Thursday, December 22, 2016

Blue Line, Blue Halos, The Winter Solstice

Kirk and I met up to fish this first day of winter. The time was 9:30am, which was a good choice for it allowed the sun to warm up things and it enabled the brook trout to fully wake up. We moved along the stream and the action was slow. We both fished flies that stayed close to the bottom and the response was poor. An hour into the outing and Kirk had the first fish of the day and suddenly our outlook looked brighter.



The stream was free of ice for the most part. Water temp was taken and showed 38 degrees, not prime dry fly action so we thought, but again we were proved wrong. Fishing a really remarkable run we saw multiple fish rising. Not seeing any flies about at first I selected a soft-hackle. I put a bit of floatant on the tippet and just a touch of it on the fly head and sent it off on a drift.


It did not drift long before it was noticed and eaten. My first brook trout of the day to hand.


The semi-dry soft-hackle.....red silk body and starling hackle. This fly worked real well today.


"Winters Reflection" can be seen here....cold and beautiful.


These wild native charr are so gracious and beautiful.


This run must have held 20 plus fish. They were taken on dries and soft-hackles.


This guy still held that awesome color of autumn...as it turned out he was my last fish to hand.


And the fly that fooled him....these are a common hatch on winter streams....Alan time for another cup of coffee, you must be dreaming.


Kirk working a dry fly through a nice run. At one point he had on a parachute Adams and a natural stonefly was fluttering right along side, the brookie rose in a heartbeat and grabbed the natural.....but


One of the many Kirk brought to hand. Pretty fish.


The seasons can be seen in this photo.....autumn departing, its leaves wrapped in winters icy grasp...the solemn look of the trees as they stand naked. This is the start of the long season.















17 comments:

  1. Wow!! Perfect day on a small stream. Very nice. I am envious!

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    Replies
    1. TROUT1
      Thanks
      Pete we'll get you out there, and soon.

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  2. Alan
    Even in the dead of winter those streams still have beauty, and the brook trout brings it all together. Hope you and the family have a great Christmas!! Thanks for sharing

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bill Trussell
      Thanks
      Bill winter puts it's own beauty into play. We as anglers must learn to play within winters demands.
      Merry Christmas.

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  3. The Grips of Winter....We all experience that.........
    But, Grips of beautiful Brook Trout on a cold winter stream is something very special. Soft Hackles and Wet fly today, tomorrow, maybe a Parachute Adams. Happy Hook Up, Alan!

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    Replies
    1. Grandpa Mel
      Thanks
      Mel the parachute Adams was used effectively yesterday by Kirk. The soft-hackle worked double duty, and it to was successful. A happy day.

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  4. Alan and Kirk - looks like you guys were doing a little scouting ahead of New Year's day and hunches proved right on the mark. Looking forward to fishing with you guys soon!

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    Replies
    1. Mark Wittman
      Thanks
      Mark, we still have a few more on the list. New Years Day is closing on us fast....can't wait.

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  5. superb fishing by you both, those fish are stunning in every detail. well done

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    Replies
    1. George
      Thanks
      George it seems that the cold waters bring out the deepest of colors on the brook trout.

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  6. Replies
    1. Mark Kautz-Shoreman
      Thanks
      Mark those soft-hackles will put a few wild ones in your hand.

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  7. What a beautiful stream and pictures of the surroundings. I am glad to see the brookie inhabitants survived the tough summer we had. That big one is a stunner!

    Best Regards, Sam

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    Replies
    1. Parachute Adams
      Thanks
      Sam there are a few streams that fared well during that nasty dry and hot summer. I hope summers like that will be far and few.

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    2. I sure hope the same, Alan.

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  8. Alan, the photos of the ice formations remind me that winter can be wonderful time to be outside in brook trout forest,the reflections and images are great. One more time you have showed us the vercitility of the wonderful soft hackle. It is one of the reasons I am spending much of the winter ,tying and researching more soft hackles for my fly boxes. I hope you and your family have a wonderful and peaceful Christmas. Thankyou for the trip.

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    Replies
    1. Brad Basehore
      thanks
      Brad winter presents it's unique beauty..the cold I could do without but I don't mind the snow.
      I had another wonderful outing today and the soft-hackles took center stage again.
      Merry Christmas Brad and family.

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