Today is August 1st, we have moved into another summer month, I hope it's much kinder than July was. We have received some much needed rain over the last few days. Some areas of the state did very well while most did OK. The air temps have dropped to the 70's to near 80, all to the better for our trout. On the way to the river this morning I passed over a couple of small streams, look there is water flowing, a good sign. This day would feature some clouds and some sun, I prefer the clouds but you can't have it all. The thermometer went into the water and it said 63 degrees, all's fine.
With a few fish rising I put on a dry and proceeded to have a ball. They were not bashful about taking on the surface. There's nothing nicer than a trout rising to the fly.
Salmon parr were very aggressive. I knew there were other fish there only the salmon seemed to grab the fly first.
In the mix were a few super fast brook trout.
This dry fly was a champ this day.
The dry fly action slowed and a variety of wet flies and soft-hackles were called to duty.
This nice rainbow could not let the Liesenring Spider drift past him.
This fine wild brook trout found Pete Hidy's work also hard to let slide without taking a whack at it.
Overall a good start to August...I hope it continues.
Alan,what's the name of the dry fly I do not recognize it from the photo? Dandy brook trout. That stream sure looks inviting. Are their lots of salmon their or do they come and go? Makes for interesting fishing when you don't know what species you'll catch next. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteBrad Basehore
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Brad the fly is a reversed parachute. The pattern was created by Roy Christie of the UK. The salmon are part of the now defunct CT river salmon restoration. The Farmington is a major tributary to the Connecticut. The salmon can get to some pretty decent size, and they fight like crazy with ots of leaps.
love your fresh waters.
ReplyDeleteTexWisGirl
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Theresa fresh and very cool for now.
What a great day, Alan. A question about the salmon. Now that the salmon reintroduction program is defunct, are the young salmon stream born from a few remnant salmon that return to the river or the last of what was put in as part of the program? I would love to fish for Atlantic Salmon some day. Regards, Sam
ReplyDeleteThe salmon are the last of what was stocked in the river as a part of the program. The stocking continues, however, just in a more limited fashion because the USFW backed out from the program, but the state of Connecticut is still stocking some salmon parr.
DeleteThanks for the explanation on the salmon. What a shame the program didn't yield better results. It would have been really something to have a sizable Atlantic Salmon run in the Connecticut River valley once again.
DeleteUnfortunately that won't be the case until they remove the dams.
DeleteSam and Jon, the dams were a considerable problem in the restoration. But I believe the real issue took place out at sea. Waters in the AS southern most rivers are to warm. When you stock a million and a half fry and get a return of only 50 fish you can see why the Feds backed out.
DeleteThere are a few rivers and streams that feed the CT that are below the first dam. I can see an adult or two making a return in these waters.
Awesome day, Alan. Certainly a good start to the month especially after such a brutal July. You got quite a few nice Brook trout to hand, which was good to see. That one you got on the spider was a beast! I heard they are cutting back the flows, however. Not good news.
ReplyDeleteRI brook trout
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Jon it was refreshing to walk through wet forest and puddles before entering the river. I hope August is cooler and wetter. The flow is 105 at the dam. If it stays at that level the fish should be OK. Lower flows should cause anglers concern.
Nice to see Roy's RPE working on your side of the pond... Andy
ReplyDeleteAndy Baird
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Andy Roy sent me some rev-parachutes many years ago.
Remember "smallstreams.com". I've been using them ever since.
Remembered well. It was a great board! And they're RC originals. You can tell by the mono rib... And have long admired your wet flies.
DeleteI wish I could join you.
ReplyDeleteRKM
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Kirk, soon buddy soon.
good stuff Brk Trt. Some excellent pics!! But today the flow is down another 50 or so cfs.
ReplyDeleteTROUTI
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Pete I saw that this morning. I'll look things over before I fish the Farmy again.
Well, let's see... Brookie: check. Rainbow: check. Salmon? REALLY? Probably just "Monday" for you, but exciting for me to read about and see. Thank you, Alan!
ReplyDeleteFading Angler
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Chris, the salmon are a treat. Every time I'm out fishing it's exciting...never gets old.
Those spots are still fishing well a week later huh? I ended up getting a nice brown out of the pool above your first photo just after you left on Wednesday.
ReplyDeleteRM Lytle
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Rowan it's like no one else has fished it, which is what I like. That pool holds some bruisers.