After doing chores around the house on a beautiful Saturday, I headed down to Gunpowder Creek to test my waders. The parking lot had one spot left and I slid into it with no delay before suiting up and heading to the creek. Lots of dogwalkers but nobody else fishing that I could see. Pity, but more for me. I started at the honey hole and after an hour or so of teasing the riffles, I finally pulled out a nice little rainbow. I used the net and executed my least traumatic catch and release to date. I try my best but sometimes these little guys get more abuse than I mean to give them. Today though, this one swam away and was just a little late for whatever he’d been doing before I interrupted. Next weekend is the big North Carolina meetup and I think I’m ready. I learn a little more every time I go out and today I feel like I’m getting better at the hook set. Trout are nibblers and it’s sometimes hard to secure that connection. A lot of finesse and focus pays off.