Would you walk past the big ones? I think every fly fisherman has one favorite spot, this is mine. By Trevor Martin [Victoria Australia] “Walk past the big ones. WHAT!” “Dilemma”, could I resist?  The lower reaches were full of salmon and big browns. As I walked the bank I could see them smash the surface.  To keep walking was very, very hard indeed. But my mission was to complete a vision that came to me in my sleep.  A pilgrimage, to my favorite valley was calling me. Last time I entered the property I was hopelessly bogged. Last time I had support and was towed out of trouble. This time I was alone and it made me nervous in a 2WD, each gate I opened and closed, I found firm ground, my concerns slowly withered when I was safely parked beside the river. The temptation to kit up my 6wt was certainly always there, I knew the river was fishing well for the big browns were active and good numbers of salmon present too. It was to be a 4wt in my hand as I walked up the bank with my lunch and drink in my back pack.  In my sleep a dream came to me, a special valley was calling me and that was to be my task today. A beautiful sunny autumn day at that. As I left the car, several big salmon smashed the surface and I was tempted, very tempted and then a big brown would rise to take a dry? I kept walking; it was a long hard trek to my favorite valley. Why is going up a stream always harder than going down? Gravity has taken its toll on my body and my football injuries have started to catch up with me. But this walk was special, very special to me anyway. I eventually found the path, a shallow run, a log bridge and then a low gradient to bypass the deep pools. Some of the banks were vertical rock walls and only deep pools below to catch me if I slipped. I went round them sometimes in through the tree ferns, careful not to leave my mark or boot print. The sun rays were beaming through the tree canopy. These rays have always fascinated me and sometimes I catch myself frozen, staring at the wonder of the sun touching up the forest floor.  The forest floor was remarkably free of debris and that made negotiation of the maze of tree ferns a breeze, until I was confronted by a very old tree. The tree had given in and had fallen recently, only the stump remained as an icon to its fait. A majestic old tree it must have been too. The sun beams on its bark made it look alive. Its remaining stump was a long walk round it was an ex elder of the forest for sure. Inside its trunk was just like looking into a glass cabinet showing off all the lichen and fungi wares, very stunning indeed. The noise of a rapid snapped me out of my trance. Peering through the growth I sighted the run and made a “B” line for it. Free from the ferns, I stood on a freestone branch and a small island separated me from the riffle. I had come a long way for this. “Priceless I thought”. It was so surreal standing in that rain forest surrounded by stunning scenery and a stunning trout stream was at my feet. Now its was time for something different, I tied on a fly that I have never used is this stream before. “The Red Humpy” I had watched a guide fish one on a North East Victoria stream with success, so I was eager to test it down here in south. Standing in a good run considering a cast, I counted endless bubble lines due to yesterday’s rain. Which one would I start with? That thought was answered in a flash. The flash was a trout taking something off the surface. The trout had ringed the water in a marooned mirror at the head of a run. A large round topped stone was near its source. Casting the Humpy, the fly bounced on that stone, I gently tugged the line and the fly dropped quietly into the mirror. A quick float and it was gone, with a fantastic leap the trout was on. It gave its all until I finally slid it onto a wet stone. The mountain brown looked at me and me him. The hook was gently and quickly out and sliding slowly off my wet hands the brown slowly swam back to his run. Well I’ll be, the humpy works way down south too. I decided not to fish any more, I sat for a very long time, had lunch, soaking up the peaceful surroundings. I pinched myself and thought,” I am so very lucky, to be able to climb into a place like this”. Even though, it was to be one day and one fish. I was very content; I had met that vision that came to me in my sleep. Hope another one comes to me very soon. Cheers   Hatches Magazine Subscription Price: $6.95 for each issue The Premiere issue is ready for shipping & the Fall 2008 issue will be available September 1st.