One of a few outings I enjoyed last week. This is a stream I wrote about several months ago, the post was "I don't know why I don't fish here more often"...it's a pleasure to fish here because of it's easy access. There's no back breaking bending or those high banks with lots of low thorns and brush. The morning was cloudy with a chill. Flies were selected by sight with no real purpose other then "this looks good". The water was clear and a few brookies could be seen darting away. I fished for and hour with only a bump. Well that's winter fishing.
As the time moved to that "it's time to eat" hour the action picked up. In this area, about a fifty yard stretch. The bottom of the stream was all gravel. The water depth was maybe ten inches. It was here that the fish began to play.
The first lady to come to hand. Healthy and very spunky. She took a soft-hackle...as did several others.
I tell you this section of stream was one of the best areas I've fished this winter.
This one was highly spotted, mostly yellow but a few red ones circled with blue halos. The feeding was brief but that's how it is in winter.
Walking out I found this acorn. The squirrel peeled the case and started eating it. The question is why did he abandon it?
Happy New Year to everyone...
Beautiful water, Alan. Here's to a great year and a better new one. Looking forward to your travels in 2020.
ReplyDeletemike
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Mike to you as well. We have a New Years Day meet...looks like the weather here will be good.
Have a great new year Alan. You're right about those feeding windows being short but the good thing is they come later when the sun has warmed our bones.
ReplyDeletebillp
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Bill the sun is our friend come those cold damp days of winter. Thank goodness for wool.
Great pictures of a late December outing. Hopefully we will get a good stretch of above average temperatures with few times of a hard freeze. My guess is the squirrel was full. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteNJpatbee
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Pat I was looking at the weather into next week and it's pretty good for January. But we all know there will be a time to pay. Your probably right about the squirrel.
Nice water. Here's to 2020 Alan.
ReplyDeleteMark Kautz
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Mark I hope 2020 equals 2019...
Wow, beautiful water Alan. That second pic from the top, the run/pool with the log across at the top, overhanging hemlocks and a rock pushing current toward the photographer... I'm sure the fishing is great, but just sitting there watching the water for an hour would be a gift as well!
ReplyDeleteHibernation
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Will I love that stretch. Hemlocks have an effect on brookies, and they're much easier to fish around then the laurel. Many times just being there fills the soul.
Happy New Year Alan, best wishes for you and your family in 2020!
ReplyDeleteAlistair
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Right back at you buddy. Here's to many fish and many spiders.
Still bringing those beautiful brookies to hand Alan! Here's wishing you and yours a Happy and Healthy New Year!
ReplyDeletepenbayman
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Yes Mike I'm still at it. One day I'll get my fill, not really. Good to hear from you and a healthy 2020.
Winter fishing can surely be hit or miss, Alan. Glad you had a fly in the water when the feeding took place and got some good action. This time of year it is nice to fish a zone that we know has trout in it, but is not too hard to get into and fish.
ReplyDeleteI took a few vacation days around the Holidays and fished three times. Action was slow for the most part, but I did connect with a few including a real nice one that slammed the wooly bugger but a few head shakes set it free. I thought I had it hooked pretty well but the veteran fish have a way of getting off.
Wishing you a happy, healthy 2020.
Best,
Sam
Sam
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Sam many years ago I came to the conclusion that brook trout were late risers. I set a starting time for fishing for them to be around 8am, and in winter that time is 10am. Now winter can be a bit harder to pin down an exact time but I found my times to be pretty close.
It's great that you were able to have some free time and be able to fish. This time of year a hook-up is a catch. Wooly bugger is a prime winter fly.
Yes, this is the winter Alan, but still very beautiful those colorful trout with intense spots. I want to wish you a very happy new year and that you continue with the enthusiasm that you put on your blog sharing this beautiful hobby with all of us. A hug and love to Jeannette.
ReplyDeleteArmando Milosevic
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Armand the inspiration to do what I do comes from the trout I seek and the environs they live. And the wonderful responses I get when I post what I love. A hug indeed. The best in 2020.
Alan
ReplyDeleteKeep fishing all these awesome streams for 2020 and I'll keep enjoying every post. Congrats on a fantastic 2019, knowing that 2020 will equal if not surpass----Happy New Year
Bill Trussell
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Bill we have shared some wonderful happenings in 2019. I'm sure you will agree that we both had great years...here's to 2020.
Alan,
ReplyDeleteWow! You are right about this stream! Extremely beautiful waters with easy access and relatively clear banks. Is it hard pressed water because of this? The water itself is inviting and we can see where trout would want to live there!
I suspect that 2020 is going to be a very good year for you and yours! Keep up the good work friend and have a Happy New Year!
Dougsden
Dougsden
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Doug if I see one angler on that stream I will mark it down in the journal. I guess it has some because of the odd worm container I find. I have a few places we want to visit in 2020, and a lot of places to revisit.
I was digging through Robert Smith's, and Sylvester Nemes books the last days and the north country and soft-hackle flies are itching to be tied. A great 2020.
Alan, love your pictures and stories of time a stream. They never fail to brighten my day! I hope to try a little Winter fishing of my own soon and was wondering how you were presenting your soft hackles in such cold water? Dead drift upstream or swinging them? How are you detecting strikes? Any help appreciated. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteJedidiah
Dawgvet
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Jedidiah winter fishing can be quite enjoyable, and getting a trout to take a soft-hackle is even more so.
I very seldom fish an upstream method, even in warmer times. I prefer the downstream method. My favorite way of fishing SH's is a cast of about 5-6' and let the fly drift. At the end of the drift I let the fly remain in sort of a stagnant position for lack of a better description. I'll then twitch the fly as I retrieve it back. I will from time to time speed up the fly retrieve. There are not a whole lot of hatching going on in winter, so be creative.