Over-Gunned (and under-manned!) on the Batten Kill

Yesterday, for the first time since I got my new hip last November, I took myself fishing.  I went to a stretch of the Batten Kill (or Battenkill for the less pure of heart) that is open year 'round, catch and release only.  There is no snow on the ground, the temperature was in the mid-40's, there was no wind and the river level was perfect.  It simply does not get any better than that in mid-February around here!

Don't forget - you can click on the pics for a larger version.

Emailing back and forth with a couple knowledgeable friends about equipment, and since I hate casting heavily weighted flies (chuck and duck, yuck.), I decided to use a Teeny T-300, 24 foot sink tip on an 8 weight Loomis NativeRun GLX (paid political announcement? Not.).   Normally I'd never use an 8wt on that river, but I figured to get down deep I'd need that weight rod to fling the T-300 around.  I've used that set-up on atlantic salmon springers to good effect, so why not?

Well, the "why not" turns out to be because its way too much weight for the current river flow (note to self: do not use Teeny T-300 when Batten Kill is flowing at 600cfs).  I was snagging rocks on every cast.  Lost a nice expensive-to-tie Deep Green Beauty on the first cast.  (Another note to self:  always bring more than one line with you when experimenting in new circumstances).  Hence the over-gunned.

All was not lost, however.  I got to take a nice fly pic (the fly fishing fashion police will be pleased to note the color coordination between fly and rod, no doubt):

And some very pleasant river shots:

And even a buck rub:

Now, about that "under-manned" in this post's title: that would be me.  I haven't worked, hiked, hunted or fished in about a year and a half due to some pesky surgeries.  This was my first foray back where I belong since late last September.  All I can say is its a good thing Bridget gave me a gym membership (subtle message, that, eh?) for my 62nd birthday the other day.  My legs were really aching when my truck finally came back into view!

In spite of the aches and pains, it was a joy to get out again.  I saw a bald eagle, too.