First fish of the 2011 trout season

i fished the main river today for a few hours as i thought i would give the small streams a rest for a few more weeks as it looks like the fish in them need a little bit more time to recover from the harsh winter and spawning. I was fishing a klink & dink New Zealand style and i didnt have a knock for around 2 hours ans there was no life on the surface of the water as there was an upstream wind and the water was still below -0, but when the sun did come out and the wind stoped there was a good hatch of midges and dark olives which brung some fish to live after about 30 minutes.

I casted up river but and waited for either my klinkhammer to go under from a fish taking my nymph or a rise, but as i was retreiving my line i spotted a fish turing from my flies as i must have spooked it.  I ducked down so that the fish couldnt see me and casted my fly about 5 fet above where i thought the fish was lying in wait, my fly was floating down stream about 2 feet and my klinkhammer went under, i struck, i seen the fish flash on its side and then all hell broke loose :) it took me 10 minutes to bring the fish in as i didnt have my landing net with me and i was playing it with my new 6ft 3# which was nice :D


here are a few pictures of the fish :)

Yours truely holding the fish while a kind angler gladly took a picture for me :)