Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Sunday, a little snow, a little red soft hackle and a brown trout.

The possibility of an outing last weekend had been in the works for about a week. I was going to meet up with Kirk on Sunday and we would fish a small stream. Every thing was set and the day was to be pretty good weather wise, but for one issue, the forecast was for snow on Saturday. The weatherman said that it was not going to be an issue, and it wasn't if you lived in Virginia. It snowed all day Saturday, a wet sticky snow the kind that coats everything it touches.

When we started our walk to the stream the sun was in force. It was a bit cold, and the new snow was slippery. We split up and I started fishing a dry, because I had a feeling. A half hour later and nothing. It was cool with a breeze and I had some ice form in the guides, so with that I tied on pinkie.


Working pinkie through a few slow runs I managed to draw a few strikes but no hookups. Working upstream I finally had a hookup. As I brought the fish in he managed to say goodbye with pinkie in his lip, "learn how to tie a knot" Alan.


This endless winter, still manages to paint a pretty picture. I had tied on a soft hackle and worked it along the likely looking places. It was a good choice. Lots of action on it, and a lot of LDR's.

By this time Kirk had met up with me. I asked how he did and he said he had taken a brown. "Whats he eatin" I asked and he replied "Pete's Special" which is a "beadhead soft hackle pheasant tail".

I stayed with my soft hackle red and continued to work a pool with some swirling currents. As the fly bobbed up and then was pulled under a dark fish rose up under the fly as it was drifting up. This guy wanted that fly. He was hooked well and put the glass 3wt to a test.

Has my hand slipped into the cold water I was thinking winter's not that bad. A quick photo and the healthy wild brown was on his way.

A red soft hackle. So simple.



21 comments:

  1. Those soft hackles are so elegantly simple and so effective. Nice to see fish on the move again, it's time for me to get out!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mark,
      Thanks.
      They certainly are Mark. As for the fish moving they are even at 38 degree water. Going to get better buddy.

      Delete
  2. Love the red on that trout. It always amazes me how trout always seem to have such bright colors but can hide the second they hit the water.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bill Thomas,
      Thanks.
      It's something that is also amazes me. There are times when you'll be looking in a pool and not see a thing, blink your eyes and there's a trout there.

      Delete
  3. Replies
    1. TexWisGirl,
      Thanks.
      Theresa it does look beautiful....but enough.

      Delete
  4. I have to agree with Theresa...the snow looks beautiful in those pictures. However , I do prefer to see that type of scenery on your posts rather than out my window!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HighPlainsFlyFisher,
      Thanks.
      Jeff my feelings exactly.

      Delete
  5. Nice! Is that your first brown this year?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. RM Lytle,
      Thanks.
      No its not. Caught one last week, a 3 inch beautifully marked male.

      Delete
  6. I'm thinking that that fly is a fish catcher. Enough snow pictures!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Howard Levett,
      Thanks.
      It is, and I agree enough snow period.

      Delete
  7. I've encountered several references to soft hackles lately. Your post inspired me to tie a few and I will be using them on RI opening day, April 11th. Thanks for the tip.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gary,
      Thanks.
      They are pretty effective flies. I hope your opening day is great.

      Delete
  8. Simple Elegance AL!! Nice job!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. TROUTI,
      Thanks.
      Pete you pretty much know the value of a soft hackle.

      Delete
    2. Yes I do, especially the "Special" BHPTSH!

      Delete
  9. Alan
    Still an endless winter there, when will it end? Glad you were able to get out and make a connection. What size tippet were you using with the soft hackle? Thanks for sharing

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bill Trussell,
      Thanks.
      Bill today is April first and I believe we have winter beat. I fished yesterday and was pleased with the action I received.
      Bill I was using 6x. Sometimes it'll be Orvis Fluorocarbon or I also use Umpqua Nylon.

      Delete
  10. Well done, Alan. Got one on a "Pete's Special" today :) One of my favorite go to flies.

    Welcome spring!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Michael Curry,
      Thanks.
      Mike I'm glad you were able to get out. The trout is a big plus. That fly is a killer.

      Delete