Monday, September 16, 2013

A crisp day.

Yesterday was one of those wonderful crisp mornings of early fall. I went downstairs opened the door and put my head out I could feel the chill. We have had a few chilly ones this month but this was by far the coolest. After some oatmeal and coffee I headed out for the stream. It was still dark as I drove, but one could see the sky starting to shed light. I arrived streamside and it was light enough to do what was needed to get ready for a few hours of angling. As I said it was a chilly morning, so chilly I had to wear my fleece jacket on top of the flannel shirt I had on.

I made my way to the water and tossed out the fly. It was a Bomber, cause that's what was tied on from the previous outing. Working the pool I soon realized a fly change was needed. So I tied on a Picket Pin wet. I put several of these in my box the night before for they were what I had been tying for a future trip to Maine.

Well it didn't take long on the third cast as the fly was just under the surface a swirl was seen but the fish missed it. A few casts later and the brookie was hooked. A cool crisp Autumn morning and a wild brook trout in hand.


In a short but deep pool I sent the wet fly on a mission. It was a location that looked to be a good place for a brookie to hold. The strike came and the battle began. Several times I brought the fish close and several times he would have none of it. Finally I gained control and was able to put my hand in the water and lift the surprise fish up. It turned out to be a brown of somewhat generous size. I admired him and sent him on his way.


As it turned out the Picket Pin was to be the only fly needed this day. It was a fine Autumn day.





35 comments:

  1. Outstanding job !! Nice suprise too!!

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  2. Nice size to both of those fish! I've been tying Picket Pins myself and also Hornbergs for Maine. Can't wait!

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    Replies
    1. Apache Trout,
      Thanks.
      Both of those flies will work very well up there.

      Delete
  3. Very nice fish and good choice of stream! It looks like there is a decent flow despite how dry things have been lately.

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    Replies
    1. Mark,
      Thanks.
      Mark for some reason those streams in the northwest corner have held up well. They seem to get the most rainfall with each storm.

      Delete
  4. Autumn seems close by here too, actually looking forward toa few crisp mornings , some lovely trout there.

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    Replies
    1. Col,
      Thanks.
      It's a wonderful feeling that crispness. Makes a hot cup of coffee more enjoyable.

      Delete
  5. I think Fall is here in Colorado, but it kind of hard to see it under water. As usual Alan, your photography is outstanding and it's nice to see a stream running within it's banks.

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    Replies
    1. Howard,
      Thanks.
      I hear from the latest forecasts that the rains have ended. I hope everyone's safe.

      Delete
  6. Alan
    That brown is special in that size pocket water. I love the early fall colors and the cool mornings we going to experience here soon. Have you fished shallow waters such as that in your header image with success? The reason I am asking is some of my takes the other day came in water less than a foot deep. I didn't connect but the trout was there either directly behind a huge rock or a break in the current. Thanks for sharing

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    Replies
    1. Bill Trussell,
      Thanks.
      That stream is in Maine. Those shallow riffles are where the food is. The trout will move up from the deeper pool to feed in those shallow areas, doing so in low light conditions. As the shadows started to cover the stream I took several nice brook trout in that skinny water.

      Delete
  7. i am so incredibly envious of your flowing water... and cooler temps! :) 96 yesterday and for the next few days...

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    1. TexWisGirl,
      Thanks.
      That water is something truly special. 96 degrees that's not for me.

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  8. Nothing better in the fall of the season, than some football and fishing some brook trout water. Unless, of course, you hook into a nice Brown. They are awesome, too! Long live the Picket Pin!

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    Replies
    1. Mel Moore,
      Thanks.
      A western fly that has some strong followers back east.

      Delete
  9. Weird to see a brown on this blog. hehe

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    Replies
    1. Kevin Frank,
      Thanks.
      Once and awhile we have to give them handsome browns some recognition.

      Delete
  10. Well done Alan, you can't beat a crisp autumn morning, great pics.

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    Replies
    1. brian,
      Thanks.
      They are so refreshing and stimulating.

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  11. Beautiful fish! I can see that the rain helped.

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    Replies
    1. RKM,
      Thanks.
      It did, all the rain fell in northwest CT.

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  12. Alan...those brookies are marvelous creatures....especially when u see a wall of them that are laying on their side feeding... creeping ever so slowly upstream....I couldn't believe my eyes!!! I thought at 1st....was just a riffle....but behold....(a maine creek, etna actually

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    Replies
    1. flyfisher1000,
      Thanks.
      That they are. You never know where they might hold.

      Delete
  13. My favorite time of year! Thanks for sharing such a great trip.

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    Replies
    1. David Knapp,
      Thanks.
      Autumn has a large following for sure.

      Delete
  14. As ever your photographs are superb!

    RR

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    Replies
    1. Regular Rod,
      Thanks.
      I'm learning.
      Your quite a master with a camera.

      Delete
  15. Fine work. Love that bottom picture!

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    Replies
    1. rivertoprambles,
      Thanks.
      There are times when a photo posted looks so much better than thought when it was taken.

      Delete
  16. Autumn is such a great time, beautiful trout Alan!

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  17. What a pleasant surprise for me as well. That is one chunky brown. Another great post Alan!

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