Monday, November 11, 2013

How was your weekend? Mine was...........

Mark, near "Jim's Brook"
My weekend started with a planned outing to the Farmington. I was to meet up with Mark at a fly shop on the Farmington. I arrived at about 10, Mark drove up and informed me he had been fishing for a while and the trout were on the bite. We talked a bit trying to decide where we were going to fish. Well the decision didn't take long. Being that both of us have a passion for the small stream I suggested such a stream I'm familiar with which has a good population of wild brook trout, so off we went. When I drove up the sun was shinning brightly, but that changed pretty fast and the clouds rolled in. Cloudy days make for good fishing, but not for that nice feeling you get when the warm sun is on your back especially in November.

The fly choice for me was a Picket Pin, and I'm not sure what Mark chose. He went upstream, and I fished down. I worked several pools and runs without a hit. The water was clear, and for that reason as well as "I have a good feeling about fishing a dry" I tied on a "bomber". Two casts later I had a brookie follow the fly and take a swipe. That fly worked well this day, it even allowed a hookup on a beautiful Autumn colored brook trout. That little jewel never made it to hand but its colors and tenacity are still in my mind as write this two days later. Mark joined me downstream and told me he had observed some spawning brookies. They were located in a pool just a short distance from where I had observed spawning brookies a week or so ago. We continued to fish that little stream and Mark was able to land one of the streams treasures. We moved to the Farmington where I continued to fish dries and not take a trout. My only fish to hand was a juvenile salmon.


Stunning, clear and pristine. Want to try to cast a dry fly here?
Sunday morning broke with sunny skies and a promise to be milder than Saturday. Jeanette and I put some cutting tools and canvas bags in the car, we were going out today and find some dried Autumn colors for a little decor. We stopped for some breakfast at "Cracker Barrel" and drove to the fields I knew would have just what we wanted. There was a small stream that flowed through the field and low and behold there were brookies darting about. This was not a fishing day so we got on with the task of the day.


The sun striking this bittersweet was brilliant. We have enough to create some wonderful Thanksgiving decor.


Standing and looking at this abandoned nest I had the feeling of reality. Soon the harsh winter will wreak havoc on this quiet home.


Beauty. One need not cut this, just walking through will collect all that's needed.


Trout were observed rising in this pool.


Fast changing November skies. They went from sunny and warm to gray, windy, and cold in a short time.

So my weekend was one of the better ones this year.


27 comments:

  1. Brk Trt,
    as you noted the weather can change quickly during this yime of year. From sunny to cloudy, as well as it can change the other way as well. We had snow squalls here in the Berkshires a few times over this past weekend, though a sunny sunrise here this morning.
    I do like your photos and locations..........Phil

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. DRYFLYGUY,
      Thanks.
      Phil no snow here as of yet, but it's on the way.

      Delete
  2. Great weekend buddy! Mine consisted of gutters & leaves. Another month and I'll be on the water often, can't wait. I'll be in touch.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Apache Trout,
      Thanks.
      Today was awesome as well. Beautiful foliage but a disaster in the aftermath.
      We'll hook up.

      Delete
  3. Replies
    1. TexWisGirl,
      Thanks.
      Nice and brisk, with several changes along the way.

      Delete
  4. Replies
    1. Mark Kautz,
      Thanks.
      They truly were Mark. Love everything about small streams.

      Delete
  5. Alan
    It seems you have an endless supply of outstanding streams to fish anytime and in any location near home. Do you find that the Farmington fishes better with dries for nymphs? I know the tailrace here fishes better with nymphs as opposed to dries. One can land trout using dries but only early or late in the day. Thanks for sharing

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bill Trussell,
      Thanks.
      We're very fortunate to have such beautiful streams. I would say nymphs would be able to take trout at any time on the Farmington. But May through September dries rule.

      Delete
  6. Excellent AL as always!! and BTW Happy Veterans Day!! We have to get that AT guy back out on the river!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. TROUT1,
      Thanks.
      Pete I salute you. Its been about 47 years since my discharge and it feels like yesterday.

      Delete
  7. It was a wonderful late fall day, thanks for sharing it with me. Great company makes being out all the more fun

    ReplyDelete
  8. Living color, fine companionship, and brookie fishing equals an excellent weekend in November.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. rivertoprambles,
      Thanks.
      Walt everyday we get to fish without snow and ice is a plus.
      Living color, I like that.

      Delete
  9. So important to spend time with significant others.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Those are some beautiful photos Alan and some challenging looking water as well. Fine day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Howard,
      Thanks.
      Places like those I pass up. I just like looking in there and see trout scatter.

      Delete
  11. Not nearly as good as yours was...wonderful pics that make me really want to get out and enjoy this Fall weather.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HighPlainsFlyFisher,
      Thanks.
      Enjoy it we must.....snow squalls out my window this AM

      Delete
  12. Thin blue lines have been tormenting my memories of late. I should take a mid-afternoon conference call with a stream. Thanks for keeping the spark alive.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Steve Zakur,
      Thanks.
      With the low water fishing has been tough. Yesterday was a good day.
      Fish buddy, FISH.

      Delete
  13. Nicely done, you captured the fall perfectly Alan

    ReplyDelete