Tuesday, December 4, 2012

"Bombers" and December Brookies

Small stream angling can be difficult this time of year. The water levels, stream temps and weather play big roles on the success of the outing. Such was the case with my few hours Sunday. New England weather can change like no where else on earth, and this weekend was a good example. Saturday was a cold blustery day that featured little sun, gray clouds and snow flurries. Fifteen hours later on Sunday it was still cloudy, but no wind and warming temps.

I arrived at the woods parking area. I noticed some patches of snow on the ground, but the ground was soft. The air temp seemed to be about fifty. I started fishing a wet fly and noticed how quick the brookies were to follow the fly and eventually take the offering. This same fly did well on the runs and pools along the stream. The sun never did make itself visible but did brighten the sky a bit. Later in the day I noticed some insect activity, they were small flies, but the fish could detect them and began rising.

It was in this long clear pool that I observed two brook trout rising. They were coming up every so often and taking the emerging flies, one even came up the pool to where I was standing and took a fly. So into the box I went and pulled out a "Bomber" and tied it on. I reached for the Gink and there was none, it was sitting at home in the garage. Luckily the Bomber is one of those dry flies that floats pretty well on its own. The Bomber was cast into the pool and allowed to drift to its likely target. Soon a beautiful brookie was at hand.


It was this quiet, clear pool that proved to be a hot spot. Along the bank where the three trees are to the woody debris in the stream, the trout were rising. They took the Bomber both floating and half sunk. Even as one was hooked and really disrupted the pool, it did not matter, and it did not put the others down.


A couple of brook trout that took the Bomber this day in December.


Beautifully colored and marked healthy wild brook trout. December in New England, on a small stream.

CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE


22 comments:

  1. Very nice Alan......you are making a lot of people envious with the late season success. :)

    Glad to see you are still getting brookies.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ed,
      Thanks.
      It's not my intention. I know if you guys had the time to fish as often as I do your success would be equal.

      Delete
  2. Hi Alan!

    Nice to see you got some trout on dry fly. The Bomber was from the beginning a dry fly for salmon or am I wrong about that? Anyway it seems that it's to the liking of the brook trout as well.

    Have fun with your brookies,
    Mats Olsson

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Jassid Man,
      Thanks.
      Your right on the Bomber being created for Atlantic salmon. This fly is a variation of that fly. It was created by Fran Betters of Wilmington NY. It's a great fly for trout.

      Delete
  3. Always surprising how large a fly a brookie will aggressively take!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Swamp Yankee,
      Thanks.
      They amaze me also. They're always hungry and will eat most anything.

      Delete
  4. Nice - fish on dries in December !!! I've had to fish the bomber "wet" a couple of times and it doesn't seem to matter to the fish.

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    Replies
    1. Mark,
      Thanks.
      Great stuff man. They fish wet, pulled under and up at the end of a drift, like an emerger.

      Delete
  5. You're right about our ever-changing weather patterns...get out and enjoy these mild days before they disappear!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Steve,
      Thanks.
      Today was a good one...rainy but mild.

      Delete
  6. Very nice looking trout- there is something about when the air temperature begins to drop to match the water.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Peter Patenaude,
      Thanks.
      I love it when I can fish waters like that.

      Delete
  7. Replies
    1. Kierran Broatch,
      Thanks.
      I appreciate your comment.

      Delete
  8. Alan
    That is an awesome looking stream. I assume most of the streams you fish are without waders. From looking at the terrain around the stream makes me think they could be fished just with low cut boots. That is a plus in the colder temps where you are. How close are you from some of the areas you fished? The Bomber is now my favorite go to dry when I get to the tailrace, it is one fantastic pattern. Thanks for tying up the pattern for me. Those Brooks are something special. Thanks for sharing

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bill Trussell,
      Thanks.
      Most of the small streams I fish are with hiking boots. On the deeper and wider ones I use hippers. I have some streams as close as 20 minutes from home. Your welcome on that Bomber request, fish it in good health.

      Delete
  9. Celebrating the holiday season with a "spectacle" is a great option. Looks like an awesome trip to the stream, and, a beautiful stream!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Will,
      Thanks.
      I guess there isn't a better way.

      Delete
  10. Another lovely post. When I can pull myself from throwing large flies, some old haunts of yesteryear are on the agenda. Keep up the great posts

    ReplyDelete
  11. Richard Strolis,
    Thanks.
    From viewing your web site that will be quite a change.
    When you go small streaming please post it on your site.

    ReplyDelete