Monday, February 24, 2014

A Late February day.

One can see the thin blue line as it winds its way through the hardwood forest. It is protected on both sides by a blanket of 15 inches of snow.

To say that February was a very hostile month would be understating it by a long shot. The month of Presidents has been snowy and relentless in its ability to lock in some of the coldest temps. But this weekend, the last weekend of February finally gave us some warmth, 45-50 degree warmth, with bright sunshine Saturday and Sunday was not bad either. When I arrived stream side the sun was mixed with clouds. The water clarity was bright and clear beyond description. While walking through the snow to my first spot I noticed some tiny flies about, maybe midges, or very small stoneflies. Tied to the tippet was a small wet fly.

As I worked this wet fly along the ice shelf I received that feeling of a trout on the take. This happened several times but no hookups. As I worked the fly to the bank on my side for a second or so it went under the shelf ice and I felt a good strike. As I pulled to set the hook I could not feel the fish, another miss. I began the retrieve and suddenly took another strike, "fish on".


Moments later I was gifted with my first brookie in some time. He was well worth the wait.


I continued to fish the wet fly and managed a couple of hookups. I continued to see stoneflies about, but not a rise. I put on a caddis dry and worked it for a while. It was enjoyable fishing dries, love being able to watch the fly work.


Well that caddis did work and work well. A brookie found it to hard not to rise to it. Wild one on a dry.


I continued to fish the stream. I was pretty wet now from the deep snow as well as walking to far out on the shelf ice, "there's stream under there"......winter can show its beauty along a small stream, but to tell you the truth I'm ready for some Spring.





30 comments:

  1. Nice job Alan. Come on spring, I've got a lot of "new" water to show you my friend. :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Replies
    1. TexWisGirl,
      Thanks.
      I have to invest in a pair of snow shoes for next season, it should make walking easier.

      Delete
  3. Great outing. Saturday and Sunday were excellent days to be out and about, and i am glad you got to enjoy them. Nice Fish!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Savage,
      Thanks.
      It was a real good feeling. Looking forward to nicer weather.

      Delete
  4. Nice going Al and getting a few !! Won't be long now!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. TROUT1,
      Thanks.
      Pete hopefully March will bring us some decent weather, perhaps a 60 degree day or two.

      Delete
  5. well done getting out Alan, hope you get some more spring like weather soon.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. brian,
      Thanks.
      It's getting closer to Spring, so it's has to get better.

      Delete
  6. Nice job Alan getting one to take a dry in Februrary ! I saw a few stone flies about on Saturdday also, good call on using the caddis

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    Replies
    1. Mark,
      Thanks.
      I saw them in flight, and they appeared to be quite small. The caddis provided good visibility.
      Thanks for the trail groom. Your tracks helped.

      Delete
  7. Brrrrrrr, that looks cold, it doesn't seem to stop you getting a few fish though. We've had the opposite from you guys this year mild but wet, something to do with the jet stream apparently?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Col,
      Thanks.
      The cold has been brutal, the heavy snows will help with the ground water. But it has been abnormal.
      Lovely Spring where are you?

      Delete
  8. Soon enough we all be dodging pricker bushes, lush green shrubs, and swatting at mosquitoes to get to those fine looking brook trout.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Peter Carlson,
      Thanks.
      Very true Pete. Can this happen starting tomorrow?

      Delete
  9. Your ability to get them to take a dry fly at a time and place like this is wonderful. I checked a few streams this past weekend and, if they were open at all, I had to wade through snow to my knees and then deal with shelf ice. I retreated. Maybe next week, but looking at the forecast, maybe not.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. rivertoprambles,
      Thanks.
      They will take the dry, but for a brief time. That deep snow is a workout. I hope the thaw comes on slowly.
      Fingers crossed not more than an inch.

      Delete
  10. Have to hand it to you, Alan. Remarkable! Not only in working your way through 15"s of snow, but, wet flies I would expect might take a fish. But, to get them on drys that is the remarkable part.

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    Replies
    1. Mel Moore,
      Thanks.
      Snow shoes would have helped. The stone flies were about so the possibility of a surface feeder was OK. Thing is it doesn't last to long.

      Delete
  11. I'm pretty darned impressed. Not that you caught any fish but that you got out at all.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Howard,
      Thanks.
      The four walls were getting to me. Getting out was good therapy.

      Delete
  12. Alan - glad some brookies cooperated...i am sick and tired of this snowy weather. can't wait for spring.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LQN,
      Thanks.
      Most of us are tired of it. the winter has been tough. March is close.

      Delete
  13. Great way to celebrate the end of February. Thanks, as always.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jim Yaussy Albright,
      Thanks.
      And Februarys closing can't come fast enough.

      Delete
  14. Great all around. The fish, the caddis, the pbj and coffee! Well done!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Michael Curry,
      Thanks.
      It all worked, and well.

      Delete
  15. Nice brookies, man! Spring is on its way!!

    My name is Juan and I blog at Breaking the Bank. Feel free to read my stuff. take care!

    ReplyDelete
  16. I'm a bit surprised that you have open water at all given the cold temperatures you've been having. Is it due to ground water/spring seeps? If so, that says a lot about the stable nature of the water you fish.

    ReplyDelete