The last time I fished the Yellow Breeches, it was in the middle of August. I had just had a fabulous 6 day vacation fishing on the Yellow Breeches. When I went there, I was feeling like a novice fly fisherman, when I left, I felt like I really had some idea of what I was doing. With some tips from Mary and a lot of practice on my part, I am now able to cast where I want to, without as much effort. I still need to practice more to get more distance, but I am sure I can do that. Having fished all of my life, at least the last 45 years or so, I feel like I have a clue as to how to catch fish. I have only been fly fishing since 2001, and it is different, but catching fish is the same.

I went back to the Yellow Breeches for Columbus Day weekend. I got there on a Friday about noon. I got some lunch and got in the water as quickly as possible. Hurricane Ivan had roared through the area and changed the stream considerably. The water was much higher and faster. It was a little overwhelming, in places. I wandered down to the main leg of the stream, but it was too high and fast for me. I like to be comfortable wading in the water. I was not comfortable, at all. I went back up to “the run”. This is ˝ mile stretch in the special regulations area. There are usually a lot of people fishing here.

I was using bead head zebra nymphs in the 20 to 24 size. They are really small! I was not doing all that well. There were a lot of fly fishers there. They had lots of suggestions about what I should be doing and finally I went down a ways so that I could be alone. I was under some tree cover and below a small footbridge. I started dry fly fishing with parachute ants. I started catching fish. Some women with children were watching and were totally fascinated. They were thrilled to see me catch and release a fish. They asked a lot of questions, and I invited them down to the streamside to see a fish that I had caught close up. I kept it in the net in the water, so that they could see its beauty. It was great to share that with some people who had not been exposed to fly fishing before. I do like to share my addiction!

After a full day fishing, I went to the Yellow Breeches Fly Shop and was talking to Emily. She is the owner. She said there are some monster trout in the “plunge”. This is an area, where the Boiling Springs Lake flows into the run. The water shoots through a tile lined tunnel at a rapid rate. A small bridge passes over the tunnel. There is not a lot of room. There is a concrete pad about 3 feet by 3 feet with stones set into it and it is not a comfortable place to stand. Over head, is some kind of large pipe which goes across the water. I decided I had to check it out. I had caught big fish before, but not on a fly rod. 

I went there on Columbus Day. I got there around 8:30 a.m. because, it being a holiday, I expected the area to be packed. I was wrong, I was early and no one was there. I saw fish in the water, but they were not all that big. I fished anyway. I caught a few in the 8 to 10 inch size on nymphs. I was using bead head hares ear nymphs and bead head zebra nymphs, as before. One of the men, who was giving me lots of unsolicited advice the day before, arrived and said he had planned to fish there. I shrugged my shoulders and kept fishing. He was not happy that I was in “his spot” and he went across the way and was fishing, talking and complaining the whole time. One thing I really enjoy about fly fishing is the solitude and the closeness with the surroundings. I was trying my best to tune him out. 

I had caught 6 or 8 fish and decided to something different. I remember my Dad telling me, if you want to catch a big fish, use big bait. I translated that to fly fishing and tied on a Muddler Minnow in a size 8. My “companion” across the way told me in no uncertain terms, that no one used those here and not to waste my time. 
I was fishing a 4 wt., 7 foot 6 inch fly rod. As the Yellow Breeches trout are spooky, I was using a 7 x tippet. I tied on this Muddler Minnow and cast to the middle of the pool. The fly hit the water and my fly rod bent in half. My buddy across the way said “See, there are lots of logs down there to get snagged on. Just break it off and try something else.” 

I knew in my fishing heart that I had a fish of a lifetime on the end of my line. I was thrilled. I played it for quite a while, not wanting to break off the light tippet. I had forgotten my net in the trunk of my car. It took me 15 to 20 minutes to get this fish in. It was very smart and tried to get rid of me several times. It was so exciting to bring this fish in. I leaned down to pick it up and realized I could not get my hand around it. I held this beautiful brook trout in both of my hands and was totally in awe of its beauty. It was huge. It was 16 to 18” long and had teeth. I had not seen a trout that big in person before. I used my forceps to remove the fly and released it. I had been so absorbed in what I was doing; I had not realized a crowd had formed above me on the bridge to watch. They all clapped, I turned crimson. The guy across the way said, “Geez, Lady, nice fish, I guess you do know what you are doing.” I said thanks and packed up my gear. At that point, it was time to stop and drive home. I will never forget the beauty of that Brook Trout or the awe that I felt in being able to catch it. This is what fly fishing is all about for me. The rest of the world goes away when I fly fish.