Solstice Tiger Trout

Well, I’m back in Maryland for the holidays.  And since it’s not snowy around here (or New England, for that matter… ugh!), we decided to spend some time out on the water today throwing around some streamers.  Unfortunately, since I’d been running late all day on the shortest day of the year, we weren’t left with too much time on the water, but we made do with what we had.  I guess it didn’t help that I forgot my wading boots at home on the first go…

After getting suited up, my father showed my the streamer technique that had been working on the Gunpowder of late, and I headed upstream to start swinging flies.  A few minutes later, I hear him yell out “holy shit!”  Excitedly, I ran over to see what he’d gotten himself into…

And found he’d caught a tiger trout!

Tiger trout are an infertile hybrid of brown trout and brook trout, and they’re quite rare in the wild.  But I guess there’s got to be at least a few of them out there.

Looking sly with his solstice tiger trout.

Although not a great shot, here’s a close-up of the fish.  They’re pretty damn cool lookin’.

We had another half hour or so of fishing before it became too dark, and although I had a few hits, I wasn’t able to connect with any fish.  Seems to be about right given my luck on the Gunpowder this year…  Suppose I’ll be out and back at it again sometime in the next few days, especially since there sure isn’t any skiing to be had around here.

I sure do wish it was snowing, but hey, since it’s not, this wasn’t a bad way to spend the solstice.  Now LET IT SNOW!!