"So far...so good"

Highs and lows, middle ground, turn down the heat, and lets work together. Now I know it sounds like a political speech but it's not. What I'm talking about is the condition of the small streams. 2014 and 2015 were brutal, water flows were almost non existent in some streams and the temps were at lethal numbers. I thought that these back to back years would have a permanent effect on the health of the stream and the populations of wild trout that live in them. A turn around in conditions starting in 2016 and continuing through 2017 have brought back our streams to very near ideal. And I'm glad to say that 2018 is being kind so far.

The streams I fish are flowing nicely. I have found that most of them have had decent spawning cycles the past years and lots of little brookies have been seen. A good mix of yearling and older fish is a great sign.

In the streams I frequent the water temps have not exceeded 62 degrees and most of them are below 60.

We have had rainfall when needed, last night there was an awesome turn on, the faucet ran for hours and will help maintain or bring up levels in the streams. Now I realize it is only mid July and things could change, but with a very hot summer so far and conditions like they are now I'm very positive about the future. Fingers crossed as always.

In the good old summertime.....

Deep into summer, the heat is on. There are some comforts though and I don't mean air conditioning. Local produce. This is why I love this time of year. Raisin cinnamon bread. Found this tasty loaf at one of the farm stands nearby. This can't be made commercially because it requires love. And I love it for breakfast.

Simple salad. Local pickling cukes, red radishes, and slivers of parmesan cheese with a touch of olive oil.

Roasted vegetables...pick what you like. Here is red and sweet potatoes, carrots, onions and garlic. Toss in some fresh herbs salt and pepper and toss with olive oil. Bake until tender and enjoy with a crusty bread.....you like summer too.

Mid-Summer Blue Linning

A couple of hours spent on a stream in mid July was about as good as it gets. My outing started about 9am, brookies like to sleep in and I firmly believe this because of my experience over many years. The sun was out and it had been shinning for several hours but the air was still very cool. As I reached the easy part of the path that leads to the brook I saw several flowers coming into bloom, they are such wonderful sights.

The stream was at typical summer flows and the water a comfortable 60 degrees. Some of the fish were located in the shadows and some were in the sun. One day I might figure out why they do stuff like that.

The day was dedicated to fishing Tenkara style flies. While most of them were fished like soft-hackles some of them received a bit of Gink to make them skid on the surface. The brookies loved them fished either way.

This is the rod I fish most of the time. Here is a little story. I placed the rod down on the log so I could free up my hands so as to be able to best navigate my way around the fallen tree. Well I managed to get around it OK but when I reached around for my rod I grabbed some "big" thorns..ouch. I still have one in my thumb, it broke off and I'm trying to dig it out.

There is a lot of action in these flies. Folks try one or two of these and you will not believe the results.

"Tight Lines My Friend"

On July 1st I lost a good friend. A fellow by the name of Pete, to those who read this blog he was known as "TROUT1"....I met Pete one evening while fishing the Farmington river. Pete was driving by and had to take care of business. He pulled onto a dirt road and noticed a car parked in the trees. Taking care of business he noticed the marker plate which read "BRK TRT"...saying to him self "if that guy is fishing here I know there are trout there". Pete found his way to where I was fishing and we introduced ourselves. We talked for sometime until I had to leave. Pete stayed and probably caught the fish I never did. As I reached the the road I saw his truck. Reaching for my fly box I pulled a couple of "bombers" out and taped them to his window. Well that evening started a friendship that lasted many years. This story was told to the doctor by Pete who along with me were at his bedside in the last days of his life.

Pete was gracious man and always had a story to share. He was one of the most knowledgeable anglers who fished the Farmington river. He was also quite a small stream specialist. He was a master at all forms of fly fishing, and was deadly with a fly known as the "beadhead soft-hackled pheasant tail" he fished that fly any stream,river anytime of year and did is successfully. I will miss him dearly.

Pete fishing the "black hole" as he named it.

One of our annual gatherings on "New Years Day"...Pete was an original member of the "crew"

This was a photo I took of Pete fishing a small stream. The name of the stream was the "family secret"....A couple of months ago I had it framed and I sent it to Pete. As I entered the hospice room where Pete was I noticed that photo right on the window sill next to his bed.

A brook trout Pete caught on that beautiful October day.

A great day...we had fished all together. It was a small stream "two fly" contest.

Opening Day 2018...this was the last day we all fished together...I will always remember the times we tossed a fly in each others company. "Tight lines my friend"