Monday, January 5, 2015

Saturday 1-3-15

Saturday dawned a cold one, a continuance of low temps that started before New Years day. The weather was to go down hill in the form of snow leaving me a small window of time to fish. I had a late start and when I arrived the clouds were thickening. I was geared up in short time and was drifting a fly from the 2 weight promptly. Winter streams possess that clarity that is almost as if it were not there. A simple placement of your hand into it and you'll know it is indeed water.

Shelf ice had built up along the edges and in some places it was heavy. Water flowing over rocks and wood jams produced many beautiful ice sculptures known only to nature. I wear waist high waders and although I do not wade the stream they are needed to cross the stream at times. With such ice caution was paramount.

In the time I fished the need to change flies was not necessary. The pinkie, and the bomber were all that were needed. I worked the slower pools and runs hoping to find some one willing to dine. I was indeed fortunate to have a few whack the pinkie just as it drifted under the shelf ice. But whack it was all I got and a couple of hours produced not a fish to hand.

Winters beauty. Incredible ice jams.


It was at the tail of this pool that a nice brookie chased the pinkie. He did this several times, chasing and not taking. When the fly was allowed to drift he paid no attention to it, pull it back and the fish would chase. I tied on a bomber and drifted it through the pool...nothing, pull it back and a strike. This happened until I gave up and moved on.


I started to move down stream as the first few flakes of snow fell. I reached this pool at a bend in the stream. I sent the bomber in to find a fish. I worked that pool well and no response. The snow seemed to be slowing down, so I tied pinkie back on and we went back to work. On the third cast the line tightened and I set the hook. A few moments I had to hand a winter jewel.

A quick photo and release and off he went. I knew that was going to be my only fish of the outing, for I was going to leave before the snow picked up in intensity. I got back to the car and it was snowing to beat the band. I did not take the time to get out of my waders deciding to drive home in them. As it turned out it was a good decision because the snow became quite slippery. Slow and easy I made it home OK..........hot soup anyone?




14 comments:

  1. Nice job Alan! Saturday was cold and the window of fishable weather small but glad you were able to bring one to hand and make it home before the roads got too bad.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mark,
      Thanks.
      It did turn sour very quickly. Looks like we are in for some prolonged cold.

      Delete
  2. Nicely Done Al!!! After this week we will be ice fishing!!

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    Replies
    1. TROUT1,
      Thanks.
      Pete, do you have a power auger?

      Delete
  3. A lot more ice there than on the stream I visited. I'm quite glad of that fact. Ice in the stream gives it a very uncertain look, almost as though nobody is home. But, of course, there usually is.

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    Replies
    1. RM Lytle,
      Thanks.
      There were some stretches where it was actually not bad fishing, but others Oh man!

      Delete
  4. The beauty of those ice covered stream edges is something to see. I'm guessing the one beautiful winter brookie you did bring to hand , along with the fantastic scenery of course , was more than enough to make the trip a successful one.

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    Replies
    1. HighPlainsFlyFisher,
      Thanks.
      Jeff the scenery and the walk make it successful, truly enjoyable...the rest is "Icing" on the cake.

      Delete
  5. Alan
    Beautiful images, I have to say you are braver than me, as I get older the cold temps seem to brother me more--thanks for sharing---glad to be back with you guys

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    Replies
    1. Bill Trussell,
      Thanks.
      I'm not a fan of the cold, but put up with it. The knees remind me when I get home "hey it's to cold".

      Delete
  6. Great stream, gorgeous fish. And doesn't it feel wonderful to settle into the warm house afterwards?

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    Replies
    1. Jim Yaussy Albright,
      Thanks.
      That warm house is a true reward.

      Delete