Monday, June 26, 2017

Natural Areas, Buffer Zones, And A Friend

I take a daily walk of approximately three miles. I'm usually out there about 7-8 am except when I'm fishing. My walk takes me through lovely small town streets with those cute little houses. The town does have it's "biggies" but where I live it's "old school" and much more modest. About the last mile or so I walk along two sections of undeveloped land which is on both sides of the street. This section is not big in the sense of large preserves but the main thing it's protected.

In the years I have walked this route I have observed hawks to sparrows and almost every other bird, most of which I can't identify. Many times I have observed deer, coyotes and foxes, those red fox in late autumn and early winter are so beautiful. And my favorite friends along this stretch are the wood-chucks. They enjoy the grass of which there are many types.


Now this area does not come cloes to large tracts of land about such as Maine's 100 mile woods or the Adirondack Park in New York, but in it's small way it is a sanctuary that's doing a vital job.




The Red Sox, my favorite baseball team. This hat has been with me for some time, and recently I have been wearing it when I fish. My usual cap "Cakskill Flies" is in sad shape and in need of replacement, so I use the Sox cap. Well it has brought me luck and I may just keep it in the capacity....more later.


My Friend
Let me reintroduce you to one of the, "take that back" the best fly rod ever produced. The Orvis Superfine Small Stream Special. I bought this rod back in 1990, brand new from the Orvis factory. I have fished this rod on big rivers, Salmon River NY, Androscoggin River NH, The Magalloway in Maine, The Delaware River in Pennsylvania and The Farmington River in Connecticut. The rod has seen countless hours on the small intimate streams of the northeast. It has accounted for Great Lakes salmon and brown trout, landlocked salmon, and brook trout and most every other type of fresh water fish, and not to be forgotten it's also taken it's share of sea-run brook trout.


I wish Orvis would come back with this rod.


I hope to put the Small Stream Special to work soon.













33 comments:

  1. Cool post as always! A good friend has an Orvis Flea Carbon rod, its a little 6.5 or 7 foot 4wt and I did a lot of my casting practice with that rod. What a little gem it is, or was. Im not even sure if he still has it!

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    1. Bill Thomas
      Thanks
      Bill good to hear from you.
      I'm not familiar with that model, but it's size and wt line it must be a joy...especially on those small streams in Shenandoah.

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  2. Alan
    Keep doing those 3 mile walks as long you can put one foot in front of the other---the walking is what keeps me wading on the Caney and Sipsey. I have to walk nearly a mile to get to both tailraces.
    What a special fly rod, I have a feeling one of your Grandchildren will get to fish that rod of day.
    Enjoyed the post, P.S. I am getting to go to the Caney in the morning no generators until 1 PM--your soft hackles flies will get some use.

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    1. Bill Trussell
      Thanks
      Oh Bill I sure will. I love my walking especially when it's on pine needles and fallen leaves.
      Bill the hand down just maybe what you said.
      Good luck tomorrow.

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  3. A Man after my own heart....aside from that Red Socks thing. :)

    That generation Orvis rod is my all time favorite. My Far & Fine especially.

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    1. Ralph Long
      Thanks
      Ralph the F&F was a close second in my choice process, so was the "Brook Trout"..they were great rods.

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  4. Along time ago, I purchased an Orvis Far & Fine small stream rod from a friend. One of the best I ever had. Passed it down along the way, but, still have the memories. Keep walking, Alan, where ever it leads you.

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    1. The Bluegill Bug
      Thanks
      Mel the F&F rod was a very popular rod, it was somewhat longer, I believe it was 7'9" which made it appeal to more anglers.
      Walk I will...Jeanette and I both enjoy it.

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  5. Nice post once again Alan.....
    I to have an Orvis fly rod - a 6'6" #4 Superfine Trout Bum. It is a beautiful rod to use - it has a slow full flex action which loads easily on the small streams I fish. It is also a beautiful rod to look at as well (olive green finish with hardwood and silver nickel real seat and gold guides) and has drawn many an admiring glance from fellow anglers in my club! I have used it for five seasons now and it is my go to rod for most situations.
    Alistair

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous
      Thanks
      Alistair that exact rod is owned by a buddy of mine, I agree about it being an eye catcher as well as a excellent fishing tool.
      A little rain here this morning is cutting into my stream time. Another cup of coffee please.

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    2. We are getting rain here in Yorkshire as well Alan. We have some good down pours forecast for the next few days. About time to as the stream is in desperate need of some fresh water!
      Enjoy the coffee!
      Alistair

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    3. Alistair, it has been pouring rain, hail and a bit of snow....a wild one for sure.

