What surprises me is that I, a woman, catch fish in spite of men's advice. A fish fighting at the end of my line is usually cause for great excitement on a busy stream. Another, seeing my fish splash and thrash, will hurry to my side, offering aid in the form of a net. It's just that other times, I prefer solitude. When I do, the backcountry offers anonymity in spades.
Small streams are repositories of contemplation.
But you can't fish the backcountry all the time. The reason famed streams like the South Platte between Spinney and Elevenmile are crowded at certain times of the year is because the fishing can be fabulous, worthy of a road trip. I delight in reading water, looking for flickering shadows, a touch of color in water windows. I understand the lure of fishing, even though I am a woman. So, here it is guys, a few simple rules to follow when you see a woman, any woman, afield.