Saturday, March 24, 2018

A Visit To Brook Trout Forest

This was an outing that I took on the last day of February. As I entered the dirt service road that leads to the stream I was amazed to see it was actually driveable by something other than a 4x4. The only issue was the shoulders which were very suspect. The morning felt like April, warm sunshine a cloudless sky, and not a breeze. I had hoped to visit this stream which runs through "brook trout forest" earlier in the new year but weather conditions did not warrant the long trip. This is a stream I know well from my many trips here over many years. It is a stunning piece of real estate with all of the peace and solitude a small stream angler could ask for.

Please come along with me.


The Honda parked in the soft shoulder of the road. As the tires sank into the mud not a worry crossed my mind for this was the start of a day I had waited for for almost a year. Worry was to come at the end of the day as I walked back. I had taken a rod that I have not fished in years a Cabela's TQR 5' 2wt graphite.


The little forest stream. It doesn't look like a winter setting.


This section of stream has alway's been a favorite of mine. Spring is a good time to fish this section for the reason the briars are in check. Come May you can forget it. In the photo you can see a fallen tree in the stream. Just a short way up from it on the right you can see a tree. That tree has a platform that I stand on that enables me to fish the run. I have used that tree platform for a lot of years.


This wild jewel was lurking in the broken water just downstream from my platform.


There are several of these seeps that flow into the stream. I enjoy walking up them to see whats in them. Along this one I saw nothing in the stream but I flushed two woodcock. They must have been shocked when March came around.


The sun shinning down on the amber waters. Any angler who see a spot like this knows there has to be a trout there. Several drifts of the fly and....


....another healthy wild brook trout was at hand.


Another trout hot spot. Several hookups but nothing to hand.


Now this section looks like tidewater in a coastal stream, maybe it is? I walked along the bank and saw several fish scatter. I was willing to accept the fact I was not going to be able to fish this section. Vibrations and shadows were killing me. So I cast the fly out and just let the current take the fly as far as it would. It drifted and it was eaten.


Another wild one. So my day was nearing an end. I moved to higher ground which made the walk back much easier.


Remember the platform, here it is. The roots still hold the bank and still hold the angler who loves this place, this stream and all who dwell in "brook trout forest".













26 comments:

  1. Hi Alan, Lovely stream, lovely brookies but that carbon rod has zero appeal to me. Sorry Alan but that's the way I view things (your mileage may vary). As always great blog. Keep up the good work.

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    Replies
    1. John Dornik
      Thanks
      John that rod is an enigma..most fly rods seem to best when you step up one line weight, this one does not, it's a 2wt and that's what works. Another oddity is the reel seat, it should be slide rings and it is not. For it's size it should be difficult to cast, but it handled the Farmy, and it's larger fish.
      Truth be, I was dusting the rod rack and decided to fish a few of my other rods. Nice day today.

      Delete
  2. Alan
    Great post. Beautiful photos of the brookies and the stream. Just gorgeous colors in the scenery. Can't wait til we see some greenery here.

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    Replies
    1. TROUT1
      Thanks
      Pete I think we are on our way to much better weather. I know the fishing as of late has fallen off, transition I guess.

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  3. Very nice trip you had there Alan.... beautiful brook trout stream.

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    Replies
    1. Doug Korn Fly Tyer
      Thanks
      Doug I waited almost a year to get back to that stream. I promise you I be back soon.

      Delete
  4. Compared to the road we take to Upper Blue Lake, your road in, is a super highway. I'll have to post some pictures next trip up.

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    Replies
    1. Mark Kautz
      Thanks
      Mark I was really surprised how well that road held up. It was actually better than some town roads.

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  5. Alan, once again thank you for bringing us along. Beautiful fish, and I love early in the season before vegetation which allows you to "see" the stream.

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    1. Ralph Long
      Thanks
      Ralph now is a good time to scout some new water. Those briars are hell when they get warmed up.

      Delete
  6. That's a beautiful stream, Alan; and I'm soooooo jealous of your lack of snow. Snow banks are going down up here but there's still a long way to go.

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    Replies
    1. mike
      Thanks
      Mike since I visited that stream we have been graced by 4 nor'easters. Luckily things have begun to take on a spring like tone. I feel sorry for you, winter hangs on a long time up north.

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  7. That stream looks so clean and fresh Alan, I am so jealous......
    My local stream is still suffering from our recent snow storms here in the UK and is unseasonably cold and carrying a lot of colour! Here in North Yorks., it was the start of our trout season on Thursday just gone but I decided to miss the 1st day (the first time since 2011!) and wait until things warm and clear a little.
    Alistair

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous
      Thanks
      Alistair I hear you have been tasting winter in a nasty way. It must have been bad for you not to be streamside come opening day. Better days are ahead friend.

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  8. Just beautiful Alan. It really can't get much better than this, especially in February.

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    Replies
    1. Howard Levett
      Thanks
      Howard that day was one for the journal. It'll be a long time before I get another February day like that.

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  9. I am surprised you flushed a couple of woodcock in February, Alan. I didn't think any would be this far north yet returning from warmer climes. They knew where to hunt for their worms along that small seep, but I bet March was tough on them as cold as it was. Beautiful brookies and great strategy letting the fly drift down on that quiet water so as not to cast a shadow. Sometimes that is the only way.

    Best Regards, Sam

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    Replies
    1. Parachute Adams
      Thanks
      Sam I have seen them this early in previous years. Last year I took a video of one doing a courtship dance. The ground around that seep was very moist and the cover was prime. On the list for some hunting action come fall.
      That long line drift was my only chance to get a fish, happily it worked.

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  10. I can just imagine adding a drop of that clear water to a drop of Scotch Whisky while staring back into the stream. Just beautiful. Sigh. John

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    Replies
    1. The Two Terriers
      Thanks
      John, a lovely thought.

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  11. Alan, looking at that stream I can see that you have to put some thought into how your going to present your fly. A lot of fishermen would have walked by some of that water. Nice results from your platform. Thankyou.

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    Replies
    1. Brad Basehore
      Thanks
      Brad I learned to fish like that from my times fishing Red Brook. You have water just like that and those long drifts are what work.
      That platform came in handy when I fished that stream wearing only hiking boots. It gave me a little more stretch without getting my feet wet.

      Delete
  12. Alan
    The 5 ft. combo was a perfect selection to compliment the waters of this beautiful stream. I enjoyed the journey---thanks for sharing

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    Replies
    1. Bill Trussell
      Thanks
      Bill the rod performed well, as did most everything that day.

      Delete
  13. Cant really get any better than that Alan, well done mate

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