The famous nocturnal Hex hatch of the Midwest (and a few other lucky locations) stirs to the surface mythically large brown trout that only touch streamers for the rest of the year.
This specimen resembled several others of around the same size and perhaps the same species, which were pretty common in my February sample from the upper Yakima. Unfortunately, I misplaced the specimen before I could get it under a microscope for a definitive ID.
Continuing my exploration of some remote parts of central Idaho, I hiked into a little alpine lake called Green Lake above the Copper Basin and caught a 5-inch rainbow. There seems to be a naturally reproducing population of tiny rainbows there (I saw fry), but I saw no sign of big ones. Back at the trailhead, I collected some interesting bugs at the lake outlet.
Then I drove north quite a ways, touring some very remote roads. I collected some bugs from tiny creeks along the way, without stopping to fish.