Written by: Abbie Mahurin
Orvis’s Abbie Mahurin shows off a fine Vermont brown caught on an unseasonably warm Saturday.
Photo by Andy Mahurin
You know the saying: I was in the right place at the right time. Saturday’s exceptionally warm temperature made for a fantastic day on the water–especially for winter in Vermont. Around 10 o’clock in the morning, my husband, Andy, and I loaded our waders into the truck and headed to the river. Not many rivers are open this time of year in Vermont–there’s a closed season from November through April–so we traveled about an hour from our home to find the perfect spot.
We met several of our friends for the day, and for the first hour or so we scattered along the banks trying to find the big one. I put together a tandem rig with a Pat’s Rubberlegs and a Beadhead Prince Nymph, and within minutes I had caught a fish. Just after releasing one of the most beautiful brown trout I have ever seen, I cast my line again. After a short drift, I had another trout on. I set the hook and fought this 19.5-inch brown trout for at least fifteen minutes before bringing him into the net. Over the course of just a few hours, I hooked six and landed four. This was a great day on the water, indeed.
Abbie Mahurin is the Orvis Adventures & Pro Program Coordinator. She hails from Tilsit, Missouri, but now lives in the Green Mountains of Vermont.
Awesome – your inspiration to to take advantage of the beautiful day and go fishing was duly rewarded!
that’s a great day any day of the year, but in Vermont, in winter, very impressive. Personally I got skunked when I went out this weekend. It’s tough this time of year
Very nice color, a healthy fish. I am uncertain about the rubberlegs, but presume the prince was fished just above the bottom? A brown that size would require 15 minutes! Thanks!
Nice fish Abbey! Congrats!!!