Tuesday, September 13, 2016

A Native, A Gentleman......

I have said many times that the brook trout is not an early riser. He is a fish that likes to sleep late and when he does wake he likes to just lounge along the stream bottom and quietly get his thoughts together on the day ahead. He is very similar to me in that regard and probably like most of us. Over the many years of pursuing fontinallis I have found that he will not actively start feeding until 8 AM, and that 10 until 2 are prime times to see him work the surface. Maybe that's why I like him so much, he gives me time for that second cup of coffee which I so enjoy.

Arriving at the stream I found the water flowing gently. There were several stressed colored leaves floating along and I wondered what is the fall foliage season going to be like in this low rainfall year. As I stepped into the stream I could see brook trout racing for cover, a good sign and a bad sign. The bad sign they were aware of me the good sign they don't stay scared to long.


I moved upstream kicking up the bottom and sending clouds of silt downstream. I found a nice looking place to stop and looked over the stream. I chose to wait out the silt storm and looked about the forest on either side while figuring out my game plan. I tied on a fresh piece of tippet and a dry fly and was ready to work the stream. It was not long before I had a willing player. A beautifully colored brook trout was at hand. I was fortunate to take several more during my few hours. As I started working my way back to my starting point I spooked a couple of nice fish. They scooted downstream in a hurry. I stopped and decided to wait and see if they would return. Some minutes later I sent the fly on a drift, there was no response, I repeated this a couple of times with the same result. They did not return, and I started walking again and then I spotted the fish. He was lying just in front of some stream vegetation. I cast the fly and saw the fish move to it and take.



He took that fly all over the stream, in the process he created his own silt storm. I even enjoyed a leap from him before he was at hand. A wonderful wild creature, a native, and a true blessing taken on a dry fly. Thanks friend.





20 comments:

  1. so the truth comes out...you are kindred spirits. :)

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    Replies
    1. TexWisGirl
      Thanks
      Theresa yes it did, and yes we are.

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  2. Alan, I like your philosophy on the brook trout. I was once told that fly fishing picks you, you do not pick fly fishing.along with that way of thinking,I would say that fontinallis has chosen you . That's a nice Brookie. What's the name of the fly ?

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    1. Brad Basehore
      Thanks
      Brad I never heard that phrase, but it makes sense.
      What this world would be like without fontinallis.

      The fly is a Catskill pattern called "Conover"

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  3. As much as I am a fish every nook and cranny kind of guy, I would probably have passed that stream by. Once again, learned something new today.

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    1. Mark Kautz-Shoreman
      Thanks
      Mark I most likely would have passed it to, only I saw brook trout hanging around that mess.

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  4. That's a nice looking brookie Alan! Were you fishing a spring fed brook?

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  5. Gorgeous photography. I so love your brookie catches!

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    1. The River Damsel
      Thanks
      Emily, the brookie always make for a good subject....all I have to do is hold the camera steady and not let it fall in the water.

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  6. I never tire of looking at those beautiful creatures..there is a shout out about salters and Red Brook in Trout Magazine..which I finally got around to perusing..

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    1. penbayman
      Thanks
      Mike is that article in a recent issue?

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    2. Hi Alan..It's in the Summer 2016 issue..page 64

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    3. Mike, I read that article....senior moments, or to much drag on the fly.

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  7. good story Alan, you're a really poet of the stream ...

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    1. Armando Milosevic
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      Armando now that's something I've never been called.

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  8. A true blessing indeed, Alan. Great story and pics from one of your adventures in the brook trout jungle. It does me good to read your posts and get reassured that the brookies are surviving this prolonged dry spell.

    Best, Sam

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    1. Parachute Adams
      Thanks
      Sam it does show the tenacity for life these wonderful creatures have.
      "Brook Trout Jungle" could be a book. Kathy Scott has a book "Brook Trout Forest"

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    2. You should write that book, Alan. Along with your pictures that would be a great read. Regards, Sam

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    3. I did one already...the second is in the works.

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