Back in Vermont

So, we are back in Vermont for the final trip of the year. It's peak foliage here and so pretty, although it's not as vibrant as in some years past. I think two years ago might have been the best. This year it's more yellows and browns with the occasional splotch of red. Jacques and Jenn came up for a quick weekend visit and yesterday we did a full day on the Connecticut with guide Bill. I had the fish of the day -- indeed my largest trout ever -- a 19" landlocked salmon.



On a disturbing note, the Connecticut has been infected with "rock snot" or Didymo. This is not good as it could endanger the fishery. Eradication does not sound possible and containment the only option. We washed everything off with a 2% bleach solution -- boots, waders, wading staff, rods -- anything that touched the water. But you have to imagine that not everyone will do it and a single drop of water can spread the organism. I think it must be spreading fast as Bill says now when you float the Connecticut, you routinely have to clean gobs of the stuff off your fly, which did not happen a year ago.