionally Wisconsin's last weekend of trout season, but it was expanded to 10/15 statewide a couple years ago, which I question because brook trout in northern streams are often on their redds in October. So for all practical purposes, the baton will be passed and I will be swapping the fly rod for a 20 gauge double and my Brittanys will soon be working along those boyhood brook trout streams for grouse and woodcock. Until next spring...
I'll put some more "sugar in your coffee" in awhile but you've got a lot of sense. Paul mentioned the "parabolic" he's likely to make. Always wanted one myself. Glad he's a long way away....!!