The experience had much more value than the meal.
That's the damn truth, man. It was one of those "today is the day" moments I've been building for since I first realized they were out there. I went back to a different drift yesterday with no luck, but just knowing that I'm doing it right has changed the whole game for me. I still can't say I know the difference between a rock bump & a bite 9 times out of 10, but I now have a feel for how much weight I need relative to the current, how to spot a seam, when and where to move on, and really just how to enjoy the river itself while I wait for the next big fish.
I also tried floating a jig for a little while yesterday. It was pretty dramatic terrain though - a wide stretch of river 8" deep squeezing into a narrow column of torrential water probably 8' deep - not ideal on either end, but absolutely gorgeous. It was also great practice, as I could easily tell the dept of the water I was standing in, adjust my indicator accordingly and learn what it looks like while dragging vs. floating properly.
My only regret is that I haven't yet saved enough money to retire and do this every day. God bless OFF though for the hours of distraction in the meantime.