The Thunder Rolls--And The Lighting Strikes - - -

 After three days of basically driving up and down the WB, (lets forget about yesterday's mid afternoon excursion up route 30), felt I had a handle on what bugs were hatching and where. Found sulfurs hatching and a few fish rising about 2:00, got two refusals and landed a rainbow. When the hatch didn't seem to be building, I reeled it in and moved downstream into the middle section of the WB. Where seemingly almost every trout in the river was up feeding on a mixed hatch of sulfurs and Hendricksons. I would guess most people would have called it a sulfur hatch 'cause they show up much better but there were lots of Hendricksons. Had fish to throw at from 10 feet away to as far as I could cast. Got more refusals than you would think possible, hooked seven fish, lost one not five feet from the net and landed the other six. The action lasted from about 3:00 until 4:45, had to keep sticking the reel in the water to keep it from overheating, (I kid).

At 5:00, things were dead seemingly everywhere. It was hot with a bright sun. Cars were lined up in front of almost every room at the Troutfitter, very few anglers were still on the water, found a shady spot tipped the seat back and dozed off with a smile on my face.

Awoke at 6:00 and headed for a place on the lower WB that has been too crowded for me to fish. There was a group of three young fisherpeople in the water but there was plenty of room for me to go below them, which I did. The boats didn't come until later. Waded a long way downstream, saw an occasional sulfur hatch and a few other bugs on the water. Threw at the first rise I saw, the fly landed a good three feet short of the intended target, floated 18 inches and was engulfed by what turned out to be a 19.5 inch rainbow.

It was shortly thereafter that I chanced to look downstream and found that the hills had been erased by a wall of rain heading my way. Was soaked by the time I got back to the car, put on a dry shirt and my raincoat under the raised tailgate. Looked up to find the sky had brightened and the rain had stopped. Back to the river I went, so too did the spinners who were dancing with glee over the water, sulfurs and olives started to float by and fish began to rise. Was way, way downstream landing a fallfish when I heard the first thunder, then the wind, and then the rain. Got myself and the equipment in the car and drove no more than 30mph with the flashers on all the way back to the Lordville Estate.

Back at the fishing camp I read the "Weather Alert" that warned of severe thunderstorms, 60mph winds and quarter sized hale. Had the wind and the thunderstorm, but thankfully no quarter sized hail to damage my spanking new Lamborghini. 

Steve - FYI - Half way down Lordville Road in the pouring rain I had to stop and wait for a rattlesnake to make its leisurely way across the road.