Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Those Little Black Bugs

Monday was the Opening Day of major league baseball, well actually it opened on Sunday night but for Boston Red Sox fans the big day was Monday. With the game scheduled to start at 3pm I had some time to do a little angling. The weather was predicted to be sunny and warm with temps near 60. So the 3wt took me to a small stream in search of a few willing takers. By the time I reached the water it was near 11am. The stream had recovered from recent rains and had a beautiful bright flow.

I had chosen to fish a section downstream from where I normally start. I have not been down there in quite awhile. There is a long pool that starts a strong broken run, then at its tail becomes a nice riffle with a bend that has a wonderful set of undercuts. I sent out the fly to do some work. After many many casts I finally had a hit. On then off. I worked down through the pool with out another hit. I changed flies a time or two but still the same result. As I moved to the end of the of the pool to where the riffle started I noticed what appeared to be a rise. I gazed at the spot and several moments later a saw a rise and a slurp. There were a few bugs in the air but this rise was different, it was sort of a slow methodical picking off of the surface, the kind of rise that is associated especially at this time of year to the little black stone fly.


I tied on a small black soft hackle and worked the fly just under the surface. As the fly reached the spot where I saw the fish rise a swirl was spotted and the hook set. A moment or two later and this pretty brown trout was at hand.


I continued to fish the pool, always looking for another rise, and another did appear. Casting to where the fly would meet the fish and he rose and missed. I continued to observe and let things settle, I even walked downstream to fish, but I did return to the pool and let the fly do its thing.


The results. This was no easy fish to land. He knew what to do and where to go. But eventually the little glass rod had convinced him to surrender.





25 comments:

  1. A pair of handsome browns, especially that last one! This time of year the peacock and starling can really shine

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mark,
      Thanks.
      What a difference a day makes in water kindness. Little black stones just downstream from where we were.

      Delete
  2. Wow - that last brown is a monster in a little stream! King of the Pool for sure!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hibernation,
      Thanks.
      Will he sure was. That stream has given up a few like it in past times.

      Delete
  3. looks like a good time along the stream!

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    Replies
    1. TexWisGirl,
      Thanks.
      Theresa it's getting better all the time.

      Delete
  4. Nice photos of the river scenery and the browns!! It is getting closer to the better weather.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. TROUTI,
      Thanks.
      Pete, everyday it's getting a little more favorable. The trout will indeed rise.

      Delete
  5. As a cubs fan I was anxiously awaiting opening day but...well at least there's fishing. Thx for cheering me up!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Drew LooknFishy,
      Thanks.
      Yes the Cubby's. Jon Lester, know him well. A good season to you both fishing and baseball.

      Delete
  6. Not a baseball fan at all. The Rockies suck and continue to do so. I spent half my life waiting for the Broncos to not suck. Think I'll go fishing.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Howard Levett,
      Thanks.
      We have the Rockies double A team in the next town over. I hope they do well.
      If not I'll go fishing to.

      Delete
  7. Replies
    1. Jim C.
      Thanks.
      They are sweet, and I love them too.

      Delete
  8. PS: Looks like thread, starling and ice dub, but I don't see you as an ice dub guy. Would you share the recipe?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jay Cummings,
      Thanks.
      Black thread, peacock herl, and Starling. How simple, and how effective.

      Delete
  9. Alan...

    would that tippet happen to be 7x.....?

    tight lines on those thin blue 1's

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. flyfisher1000,
      Thanks.
      Dave the tippet is Orvis fluorocarbon 6x.

      Delete
  10. Alan
    Amazing how strong those mountain brook trout can be. The stream you were fishing looks super clear with some fantastic ripples, which I love to fish.
    I will be going to our tailrace in the morning after a long sabbatical, really looking forward to try out the Picket Pin and the Soft Hackles. In fact the fly shop owner told me this afternoon that the trout were locking in on soft hackles just under the water surface. Glad you are back on those small streams.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bill Trussell,
      Thanks.
      Bill I hope you have a fine outing. Soft hackles fished just under the surface will pretty much work anywhere.
      Go get 'um buddy.

      Delete
  11. RKM,
    Thanks.
    Kirk, buddy it's only going to get better.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Very nice. I love little black stone flies and those early spring rises.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jim Yaussy Albright,
      Thanks.
      Jim, it was a joy watching a trout rise, it has been a long winter.

      Delete