I had the absolute privilege of share our Amish waters with Ann Miller this past week. Ann is a author, conservationalist, and good friend. She "won" a ATO guide trip a few years ago at the SJRVFF auction and we finally found a time that worked to put her on some Amish Trout.

Ann was a wonderful client. Even though I would say Ann is in many ways a traditionalist and FlyFishing rockstar (she penned the classic Hatch Guide for Upper Midwest Streams), Ann was very open minded to the "Amish nymphing" techniques and quickly excelled.

We we had an unusually cold start to the day with temperatures in the high forties, but has the day drew on, the temps warmed up, and so did the fishing. Ann brought several brown trout to the net (and missed several more! "Damn barbless hooks,") and even a hold over rainbow, using French nymphing techniques.

We fished a mile beat of the catch and release section of the Little Elkhart River, bouncing from hole to run to riffle. We fished for over seven hours, but the time flew by. Ann took fish at almost every stop. The Bishop proved to be the fly of the day. Ann also spooked a 22 plus inch brown! (I'll be back for that one!)

We ended the day with some great steaks, good wine and of course, Amish made whoopie pies.

I can't wait to fish wIt's Ann again! Next time, she can guide me!

Middlebury Strip Steaks, compliments of Hoosier Meats, downtown Middlebury.