My strike indicator had just landed at the head of a deep riffle when it jerked suddenly. I set the hook and saw the flash of a trout belly under the clear water as my little 3-weight fly rod bent deeply.
The fish raced into the fast water, heading downstream. I kept my rod tip high as rapid head shakes radiated up the fly rod to my arm. Eventually it slowed, and I guided the 12-inch Iowa brown trout into my son Jason’s waiting net.