Monday, July 7, 2014

"Upstream" after Arthur

Last week we here in the northeast were blessed with three rain events. The fourth of July brought us tropical storm Arthur, lots and lots of rain. All that water brought the small streams up and flowing nicely. High water will also get the trout on the move. The new water level gives them a free highway to find select feeding locations and provides a bit more cover and security.

I took the opportunity to pay a visit to one of these streams. I have fished this brook several times but have not fished it much upstream. This day was to be different and upstream I went. The place was overgrown in some areas and very hard to fish, but other areas opened up quite nicely and I took advantage of it.

Large boulders provided me with some cover, and the pools and eddies seemed to all hold trout, willing trout. The day was awesome weather wise with warm and breezy conditions.

It was here that I hooked my first trout of the day. It was a feisty little brookie.


There were blackberries all over, I have to remember to bring a container next time.


This brook trout couldn't resist a stimulator.


I had several bright orange flanked brookies swipe at the fly in the faster water, a wonderful sight indeed.


Mini muddlers also worked this day.


Wild flowers along the way. These are as beautiful as the brook trout that call this stream home.


A pristine environment. I was delighted to be part of it. It was hard to call it a day.


Life is..........



32 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Bill Thomas,
      Thanks.
      Agreed, and it would be so even without hooking a trout.

      Delete
  2. Your killing me, Alan. All I can say is, "WOW"!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pond Stalker,
      Thanks.
      I don't want to kill my buddy.

      Delete
  3. Beautiful stream Alan, thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. LQN,
      Thanks.
      And what's nice about it nobody else fishes it.

      Delete
  4. Some very nice brookies.....better than I did today. Took the day off and visited one of my favorite streams in Westchester. Other than a few LDRs...nothing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kiwi,
      Thanks.
      The tug is OK. At least you knew what to offer them.
      Good to be out Chris.

      Delete
  5. Looks like a great spot, and fantastic day!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hibernation,
      Thanks.
      Will that it was. The high water turned those brookies on.

      Delete
  6. Beautiful. The more I get to the small streams around here the more I understand why you love this kind of fishing. I will do more of it. Must get a small stream rod...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jim Yaussy Albright,
      Thanks.
      Nice intimate angling. Your post with those lovely small stream trout was awesome.

      Delete
  7. From the tannin stained water and boulders it almost looks like you were up in the Adirondacks! Nice outing indeed

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mark,
      Thanks.
      There are lots of those streams so very close to us.
      They can be quite a workout at times.

      Delete
  8. A bowl of cherries, huh? Sweet. With brook trout and wild black raspberries already... Nice job.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Walt Franklin,
      Thanks.
      You picked up on that Walt. They were not quite ready, but they should be in a week.

      Delete
  9. Alan
    That last pool is fantastic; I know you have landed a number of brook trout in this one pool. What size muddler and bomber were you using? Every time I see black berries I think of my grandmother’s black berry cobbler way back when. Thanks for sharing

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bill Trussell,
      Thanks.
      The bomber was a 14, the stimulator a 12 and the muddler a 12.
      Blackberry cobbler...sounds so good.

      Delete
  10. Replies
    1. Michael Curry,
      Thanks.
      I appreciate it Mike.

      Delete
  11. Beautiful pics Alan....I can't think of a better place to be on a hot summer day than on a shady small creek full of wild trout.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HighPlainsFlyFisher,
      Thanks.
      There were several times when I wanted to sit in that shady creek.

      Delete
  12. Always a good trip with you. We could use a little Arthur type water. Blackberries, yum.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mark Kautz,
      Thanks.
      You guys are really suffering from that awful drought.
      Blackberry cobbler, Bill Trussell style.

      Delete
  13. Beautiful pics amigo.
    Check out the message I sent you on Flyaddict if you haven't already.
    Small world.
    A.T.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Apache Trout,
      Thanks.
      Hey amigo hope all's well.
      I just read your note, and indeed it is a small world.

      Delete
  14. Beautiful! I would be happy just hiking and observing these small streams that you fish. Thanks, for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Justin Carfagnini,
      Thanks.
      There are times when I do just that. Hike, observe, and take photos.

      Delete