The Fall River is a place I’ve written on before, but you have to really be in the right mood to chase these footballs from the factory. Hatchery toads here fight like wild fish, but they don’t spook the same. This is an important distinction because the water is the closest thing I have ever seen to tap water in the western United States. When I say it is clear, it is so clear that if you can’t sight a fish it’s best to keep hiking.

This water requires tiny flies and persistence. Be careful trying your typical river tactics here, most of it is upside down and backwards. But that 30th drift might get heavy quick, so hang in there.