Wednesday, January 2, 2019

On the board, an awesome New Years Day Meet

Yesterday morning a few of us got together for now what is quite a special day in our lives. The annual New Years Day fishing meet. It was held at a small stream we have fished before and a favorite stream of our buddy Pete who passed away last July. When we got there the sky was not friendly, thick clouds took hold and a drizzle started to fall. The temperature was balmy by January standards and we were promised by the weather guessers that the sun would come out. While we got our gear together Kirk broke out the Dunkin coffee and the plastic donuts, a name given to those little chocolate covered donuts by Mark several years ago. I might add they are pretty good. While drinking coffee we laid out a game plan that was to fish until about noon and then go back and have lunch.



Mark and I headed upstream while Kirk headed downstream. We fished for sometime before Mark had what was the first bump and hookup. The fish was not going to be subdued and left. This is pretty much what happened for a log time. Different flies but the same result. We would take a hit and soon the fish was off.


Mark working the soft spots. I would also like to add the stream was up and off color. A swift current did not help us.


I worked up to a waterfall. Below was a deep pool and some real fast water. I had a streamer on the "doe tail"...I cast into a soft eddy and worked the streamer through it. "Bang" the fish struck and it was game on. He new the pool and showed me his moves. A few moments later and he was at hand. The brown was my first trout of 2019.


While at the falls Kirk joined us and relayed the same info which was strike and no hookup. We headed back to the vehicles for lunch. While warming up the deer stew the small stove and the pot on fell over. The stew went one way and the stove another. Quick thinking on Marks part saved a potential fire. He got the stove upright and shut off. We managed to salvage three good bowls of the stew and along with some biscuits and coffee all was good again.




The afternoon spot was a tributary that is know to have a few brookies. Here is Kirk working the stream. Again it was the same results as the morning, a strike and a long distance release. Mark while fishing a verity flies finally tied on a classic wet fly, "Silver Doctor" he though it would be great to take his first trout of the year on a classic fly...unfortunately the trout did not respond.


A first of the year wild brookie taken by Kirk. The fly a soon to be classic..Bomber Wet....


Mark, Myself and Kirk
We had a great day. I enjoyed sharing to first day of 2019 fishing with these guys...the tradition continues.














34 comments:

  1. Sorry I missed it guys.
    Not only was wifey sick but I caught her cold as well.
    I’ll see you gents on a small stream sometime this year.
    I’m sure Pete has a smile.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Apache Trout
      Thanks
      John we missed you as well. I have you penciled in for 2020. See you on a stream.

      Delete
  2. Any day that involves good friends, trout, and a venison stew is going to be a good one. I think you should tie a hackle collar and and tail onto one of those donuts for next year.

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    Replies
    1. mike
      Thanks
      Mike those three reasons you just stated are reason to keep this tradition. What to name that soft-hackle? How about the "hole hackle fly"?

      Delete
  3. Ah Little Debbie. I remember the chocolate icing tasted like wax. :-)

    Glad you had a nice trip. I'll not be fishing here for a few weeks.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. bill piatek
      Thanks
      Bill wax is very kind, I'll leave it at that.
      Is it rain or snow that's going to put the brakes on your fishing?

      Delete
    2. Mostly cold (low teens) but we got about 5-6 inches of snow with double that on my streams. Iced over in a lot of spots. This is record cold for us.

      Delete
    3. Bill, tough fishing conditions for you. That ice that forms along a stream is so dangerous.
      Would you like another book recommendation? Reading is awesome on cold snowy nights. 45 here today

      Delete
    4. Yes, please. Your last recommendation was pure pleasure.

      Have you read Robert Traver's books? Trout Madness and Trout Magic?

      Delete
    5. Bill I have read both of them. How about "Voelkers Pond" by Ed Wargin and James McCullough. That book sits right on my desk where I do my fly tying.
      "Leaves from a Steelheaders Diary" by John Alevras...I don't fish for steehead but this book I could not put down.

      Delete
    6. I read Voelker's Pond also. I'll have to check out your suggestion. Speaking of Steelhead and Salmon how about Rodrick Haig-Brown's books?

      Delete
    7. I have never read any of Haig-Brown's books.

      Delete
  4. Alan - thanks for the stew and the company once again! So glad you caught that brown where you did, the same pool that Pete caught his first brown of 2014, the last year he was able to fish with us on NYD. I had forgotten how long he had battled with cancer

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mark Wittman
      Thanks
      Mark it was a fine way for us to start a New Year.
      Pete was one hell of a fighter. We all miss him.

      Delete
  5. Fishing is never just about the fishing

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bureboyblog
      Thanks
      Truer words were never spoken my friend.

      Delete
  6. Looks awesome as usual! Glad you all enjoyed it!
    Happy 2019

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hibernation
      Thanks
      Will it was a great way to bring in 2019.
      Happy New Year.

      Delete

  7. Looks like a great day with good friends, food and pretty fish.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Michael Capurso
      Thanks
      Mike it was all there, and an awful lot of wonderful conversation.

      Delete
  8. Brk Trt, it looks like a successful day on the stream. Though it is the goal, the fish caught is secondary. Being with friends, fly fishing, enjoying and experiencing the overall day is the real winner!! Happy 2019

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. DRYFLYGUY
      Thanks
      Phil the fish is icing on what was a special cake. We had a special day.
      Happy New Year

      Delete
  9. Alan, what a wonderful trip! Happy 2019!

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    Replies
    1. Tom Davis
      Thanks
      Tom a good kick to start the 2019 fishing engine.
      Happy New Year

      Delete
  10. What a great way to usher in 2019, Alan! I am glad the weather cooperated as did a few trout. The save of the day was Mark with the stove and stew. I bet that sure tasted good after fishing all morning. I like those "plastic donuts" too by the way with a good cup of black coffee.

    Best, Sam

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Parachute Adams
      Thanks
      Sam that stove turning over could have been an awful disaster. Those donuts are actually not to bad, but as nice jelly donut from Dunkin would have been much better.
      Good start to the year though.

      Delete
  11. Friends, fishing, food and fine memories. It all added up to a memorable day. Thank you yet again for taking all of us along with you, Alan. We were there in spirit. I hope some day that I can physically join you on the stream. Until that day, there is Small Stream Reflections.
    Kindest Regards,
    Steve.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Steve Hynes
      Thanks
      Steve the day had all of the necessities to make it great. It would be nice to fish with you. Who knows?

      Delete
  12. A perfect way to start the year, a lovely stream, balmy weather, some trout and remembering a friend. All the be,st John

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous
      Thanks
      John days like that don't seem to happen enough. We were glad we had this one.
      Now if winter just stays like it's been....

      Delete
  13. Missed you all, but I made up for it with a very special fish in FL. Here's to a good 2019!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. RM Lytle
      Thanks
      Rowan it was like fishing in April weather wise. Kirk waited until the afternoon to take a wetting.
      Happy New Year

      Delete
  14. Alan
    What a great tradition to make happen each year, and to spend it with close friends is what makes it special. Let's hope this wet winter will end soon; looking forward to spring. Thanks for sharing

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bill Trussell
      Thanks
      Bill if the winter we have had so far continues it will be fine with me. Only one snow event so far this season, and it has not been exceptionally cold either. It won't last though.

      Delete