Hit a lake yesterday figuring some gills on the beds what with the full moon and warmer temps. I'd hit all usual spots and only had a couple of fish in the cooler. I sat there in the boat, looking around, and struck out for new cover.

Well, they were bedding alright, but where was a terror. Whether as a defense or what, they'd forsaken the usual bedding areas on the lake and headed waaaay up in there. You know, just pad those few lily pads. Up under those over hanging trees. Right up tight against the bank. And I mean tight. It was hard enough to find open water to lay a fly on, but they wanted it no more than a foot away from the bank. And to get there you had to sidearm it under the trees. I prayed every shot that I'd get a fish on because getting the line, leader, and fly off the water was an exercise in how fast I could tie on another fly. Second part of the equation is it almost always had to be a natural looking presentation and fly, I got all but a couple on #14 elk hair caddis's and Adams. Managed a couple with a small spider.

Had 40 Saturday, slipped back up for a couple of hours this morning and mustered another 23. What a hoot. Now to tie more flies....