The weather forecast for today said mostly cloudy and mid fifties, a perfect opportunity to take a walk in search of some beaver pond trout.  Instead, when I rolled out of bed just past noon, it was bright and sunny and in the mid sixties.  Oh well, might as well take a walk anyways right.

After staring at some topo maps around three in the morning last night I saw what looked to be a good sized beaver pond near the head waters of a small stream.   After parking and gearing up I headed upstream.  I didn't want to spend much time fishing the stream because I'd never get to the pond itself, so I didn't even bother tying on a fly.  That lasted about 10 minutes

When you see pools like this how can u resist?
When you see pools like this how can u resist?

Tied on a dry, because well, why not!  Two fish to hand, one from each side.

After this I ignored most everything else, I had quite a ways to go.  After scaling a 200 foot tall ridge I could see things start to lighten up ahead.  Soon after....the beaver pond reveals itself.

Back into the woods I went after seeing where the dam was located.  Here's the view from the other side.

I could see a few fish making rises near the bushes, not an ideal time of day to be fishing.  Sure wish it had been cloudy instead.  Never the less, I came all this way....gotta try at least.

After about 30 minutes of fruitless casting I finally had take near the tangle of roots near the beaver house itself.

After this I decided to go subsurface, hold my rod please Mr. Alder Bush.

Not long after, another take, a giant golden shiner. Yay!

And that was all she wrote......

After this I just sat back and observed my surroundings.  If you stand still long enough and listen, the woods come alive.  Redwing blackbirds were everywhere, a pair of raptors high overhead, millions of skeeters and blackflies.

Snakes......

Crawdads....

Newts...

A great few hours spent outside.

I have next week off, and its dry fly season.  Time to fish