Friday, July 11, 2014

"Muddy Creek" Why do they call it that?

I got out for a few hours yesterday morning. It being the coolest part of the day, as far as air temps go but the humidity was disgusting. I had on a light shirt that I wear when mosquitos are active and it was wet with perspiration in minutes. But I was fishing so a little inconvenience was accepted. The stream was low, but it's flow was good. There were numerous pools of deep water and that provided all that was necessary for the trout who live here. I took several water temps before I made my first cast and the readings were 64-66, and one reading of 60, that must have been right over an incoming spring. Another thing that I noticed were a lot of crayfish, don't know if the brookies were eating them or perhaps a raccoon.

The first pool I fished was as clear as could be, I was able to see the bottom as well as anything that was swimming about. I gazed for a spell and was shocked when a trout rose but a foot from me. Where did he come from, and what was so small, I saw nothing on the water, that he was eating. I cast the Ausable Wulff to a spot about 6 inches from where the trout rose and very soon he came up and took the fly.


Comfort zone for brook trout.


The pool continued to give up several nice little brookies. A few even allowed me a in the water photo. Man I love these fish.


The next pool had me drooling. Good oxygen flowing in, a deep water section, and a large boulder with a beautiful undercut and all in shade. Three or four drifts of the Wulff produced nothing, patience Alan this is to good of a spot not to have any fish. Several more casts and suddenly to pool exploded. The trout hit and hit hard. The fight was on and that fish used every bit of that pool to gain his escape. I finally got control and had the trout at my foot. As I lifted him up and readied the camera he flopped and the hook shot out of his mouth. A heartbeat later he was in the water getting ready to leave. I said to myself please wait a moment, and as if he could hear me, waited. I took a photo and was ready to take another when he departed back into the dark stream.


A nice brook trout from a small stream. One photo for you Mr. Angler. After all that disruption in that pool it continued to give a few more brookies.



By this time, which was several hours of rock, and hill climbing I was pretty beat. I headed for the Honda and a bottle of cold water.

Look what was available to me when I got home. How can you beat a day like this.









23 comments:

  1. cool, sweet watermelon after a hot, humid day out. nice!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. TexWisGirl,
      Thanks.
      Oh it was so satisfying.

      Delete
  2. Alan
    I have to admit that I have become addicted to small stream fishing through your blog and Mark's. That is one nice brook trout you took from around the boulder. I thought we had bad humidity here, but never realize you guys had it that bad there. Thanks for sharing

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    Replies
    1. Bill Trussell,
      Thanks.
      It gets into your blood, ever so rewarding. There are times when the humidity can get pretty thick, luckily it does not stay for long.

      Delete
  3. Great stuff Alan, glad your prize stuck around for a picture for us all to see.

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    Replies
    1. brian,
      Thanks.
      For sure. Usually they bolt once they hit the water.

      Delete
  4. Muddy Creek, Dry Creek, it would be my guess that somewhere along the line somebody said "Go that way and when you cross the Muddy Creek turn left". Same thing would apply to a creek called "Dry Creek" that has water in it all the time. It was probably dry one year and the name stuck. Good job on the patience. That was a nice Brookie from that pond.

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    Replies
    1. Mark Kautz,
      Thanks.
      Funny how names come about. Might make a good blog post?

      Delete
  5. I think the only way to beat a day like that would be a winning lottery ticket, but even that is not a for sure to beat a day in nature like this.

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    Replies
    1. Justin Carfagnini,
      Thanks.
      A winning lottery ticket you say.....I might have to go with the ticket, but a tough decision.

      Delete
  6. Beautiful Al!!! Simply beautiful!!!

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    Replies
    1. TROUT1,
      Thanks.
      I appreciate the comment Pete.

      Delete
  7. Superb day on the water, even though, it was low and clear in some areas. That sure is one heck of a nice Brook Trout that obliged you long enough for a photo opportunity. I think I agree with Bill. This small stream stuff is getting addicting!

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    Replies
    1. Pond Stalker,
      Thanks.
      Mel he sure surprised me. That stream has some large brookies but they favor feeding at other times.
      A healthy addiction.

      Delete
  8. Doesn't look like a muddy creek to me, from the gravel in your pictures and the shale. I imagine it runs pretty clear most of the time. Looks like you've been doing some exploring, have you fished this stream before?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mark,
      Thanks.
      It probably gets muddy when heavy rains run through.
      I have fished it but when it was running higher. I have been doing some exploration, and found a real gem. Some awesome wild browns.....a post will follow.

      Delete
  9. Looks like a great day all around!

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    Replies
    1. Joseph Hord,
      Thanks.
      A day that gets a write up in the journal.

      Delete
  10. I've always liked to conjecture on what's behind the names of certain creeks. It's a little bit of history, sometimes trivial, sometimes interesting. Muddy Creek is anything but-- at least for now.

    ReplyDelete