Saturday, January 14, 2012

Oatmeal, and Another Lesson


After fishing these small streams for many years one thinks he knows everything about angling for these small but beautiful trout that live in these streams. That's why I love fishing these streams, because there's always a new pitch thrown at you and it's a new game.
Last Tuesday I fished a stream, a typical small stream that I was familiar with. Well four hours of angling netted me one bump. I could not explain this happening, so I didn't dwell on it for long and accepted the loss of fish to hand was my sloppy fishing, or the wrong flies were used.

Yesterday's forecast was for a partly sunny day with temps in the low forties, with the winds picking up and the temps then dropping back to the thirties. The next four days are to be cold.
So with that brief window of not to bad conditions, I had a bowl of hot oatmeal and left for a small stream. It's a stream I'm familiar with, and with the rains of the day before was a bit off color and slightly high.
Tying on a staple fly, one that has served me well, I sent it off on a drift into a fishy looking pool. The fly worked well, covering several areas where a trout would hold. Cast after cast into that pool brought nothing. Moving down the stream and casting into several places that have brought some interest in the past produced the same no interest. About this time the sky got cloudy, the wind picked up and all of a sudden, rain, snow and sleet. All three whipping into my face and stinging like wasps. At that time the sound of trees making noises as if there were a herd of elephants running through the woods. Taking cover as best I could I waited out the outburst of nature. Several minutes later the precipitation stopped and the sun returned.
I resumed fishing, changing where I presented my fly, which was a shallow rifle at the head of a deep pool. It was there in the middle of the riffle as the fly began to swing that the trout struck. I pulled back in the attempt to set the hook and pulled the fly away. Seeing I had lost the trout I sent the fly drifting down stream. A second or two later the fish hit and was on. The two weight did its job and a lovely wild brown was at hand.
That same riffle also gave up a brookie, which hasn't happened very often.
Another lesson learned.





The trout were in this run, about midway. The deep pool where I assumed them to be is just behind the fallen branches.



These two guys were apparently feeding on something that was moving in the riffle.



Well with a not to promising weather forecast for the next few days, I'll guess it's more time at the desk.



15 comments:

  1. Its always pounded into our heads that the fish are in the deep, slow seams during winter months. Just goes to show you never know! Beautiful pics as always Brk...the reds and shades of blue on that brown trout are breathtaking. Well done, cheers.

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  2. Oatmeal, the start of a superstition? Like coffee at Cook's Station.

    Mark

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  3. I have found that many things people say or say the way thing are about trout and the bugs, just aren't true. I find trout in shallows in the winter quite often. I also have watched them chase streams and move distances to pick off a nymph.

    Great Pics and a beautiful brown. Lessons are always learned. No matter your age and time on the water. That's what makes fishing great. Oatmeal Rocks!

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  4. beautiful colors...hoping to catch a break soon and sneak out myself...

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  5. Brk Trt,
    again your blog entry is well done. You know its true what people say, you learn something new everyday, and how true that is.

    The rain, sleet, and snow shower you got, was an all out snow storm here in the Berkshires. Yesterday, last evening & early this morning we go a total of around 8" of fresh heavy snow. I guess I can say that winter is finally here, and where is the spring? (LOL).........DRYFLYGUY

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  6. Anonymous,
    Thanks.
    Always try the opposite. That brown was spotted nicely.

    Shoreman,
    Thanks.
    Mom always said hot oatmeal on a cold day.

    Johnny Utah,
    Thanks.
    I read somewhere that certain insects move into rocky riffles just before they hatch, in turn the trout follow. I agree Oatmeal Rocks.

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  7. Steve,
    Thanks.
    I guess Wed's temps should moderate some. Hope you can get out.

    DRYFLYGUY,
    Thanks.
    So true about the learning.
    Finally some white on the ground. I was up on the MA. border today checking on a stream.
    Saw the snow and the ice starting to cover the rocks. Come on April.

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  8. Glad you got out on a great winter day after a good bowl of oat meal! Here comes the ice!

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  9. Awesome looking brook and brook trout!
    Have fun while I have to wait for spring,
    M.O.

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  10. Great story and nice looking trout as well. Somedays I think the fish have a personal grudge against me :) I keep slinging the flies at them and sooner or later there's always the one or two fish that decide they want their photo taken and out they come :) Great photos. Tight Lines.

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  11. Glad the fish can still teach us a thing or two...

    great looking trout!

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  12. Savage,
    Thanks.
    We've got the deep freeze for a spell. Hot oatmeal to take off the chill.

    The Jassid Man,
    Thanks.
    It feels good to fish now, but warmer weather with trout rising to the fly, that for me.

    Trout MaGee,
    Thanks.
    It's a good strategy, they will take it if it's appealing.

    Sanders,
    Thanks.
    Yes they can, for sure.

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  13. Aww, the fishes just looked so cute in the photo! I'm hoping to catch big fish this season too. I'm looking to bounce back 'coz I didn't get to fish with my brothers last season.

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  14. It seems that stream is really a good place to fish! Well, I’m sure that if you’re really good at picking a great spot, you will definitely catch a lot of fish. I love going fishing with my friends, but every time we do, it’s just them who always catches anything. I think the fish are avoiding me. Haha! Maybe, they’re really not just into me. Hehe!

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  15. When fishing for trout, the smell matters. Don't get me wrong, though, I'm not talking about the kind of deodorant you use. LOL :P I'm speaking of the scent on your hands, actually. There is a variety of trout species, and each one has specie has a very sensitive sense of smell. So sensitive, in fact, that they can even detect unnatural odors like after smoking, for example. After smoking, smell then, transfers to whatever he/she touches, which in this case, goes to your favorite fly. The trout is then able to detect this scent and sends an alarm that notifies it that the fly isn’t real, and it immediately goes away in the other direction.

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