Friday, February 3, 2012

Groundhog Day, 2012, a Tail


Groundhog Day 2012 turned out to be a winter buster here on this small freestone stream. The air was quite cool with a temp of about 40 or so, I think it was colder though. The sun never made an appearance, which probably made for better fishing.
I met up with Kirk and we set out to fish this stream. We started fishing the typical cold water flies, pink midges, beadhead nymphs and Picket Pin wets.
Soon Kirk had a taker on the midge and the first brookie came to hand. We continued to move upstream and continued to seek a few more willing trout. Kirk changed to a Picket Pin and had a taker, a beautiful brookie, well colored and healthy.
Not being able to do much with the underwater feathers, I changed to a Bomber dry fly, the reason being it's tail is tied with groundhog guard hairs. A few drifts and a trout rose to the fly. I failed to hook this fish, but a fish that took a dry fly. The next hour pretty much went the same way,brookies would rise to the Bomber but not one hookup. I thought the size 16 fly was maybe to small, although it drew a lot of interest. I changed to a 14 emerger/dry pattern and soon had my first fish to hand. A photo and a thank you and off he went. I soon had another take an Elk Hair caddis, my first February trout on a dry fly.

It was a fine day, this Groundhog Day. Company, brookies, and dry flies.




More of Connecticut's past.


Kirk with a a wild jewel.


This stream is small but it has all that's needed for the brookies that live here.



The little char of the springs. I was able to coax them to the surface this day.



It was 40 degrees today, and this was the perfect dish to ward off the cold.
"Chicken Corn Chowder"


CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE

17 comments:

  1. Brk Trt, well done!
    nice post with the as usual great photos.

    Good looking soup! I was actually thinking of making "clam chowda" (my past boston ascent) this weekend......DRYFLYGUY

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  2. Beautiful stream, beautiful fish. I can't wait to retire and spend my week days searching for more unspoiled trout habitat.

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  3. Great fly for the day. The bomber has always been one of my favorites. Beautiful brookies too!

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  4. Nice to see you had some success on the steam and ended the day with a nice bowl chowdaah.....

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  5. Brk
    Chicken Corn Chowder, outstanding streams, colorful brookies what more could a fly fisherman ask for. I really like your blog header image. Thanks for the sharing

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  6. What a day!

    I'd love a bowl of chowder right about now.

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  7. DRYFLYGUY,
    Thanks.
    In New England... it's "Chowdah"

    RKM,
    Thanks.
    Retirement for you is a spell away. But there's always the "Trout Bum" way.

    Kiwi,
    Thanks.
    It's a brookie catcher for sure.

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  8. Ed,
    Thanks.
    A real nice day on the stream, capped by a warming bowl of "Chowdaah"

    Bill Trussell,
    Thanks.
    I know this fly fisher could not ask for more.

    G Lech,
    Thanks.
    C'mon over buddy.

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  9. Great report Alan. The pics are great and that first brook of yours has one of most beautiful tails I have ever seen. Every line and dot is in full detail. Happy belated groundhogs day! And congratulations on your first char on the dry for February.

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  10. just my opinion but it's so nice to see those pictures with no snow to be seen and, as usual, the corn chowder looks great...

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  11. Wow those are some excellent photos and fish. It makes me feel like I am right there. My hands are chilly now :) I have fished smaller Bombers before and seem to have better luck with the bigger size 14 Ones. I remember missing a lot on a size 16 Bomber. I have used some on a size 8 hook and actually had a lot of luck. Thanks for sharing. Tight Lines.

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  12. Catching these wonderfull fish, on a dry fly , so early in the year, & sharing the stream with a Friend. In the times that we live in,sure is a good way to spend a day.
    WHAT YOU HAVE, MONEY CAN,T BUY.

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  13. Johnny Utah,
    Thanks.
    That tail was amazing. They are one of natures finest creations.

    Steve,
    Thanks.
    I agree with you on both points, especially on the snow.

    Trout MaGee,
    Thanks.
    I usually do the size 14's, one of the best flies for brookies. But there were small winter stone flys hatching and this was as close as I could get.

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  14. Bill,
    Thanks.
    Especially for the second of February.

    Steve,
    Thanks.
    That's for sure. A good time for sure.

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  15. Amazingly beautiful brook trout! Have a couple of small streams close by where they thrive but I haven't visited them for years. One of them enter into a bigger (but still a small stream) which is one of my favourite streams. Have to try the smaller one also this season.

    Have fun with those lovely brookies,
    M.O.

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  16. The Jassid Man,
    Thanks.
    I'd enjoy seeing that small stream sometime on your blog.

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