Thursday, April 19, 2018

An April Outing

Look at that flow, there will be no rising fish here. That's what most streams looked like after the heavy rains of Monday. Some say it was 2 inches but I think it was much more. I obviously needed to find a small tributary where it would be more manageable and the fish would actually be able to go after my fly and not be swept away. Well I found such a stream but there was evidence that it to was under heavy flooding. Many of the tangles that were in stream before were now gone..I should really say is they were moved but actually not gone.



A nice run that in the past held some nice natives. Several flies offered but no takers.


Just upstream I fished this run-small pool area. Last fall I hooked a beautiful brookie here and lost it. I gave him the name "orange flanks" because of his vibrant orange colored sides.


I drifted the fly and as it entered the deeper pool a fish struck. Seconds later this beautiful wild creature was at hand. Impressive colored spots were observed.


I laid my rod down on a rock to change my tippet. Glancing down I saw an insect. Can you see it? Can you identify it?


Moving upstream I managed a few more hook-ups on various flies.


In a soft spot behind a rock I found this....a tough fellow who valued his freedom and put on a show to prove it. After a quick photo he gained his freedom and a big thank you from a grateful angler.


Another sign of spring. Notice the color at the base of the plant and notice the color....


...of the body of this fly. It was my best producer this day. Do you recall the post I did on "Trout Flies and Flowers"......maybe there's something to it.












24 comments:

  1. Alan
    Despite the heavy rains and increase flows your streams look beautifully clear and the trout appear to be in top condition. My local stream looks like a mini Mississippi when have any substantial rainfall and takes an age to fine down. After a very long winter we have hit a window of very fine weather indeed this week so I will be out this weekend for my first 'proper' outing of the season.
    Alistair

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    1. Anonymous
      Thanks
      Alistair, the streams come up fast, but also come down fast. Some of the rivers will take on that chocolate milk look for a spell.
      I hope you'll have your time on the river very soon. Are you going to fish those North Country flies?

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    2. Alan,
      My cast will be sure to include a few North Country Spiders......
      Alistair

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    3. I'm looking forward to your report.

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  2. Alan
    Rivers and streams look to be in great shape, cold and clear. Beautiful photos of the stream and the colors on that brookie are just gorgeous. One of these days I will join you again.

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    1. TROUT1
      Thanks
      Pete a couple of streams were out of control, but that's better than no water. The little streams were doing fine. Brookies are in great shape, and I'm sure we'll get at them again.

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  3. As always a pleasure to look at both the landscape and those wonderfully coloured little trout. The temperature here yesterday reached 89.5 on my shaded max/min mercury thermometer, bizarre weather and not a cloud in the sky this morning at 06.55am either. Is that a Snipe and Purple at the end of the post? It made me feel quite nostalgic! Have a good one. John

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    Replies
    1. The Two Terriers
      Thanks
      John if we could figure out this weather thing we all would be great fishers.
      Actually the fly is tied with hen pheasant hackle...I don't have any snipe. I also use several other feathers along with the purple body. They are effective flies. Those Yorkshire gents knew what they were doing.

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  4. Alan, I'll take a cold/damp Spring over a hot/dry one anytime. Heavy water never disturbs the trout. That's their element. Have you ever watched a trout swim up a dam?

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    1. John Dornik
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      John I have no issues with cold- rainy times, but my knees do. Wild trout can adapt to some serious conditions, as opposed to stockies.
      I have never witnessed trout swimming up a dam. I have seen them attempting to leap one though.
      We have several ponds in the complex where I live. And I have witnessed those little minnows trying to swim up a small dam.

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  5. Very nice played my friend! That was quick a deluge of rain and even the small streams were up.

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    1. Mark Wittman
      Thanks
      Mark an incredible amount of rain in a short period of time. They rebounded quickly though.

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  6. Alan
    I would say this is the wettest spring we've had in years. As I type this I was thinking of wetting fly on the Sipsey today; but because of all the rain the generator will be running force blast all day and over the weekend----really had it with all the rain!!! Glad you made a connection on some clear water---thanks for sharing

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    1. Bill Trussell
      Thanks
      Bill sees as if you guys had the rain, we have had snow cold and now rain. It will help us in the future.

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  7. As is always the case, Alan, this is an excellent post. It never ceases to amaze me how you are able to find beautiful water with fish in it under nearly all conditions.

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    1. William Shuck
      Thanks
      Bill I'm fortunate to have some gorgeous streams available close by. There are times when I strike out, but that's very much a part of it.

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  8. Alan, I thank you for always remembering to show off a little more than beautiful fish. As time goes on it becomes almost more important.

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    1. Howard Levett
      Thanks
      Howard as I have said many times, being out there is as great as catching a fish. In time we all come to that conclusion.

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  9. Alan, we received a lot of rain ourself, I'm sure we will be glad for all this water come summer. Your persistence paid dividends, beautifully marked fish.i really like your choice of flies.

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    1. Brad Basehore
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      Brad our ground water tanks are filling and with a bit of rain weekly it should keep things moving nicely.
      April is rolling along but the streams are still cold and the fish are not super active until mid-day.

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  10. The spring certainly paints those fish pretty don't it? Is that a little tan caddis under the cork?

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    1. Ralph Long
      Thanks
      Ralph spring will bring many forms of color to the landscape, as well as the inhabitants of the streams.
      Good ID on the fly.

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  11. Beautiful photos, Alan. Well done figuring out a more manageable tributary where the brook trout would be taking cover.

    Many people complain about the cold and the rain, but my mind set says bring it on being it so good for our free stone streams around here. All I ask for is enough warmth and sun to give me good tomatoes come August.

    Best, Sam

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    1. Parachute Adams
      Thanks
      Sam as I read your comments this morning I had to chuckle. Just enough sun to give you good tomatoes come August. I have suffered since last October for the taste of a natural native tomato. Can tomatoes will work fine for cooking, but for eating, which I do like an apple you can't beat fresh local tomatoes.

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