Hot and Cold on the Forum weekend

​This bi-annual gathering of flyfishing friends began with a settled Friday evening and a fair midge hatch. Then Saturday really turned it on with a mild, sunny, light wind day. The polaroiding was spectacular with dozens of good trout sighted on each lake fished. In the bright, flat conditions, it wasn’t always easy to get the trout to eat, but with lots of shots, there were still many nice fish landed, including Steve’s 7 pound rainbow which we watched bolt two metres to eat a tiny Hares Ear Nymph. Fish of the day was Cam’s 8 pounder caught fishing blind, although he wasn’t complaining about the excitement factor, given the fish took him 40 metres into the backing! The near-perfect day finished with excellent midge hatches on all lakes visited, plus some big tailers!

Sunday was supposed to be nice too, however someone forgot to tell the weather! Until mid-afternoon, it was cold, windy and cloudy, with the odd shower thrown in. After seeing all those fish the previous day, it was frustrating to search the same bays and shores with hardly a touch. But then, at about 3 pm the wind dropped out and the action started; slowly at first with the odd midge rise and tailer, ramping up to a phenomenal midge hatch towards sunset – and more tailers in the shallows. While violent thunderstorms stopped play a few minutes early, it was hard to be too disappointed given over an hour of about the best sight fishing you could hope for.
 
A mixed weekend for sure, but with enough good sessions to give it a solid pass mark.