All anglers have their own idea of a perfect day of fishing, and here’s what mine looks like. I grab my flyrod and wade into a cool, clear stream. No waders, of course. I want to feel that cold water on my legs.

I wade midstream and take a few casts to get the feel of the drift, then land my fly just upstream from a prime trout lie.

Like a scene from a favorite movie I’ve seen numerous times, nothing changes, but the anticipation still builds. The surface is rippled with chrome and a head suddenly breaks the surface and grabs my fly. My rod bows and bounces as the fish thrashes in the current. After a fair fight, I slip the hook from its jaw and send it on its way.

I don’t care how big the trout is, nor what fly I used to catch it. I just really enjoy that simple experience.

Whether you like to drown a worm, cast a topwater plug, or cast a spinner into a mountain lake, now is the time gather those memories.

Sure, I remember steelhead I caught under awful weather conditions, and big trout I caught during a windy or rainy day.

But nothing gives me the warm fuzzies like any trout from any cool, clear mountain river on a hot summer day. It puts a smile on my face every time.

Whatever your fishing nirvana is, don’t let the weeks slip away without taking advantage of the moment. Your biggest trophy might be a moment of immense satisfaction.