Best Days

I awoke before the alarm, looked out my window and saw sun-kissed green leaves softly rustling in a breeze, a bluebird sky behind it all. I smiled, rolled over, realized I hadn't moved all night, fell asleep for another half hour and then rose. Lucas and I arrived in Cashiers, NC the eve before, meeting up with the infamous Boone Walker. Our plan for the day was to float the Tuckaseegee River and fish til dark. Adequate water flows that began at noonish allowed for a great night's sleep and relaxed preparations in the morning.

Every now and then I'll have a best day. Several easily come to mind, like this one. The numbers of fish and high fives and laughs are high and there's not much on your mind because what's happening right now is so good. Boone had guided this stretch of water the day before and had a great day, by any guided trip's standards. However, he said that his clients that day, while great guys and good anglers, were at about 75% of what they could've been. In other words, they caught a bunch of fish, but couldn't quite make that far drift, or pluck out all the fish they maybe could've. So while our hopes were high, we knew the company would be good, the beer cold, and that we'd fish hard.

The day got off to a quick start.


And the fishing continued hot throughout the day. I had 20 to hand in the first couple hours.


When the nymph bite went off, the streamer bite kicked in.
And the beer was cold all day long.