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  6. Good Morning Alan,
    I am so glad to hear that you (and Jeanette too!) are a walker! There are so many long term benefits to this activity as you already know! Let's keep up the pace and may we forever walk!
    The rod you show looks wonderful and from your description, works well too! I have never owned nor cast one of these beauties so this goes on my wish list of materials and equipment that I simply must have!
    Thanks too for sharing the natural beauty that surrounds you in your great state!
    Dougsden

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    Replies
    1. Dougsdaen
      Thanks
      Doug we have been walking for years, and it does help one in so many ways.
      That Orvis rod turns up on e-bay from time to time, it's sweet.

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  7. Alan
    That rod is a beauty and I am sure it holds lots of memories for you. I have the Orvis Trout Bum, 7 foot, 4 weight and I love it.

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    Replies
    1. TROUT1
      Thanks
      Pete ample memories indeed.
      I fished the Farmy today, not bad. I'll do a post on it soon.

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  8. Keep up the walks. My mother in law and father in law had a daily 5 mile walk they would do well into their 80s. A couple tips I learned from them: wear bright clothing for the distracted drivers, carry a water bottle, cell phone and a little thing of pepper spray. My wife bought me one of those fitness trackers and because of my landscaping work I log anywhere from 17-25 miles per day. Not bad for an old geezer like me! ;-) I have a Orvis Trout Bum 6' 6" paired with a bronze Sage click that I love. Sometime I will show you my old Orvis 50A spinning reel, a work of art. Enjoy this nice weather. John

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    1. Forgot to add that Trout Bum rod is a 3 weight.

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    2. Nice one John.
      I have paired my Trout Bum with an Orvis Mirage I in Gold - to match the guides of course!
      Alistair

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    3. Apache Trout
      Thanks
      John, it's raining , hailing, and some snow...I'm enjoying the nice weather, New England style.
      I saw that 6'6" Sage set up, real nice.

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    4. I heard it got a little crazy up your way tonight. We had hail down here.

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  9. My doctor only suggests 2 miles a day. For the most part I don't listen to him. I feel I get enough exercise with all I do around the house. Besides I feel he needs to justify my yearly visits with something.

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    1. Mark Kautz
      Thanks
      Mark I chuckled when I read the part "he needs justification"...good stuff buddy.

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  10. Alan, you give me a good example of how to be active during retirement which I hope to take part in 4 years from now. Always stay physically active. I admire your life style and your fishing as part of it. I too use a 7' rod, a Fenwick I bought 40 years ago which still performs well.

    Best, Sam

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    Replies
    1. Parachute Adams
      Thanks
      Sam on the days I don't fish I make it a point to walk my usual loop. Evenings we sometimes squeeze a 45 minute walk about the condo.
      That Fenwick glass or graphite?

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    2. Glass, Alan, with a Pflueger reel that I bought along with it. The reel still performs well when the trout want to run a bit.

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    3. Sam I had a Pflueger reel too. Those reels were quite popular.

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  11. Alan, looks like you've got a special rod there. I've considered multiple times picking up the superfine glass by orvis but can't pull the trigger. I did find a nice little 7 foot 4 weight by a builder you've posted on your blog, cane and silk fly rods. The owner Mikes a great guy and has got me into building too. Anyone looking for a nice glass rod should reach out to Mike. Enjoy the week.

    Chris MaineFly207

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    1. Anonymous
      Thanks
      Chris that Cane and Silk glass rod is a great rod. For the price Mike gives real quality...highly recommended
      by this angler.
      That will be nice taking fish on your home built rod.

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  12. Such beauty within walking distance!

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    Replies
    1. Howard Levett
      Thanks
      Howard I think I have it made. Even in not so good weather it's a beautiful walk.

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  13. Hi Alan, You can't go wrong with Orvis fly rods. I have a 7ft6inch Battenkill (bamboo) 6/7 wt which would be overkill for small streams. For small streams I have a 7 ft Tonka Prince (HI, bamboo) which I pair with a Medalist 1492. In glass I have a 6 ft 6 inch Steffen blank that I finished out a couple of years ago (excellent performer). Like so many fly fisherman my age I now have more rods and reels than I can fish in any given season. Its a slippery slope.

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    1. John Dornik
      Thanks
      John sounds like a nice position to be in, to many rods,...we as anglers have had years to gather all those "must haves"...isn't that nice.
      The last week or so I have been going through my fly box to weed out the flies I don't use. One day I'll get it right.

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