Sunday, December 16, 2012

Winter Small Stream Angling, and Dry Flies

After a few attempts to get together and fish a small stream Kirk, Mark, and myself pulled it off Friday. Upon arriving at the parking area the weather had a feel of winter. The sun was bright but a cold breeze was in the mix. The stream was clear and a bit low, but in good shape for this time of year. Many small brook trout could be seen scattering as we moved along, this is a good sign as to the health of the stream.

We had fished a variety of flies with some success. I consider success to be when a trout moves on a fly. It's not necessary to hold it, there's so much more to angling.

Mark fishing a long glassy pool. From time to time trout could be seen rising, but to "what".


Well it didn't take long. Mark took this wild jewel .


Kirk and I spent some time telling Mark a few stories about this stream. As we fished Kirk took a water temp...35 degrees...pretty cold. We continued to see sporadic rises, and small flies on the water.

Coming upon a pool that had a swift flow entering, then a bend that flattened out at the tail. There was a tree with a bunch of roots and a trout was rising near it. What to use? I tied on a small black caddis dry, It was tough getting the fly to float over the fish, but after several casts it was there.

The little caddis and 2wt did there job. I was fortunate to hold this wild brookie. Wild trout on the dry...in December.

We continued to fish and exchange stories. Mark fished small brook trout streams as a kid in Pennsylvania, and still enjoys it today. Kirk, fished for torut in his younger days but spent many years fishing the salt. It's been about a year now that he has returned to trout fishing and the small streams. They both have blogs. Kirk's is "Trout Quest Redux"...and Marks is "Fishing Small Streams"

Kirk is showing Mark a place where a few weeks earlier he had almost stepped on a good sized wild brown.

As that 2 hour window of opportunity started to close, and the fish stopped feeding we walked out and agreed it was a good outing.

Where we had parked, there was a pool. This pool was quite deep and I know it holds a trout or two especially this time of year. I said to Mark that I always wanted to fish a wooly bugger in that pool. He said that he tied some smaller buggers for just this type of stream. I said tie one on and have a go. On his second cast this beautiful rainbow hit the bugger. A quick photo and off he went.

A good ending, a good group of anglers, and perhaps the same results come New Years Day.


CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE

28 comments:

  1. Hi Alan...it is good to hear from you.

    I was hoping all was well.

    ReplyDelete
  2. A warming post , looks like a great days fishing with some nice fish , and always better shared with friends.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Col,
      Thanks.
      Combinations as such have got to warm one.

      Delete
  3. Brk trt,
    I like it!!!

    It sounds like a good day spent with great friends & great times..........Phil

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. DRYFLYGUY,
      Thanks.
      A wonderful outing for sure.

      Delete
  4. Outstanding guys!! See you on New Years Day

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. TROUT1,
      Thanks.
      Pete looking forward to that day.

      Delete
  5. Happy the weather is still providing days as nice as this...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Steve,
      Thanks.
      These days are certainly numbered now.

      Delete
  6. Great pics and fish. As usual, I can't wait to go back.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. RKM,
      Thanks.
      Soon my friend...weather permitting.

      Delete
  7. Alan
    Nothing like fishing a small stream with some of your buddies; especially if those guys love the trout fishing as much as you do. You guys landed some nice looking trout. Thanks for sharing

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bill Trussell,
      Thanks.
      It was a fine outing for sure.

      Delete
  8. Beautiful pictures! What was the color of the successful bugger? My last rainbow was with a white wooly bugger, I thought white was odd, but it worked.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Matt,
      Thanks.
      It was a black wooly bugger. White is also a good color.

      Delete
  9. Nice post. It's very cool to see such colorful gems pulled from winter waters.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kiwi,
      Thanks.
      It seems to make their colors more vibrant.

      Delete
  10. Hi Alan!

    Wish I could have been there with you guys! I really need some mind cleaning activity right now. Have a cold and I'm just looking forward for the winter to give way for warmer weather and some midge hatches in the early spring. Thanks for sharing this adventure; I really appreciate it!

    Keep the adventures coming and I'll keep on tying flies for the coming season,
    Mats Olsson

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Jassid Man,
      Thanks.
      It's never the right season to have a cold, but one in the winter has to be the worse.
      Have a hot chocolate.

      Delete
  11. Wild fish on dries in December...That's as good as it gets!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HighPlainsFlyFisher,
      Thanks.
      You'll get no argument from me on that one.

      Delete
  12. Brk - pleasure fishing with both you and Kirk. Chasing brook trout with dries in december is a rare treasure but not as great as spending time in the company of new friends. Merry Christmas

    mark

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    Replies
    1. Mark,
      Thanks.
      It truly was an enjoyable day.
      Merry Christmas.

      Delete
  13. Too many anglers view winter as a time to sit in front of the fire, tie flies, and drink (hot chocolate?) But with a little sunshine and warm clothing, many winter days will be conducive to fishing. And remember, with tenkara no rod guides to freeze up.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. tenkara ambassador,
      Thanks.
      Not me, or a few others. Besides you can have hot chocolate streamside.
      Very true about tenkara.

      Delete
  14. Beautiful fish- I think in just about every one of your posts I could say the same thing, or substitute fish for fly.
    Congratulations on another successful day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Peter Patenaude,
      Thanks.
      It was a wonderful day.

      Delete