As with much of the USA, it got colder the Arctic here in Texas this week, but as the sub freezing temps descended I got out for some fishing last week. I was dying to at least test cast my gorgeous Orvis SFG 6wt (holiday purchase from a forum member) but didn’t think there would be any fish to target. Last Tuesday lunch, I rigged it up with a big terrestrial just could have something to track on longer casts and headed to my favorite Dallas suburban park pond to get the line wet. Temps were in the low 30s. I put on the LL Bean GQS 6/7 (another lovely forum member purchase) spooled up with basic SA AirCel L6F--the only 6 line I had on hand. I started casting towards the center fountain to get the line out, then pulling out line and double hauling to get my line speed up. I love how this rod casts. Very nice flex that you can feel work as it loads, making it accurate yet you can really send it. It also has a soft touch. Got it out about 70-80 feet with straight shots and light landing on the water. Then I turned 90 degrees and started throwing the fly up the little channel that feeds the pond, aiming for stuff in the corners where I have caught about a million little panfish over the years. Sure enough I saw them swarming on my strips as I brought the fly back to me. Second cast I got a hit and the bug disappeared under the surface. Set my hook and brought this guy in after some feisty tugs. I brought in a few more after that, once I saw they were hitting. Obviously smaller fish than what this rod is designed for, but they put a nice bend in this sweet glass, too!