Indian Summer II: Rapidan River

The Rapidan River is a mountain stream in the Shenandoah Mtns of Virginia, and is one of my favorite places to fish. I haven't been up there since last fall, and so was stoked to get up there again last Friday! I went up with my dad, and we had beautiful weather. The fishing was great as well, I caught about a dozen Brookies on little Copper Johns, Royal Wulffs, and a little tan and gray unknown dry fly I found in my box. A couple of the really little ones, including the first fish I caught below, earned their wings when I set the hook a little aggressively and pulled them out of the water!

This is the second fish I caught, right after I released him

Same fish, different shot

My dad stalking the 'monster' Brookies

A nice 6" Brookie

The view downstream from one pool, the fall foliage colors were spectacular.

An older, bigger Brookie I caught

The inside of that fish's mouth was black, which we think is normal coloration for older fish during spawning season.

The same fish again, this shot showing the supposedly-normal black coloration on his belly. I've contacted the VA DGIF about it.

My dad

Rivers have always had a special, indescribable, powerful effect on me. There's just something about being out on the water that makes everything else fall away. All that matters is the moment I'm living in right then, whether its a cast to a rising fish, dropping into a rapid I've run many times, or one I've never run. The lens through which I view the world changes entirely--having my fly rod, or the bow of my boat and my paddle in between me and the river changes everything. It's a beautiful thing.