Like spring, verything seems possible

Excerpt

I knew it was going to be a good day when the first seven casts brought back three trout Two of them were very fine, 14 inch-plus brown trout.

It was early April and the water was barely over 40 degrees. I didn't expect to catch trout so quickly In fact, I didn't really expect to catch many trout at all. I was anticipating a hard day drifting weighted flies through frigid water to equally frigid trout hiding behind boulders and under over-hanging banks. I My expected the trout to be few and hard to find, but I would be on the stream for the first time since November.

Then there was the matter of hatchery fish. I figured the stocking truck from the hatchery in Decorah had made its annual spring visit to the stream by now. But these first three fish didn't have the dull color and battered fins of hatchery fish. They were deep golden brown with vibrant red spots. They were strong too, and knew where to run after they felt the hook. I didn't think they were wild trout—although I had seen brown …