Saturday, April 12, 2014

Early Spring Angling

I had the pleasure of fishing a beautiful little stream on Thursday. The weather could not have been nicer. With air temps in the high fifties and a brilliant sun which made it feel so much warmer. The sparseness of the early April foliage and the clarity of the water made for some very slow stalking. Movement in a stealthy manner was the hot tip of the day. I started fishing wet flies and pretty much stayed with those through the outing. I was soon greeted by a feisty small brown at the very edge of a plunge pool, an odd place to find browns at this time of year.

I continued my trek downstream and was rewarded with another small brown. There are places along this stream that are so well protected by nature, that they might never be fished. The thorns are of such size that they could be recorded as not of this earth.


As I reached this nice run, a spot that has a prime undercut, I drifted the fly towards it. The fly was swinging through about mid stream when the fish hit. As I laid my hand in the water and lifted a fine female brown to photograph I realized it to was in a odd location also.


A hen in prime condition. A sign that the condition of the stream during this winter was satisfactory.


This section has always given up a nice brookie or two over the years. It's usually a mass of tangles and woody debris, but this time it was pretty open and very clear. I let the soft hackle drift to the clump of wood in the stream. I saw the fish come for the fly and back off. A few more casts later as the fly hung in the current he struck again. This fish had a lot of fight in it, even going airborne a time or two. In the end the 3wt won out.


The prize of the day, a wild handsome healthy male brown, beautifully spotted and the color of gold. He was released into the clear stream and vanished.



CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE


28 comments:

  1. Alan...

    excellent photos...as usual....you know its spring when you have to "dodge" 100's of toads on the road...lol

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. flyfisher1000,
      Thanks.
      Very true Dave. I saw quite a few in a vernal pond over the last few days.

      Delete
  2. Things are looking pretty there in your neck o' the woods, Alan. Good report!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. rivertoprambles,
      Thanks.
      Walt it gets better every day.

      Delete
  3. just beautiful colors throughout - in fish and surroundings.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. TexWisGirl,
      Thanks.
      I can't wait 'til the flowers start blooming.

      Delete
  4. Alan
    Absolute gorgeous trout on wets this time of the year. I can see it took some patience to work your way through some of the obstacles on this stream. A dedicated trout fisherman will always find a way to navigate through the thorns, brush, and vines to fish that sweet spot and you my friend are one of those individuals. Thanks for sharing a great post.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bill Trussell,
      Thanks.
      I'm pretty adventurous when it comes to finding those spots. But I must say those thorns can be one hell of a obstacle.

      Delete
  5. Gorgeous fish and location Alan. Thanks for taking us along with you on the ride!

    Be well -
    Will

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hibernation,
      Thanks.
      Will it was a lovely outing, and fine weather too.

      Delete
  6. Really enjoyed this post. Such beautiful little stream just calling for the fly fisher among us to drift a fly. Stalking the stream environments and holding spots is always the challenge. You handled it very well, Alan. Nice fish!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mel(Pond Stalker)
      Thanks.
      A challenge I gladly accept. Mel the stream was in awesome condition that day.

      Delete
  7. I can tell that you had a wonderful trip. Sadly we don't have spring creeks here just freestoners. So the streamfishing will have to wait. Looking forward to, if at all possible, visit my favorite still water for some spring fishing at the end of the month. Have fun with the jewels of the creek!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Jassid Man,
      Thanks.
      Mats that is a freestone stream. There are areas where it flows through a meadow or two.
      There are some beauties in there.

      Delete
  8. What a prize. I could just picture him flashing out into the sunshine and back to his lie. Thanks for persisting and giving us a view of him.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jim Yaussy Albright,
      Thanks.
      Exactly what he did Jim.

      Delete
  9. Stunning colors on the browns!!!! Way to go!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. TROUT1,
      Thanks.
      Pete they were also very spirited.

      Delete
  10. That's a beautiful little stream and some nice browns. After a crappy winter and a week of the flu I am really looking forward to some time on the water.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kiwi,
      Thanks.
      A tough winter followed by the flu, you do need some stream time my friend.

      Delete
  11. Great stuff Alan, those are handsome browns .

    ReplyDelete
  12. Certainly very healthy fish. I've caught quit a few wild trout that are unusually well fed for such a long cold winter, even fat.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. RM Lytle,
      Thanks.
      It really has surprised me the quality of the over winter fish.
      Looking forward to a great Spring.

      Delete
  13. Beautiful as usual. Those look like some healthy fish and ready to fight another day.

    ReplyDelete