Saturday, August 6, 2016

The "West Branch"

Dry weather issues this summer have found me fishing more lakes than usual. While the Farmington river has produced some great outings the lack of rain has put even that river on hold for me. So yesterday I chose to fish the reservoir that is the start of the west branch tailwater. I have fished here many times and can say it is one of Connecticut's most peaceful places. The beauty is almost unmatched and to sit along it's banks and take it all in is a complete day.



While I would not classify this area as a wilderness I would say it's pretty wild. I have seen bear, deer,turkey, and evidence of moose. The sound of nothing is a pleasure to the ear. "Looks full".


I love this cove, but then who wouldn't. I was able to fish this one area for the morning and take a variety of fish both on the surface and below.


While these smallmouth bass are not huge they are impressive. They do not stop battling, and they are gorgeous in their color as well as their camo patterns make them the top predator in the cove.


The next two photos are some of the best so far this year. The two fish are in the water, and what stands out is the clarity of that water.


This photo of a smallie with a "big dry fly in mouth" is as good as it gets.













19 comments:

  1. Alan, beautiful smallmouth,did you catch all your fish on drys? They are real battlers and enjoy fishing for them when trout waters become to warm. I am blessed to have two major creeks near my home which have smallmouth in them. Sherman's creek and the conodoguienet creek. These creeks both feed the Susquehanna which is the major river through Harrisburg pa. I grew up on these creeks and have many fond memories of catching smallmouth as a young lad. Very nice photos Alan thankyou

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    1. Brad Basehore
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      Brad I caught quite a few on dries, some on soft-hackle nymphs. What I found interesting is that they take small flies much more readily than they take streamers. Thankfully we have such fishing available.

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  2. Beautiful photos of the lake and surroundings! I bet those smallies put a bend in that rod!!

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    1. TROUTI
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      Pete, that little 3wt really handled it well.
      I love that rod.

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    1. TexWisGirl
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      Theresa, pristine and so quiet.

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  5. I have to fish that reservoir one of these days. It looks like too awesome of a place to miss out on. It almost appears like it should be somewhere up north, not in Connecticut. That state continues to surprise me with all it has to offer. Unfortunately I think you will be fishing the reservoir a good amount in the coming weeks because the flows are so low. Not a bad back up plan, however.

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    1. RI brook trout
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      Jon you might want to try it in early spring and fall. It holds some impressive browns. As the water cools they move in to shore. CT has some great fishing opportunities. Always have a plan B.

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  6. Alan, I think I enjoyed this as much as any other post you've done. That is a gorgeous lake by any standard and how nice to see some smallies there.

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    1. Howard Levett
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      Howard it's sure a refreshing sight. Most of the streams resemble rock gardens.

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  7. I love those rare moments when you can capture a glass-smooth lake. The heat has been pretty hard on the creeks, rivers, and trout out here in Western Montana where I'm vacationing. Most major streams & rivers are closed to fishing after 2 PM, and some are seeing full day closures. Saw many, many folks on one of the area lakes as we drove by today. Plan B, indeed.

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    1. Fading Angler
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      Chris it was like a mirror, and it produced some wonderful reflections. So the heat has curtailed fishing in Montana. Hopefully it will be short lived.

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  8. What beautiful country you live in and I enjoy you sharing it with us all. In addition, incredible is the first word that comes to my mind when I look at those gorgeously marked Smallmouth. I sure miss my Smallmouth Bass fishing.

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    1. Grandpa Mel
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      Mel I enjoy taking photos and sharing them almost as much as fishing. The smallies also give that 3wt CGR a workout.

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  9. Hi Al, very good photos taken from the lake and smallmouth bass fish too, you are a very particular fisherman in your work, great patience .... great and beautiful fishes

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    1. Armando Milosevic
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      Armando the one thing I have lots of is patience.
      The smallmouth is like a scaled down salmon..they jump like crazy.

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  10. Love smallies. Miss them living in Florida. Almost as much as trout.

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    1. Michael Agneta
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      Mike PA is a super hot spot for smallmouth, as well as trout.

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