Friday, December 22, 2017

In A Few Hours..Mission Accomplished

There was a short window of time Wednesday where I was able to get out and visit a stream. When I say short I mean perhaps two hours including drive time to and back from the stream. The weather was cloudy and cold but the "weather man" said it was going to get sunny and the temps were to go into the mid-forties. Five steps into the stream and the snow started to fall. Within a minute I was faced with a white out. Luckily it was short lived and within a half hour the sun was poking through.

I had pinkie tied on and fished in some well known trout hang outs, and the fish showed it no love. I tied on a soft-hackle dry and worked several other areas. I became encouraged by a couple of brookies that took swipes at the fly.


My first fish of the day to the SHDF just below the plunge. Pretty fish with lots of fight.


Late December brook trout on a dry fly.


I came upon an area of the stream that featured a sandy bottom. Looking down I saw several brookies holding close to the bottom. These fish were very light in color and I attempted to take a photo of them...can't see them, "well adapted to their habitat"...


Just downstream of that pine branch along a sandy flat I took this fine wild jewel.




So beautiful.


Electra-Glide in blue... They took this just under the surface.


I wish I had a little more time...they were very eager.












28 comments:

  1. Well done my friend and Merry Christmas to you and your family

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    1. Mark Wittman
      Thanks
      A Merry Christmas to you and yours.

      Delete
  2. Alan, nothing like a couple of hrs in brook trout forest. Love that color soft hackle this time of year. My gosh those trout are colorful. Hope you and your family a wonderful Christmas.

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    1. Brad Basehore
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      Brad my thought was to fish a dark fly, possibly mimicking those small stoneflies that are about this time of year.
      Merry Christmas.

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  3. All I can say is, beautiful, all the way around! Merry Christmas to you and your family Alan. Thank you for your blog. I thoroughly enjoy and eagerly look forward to visiting it each time. Several times a week. Thank you.
    James
    SW Florida

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    1. J Hayes
      Thanks
      James I hope to continue bringing my adventures and rants. I appreciate your visiting and commenting.
      May you and your family have a Merry Christmas.

      Delete
  4. Sometimes there just seems to be not enough fishing hours in a day. Merry Merry and Happy Happy from our home to yours.

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    1. Mark Kautz
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      Mark buddy there never is.
      Mat all at Casa Kautz have a Merry Christmas.

      Delete
  5. Alan, I am glad you got out if even for a short while. It is good for the soul this time of year, especially when you connect with those beauties.

    Merry Christmas and Best Regards, Sam

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    1. Parachute Adams
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      Sam it was so peaceful out there, then the brookies got in the act.
      Merry Christmas Sam and family.

      Delete
  6. Hello my friend Alan, I hope you're having a good winter season, I see that you're still fishing in the stream, that fine with me. I wish you and your family a very good Christmas night and even more prosperous new year. I greet you cordially.

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    1. Armando Milosevic
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      Armando, I am enjoying my time on the stream. The cold is a bit tough to deal with but the fish will warm things up.
      My friend I hope you and your family have a very Merry Christmas.

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  7. Alan
    Outstanding post and adventure on a wild brook trout stream. Beautiful wild jewels. Even a short time standing in the river is time well spent.

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    1. TROUT1
      Thanks
      Pete you feel real good when you walk in a stream, and even better when your able to bring one to hand.
      Merry Christmas buddy.

      Delete
  8. Beautiful fish and stream. I was out this afternoon for a short time, caught a 16" rainbow on a streamer, lost another half way into the fight.

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    1. Michael Capurso
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      Mike a 16 inch bow is an awesome catch. It apparently found that meaty streamer satisfying.
      Well done.

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  9. Alan, lovely little stream and pretty trout. Short fishing trips can often be the most productive. Maybe the time limits makes us more observant and careful. It might also be a maths thing. Two or three trout in half an hour seems more productive than the same number in a longer session. Not that it's about numbers!
    Cheers and Merry Christmas,
    Steve.

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    Replies
    1. Steve Hynes
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      Steve short trips concentrate your fishing. One or two flies and fish the hell out of them. Your best chance come from keeping your fly in the water.
      Merry Christmas mate.

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  10. Beautiful stream and stunning winter brookies. I love the reference to Electra glide in Blue. Wonder if anyone remembers. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year Alan!

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    1. Howard Levett
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      Howard Robert Blake, how can we not remember. I loved him in Baretta too.
      Merry Christmas Howard and to your family.

      Delete
  11. Can't catch them if you are not there....and you Sir, were there. Nice CGR! Thanks for bringing us along Alan.

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    1. Ralph Long
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      Ralph I have not fished the CGR rod in some time, seems like the Cane and Silk has been the mainstay.
      Merry Christmas Ralph and Merry Christmas to your family.

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  12. well done Alan top notch and on the dry fly too .

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    1. George
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      Yes sir a December dry fly trout.
      We have a real freeze coming.

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  13. I'd love temps in the forties; -11 below here yesterday morning. The color in that Electra Glide really pops when it gets wet. Merry Christmas, Alan, and thanks for all the great posts.

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    1. mike
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      11 below, wow.
      All I can say better in your back yard than in mine.
      There was a bit of ice dub and it did OK.
      Merry Christmas.

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  14. Good day Alan. When you fish your area’s smaller waterways with your short Cane and Silk rod, what are you using for line/leaders? I recently picked up a 6’ vintage Fenwick and would love to try it out on the small streams near the Quabbin. Thank you for your wonderful travelogues and helpful learning tips. Enjoy your family over the holidays.

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  15. Alan
    I can't think of a better way to spend pre Christmas Day---colorful brook trout taken, enjoy Christmas with the family. Thanks for sharing this wonderful blog with all of us over the years!!!

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