Go to the stream, cast a few flies and catch brookies. What's the big deal right. I have said a few times that small stream brookies do not play by the rules. Show a brook trout a bright, gaudy fly and bring him to hand. As I fished a stream last week I was again taken to school by those not to smart brook trout.
A lovely piece of trout water. This time of year you expect the trout to be holding bottom. While looking closer I noticed a rise, not uncommon it happens even on cold days. But the rises kept coming and I determined it was more then one fish doing it. So I reached into the box and plucked a bomber, it was tied on and sent into action. Four or five drifts and nothing. Elk hair caddis up next, same result. Lights go on and I'm thinking that they are taking just under the surface. I tied on a soft-hackle and it fared like the caddis and bomber. All the while they kept on rising. The only flies left were a streamer or a nymph. I selected the nymph. First cast fish on, and soon fish off. A few more casts and a take with a good hookup.
The first fish to hand, and the only fish to hand. A couple of more hookups with none to hand...why did these brookies take a nymph? Rising to nymphs? Thus the lesson and a lesson learned and filed.
Some fine hackle on display. Stream side oddity.
The of the best things about fishing is never being able to 100% figure it out. I'll bet those chickens would cringe if they knew the thoughts you were having about their feathers.
ReplyDeleteJJ
Beaverdam
DeleteThanks
Joe it's that uncertainty that keeps us going back. I think the rooster was on to me.
They do play by the rules... we humans just haven't figured out all the rules yet!
ReplyDeleteRM Lytle
DeleteThanks
Rowan you may have something there.
Seems I'm taken to school every time I step on the stream. The more I learn the more I know how much more I need to know. Chickens are so useful; they're the Swiss army knife of farm animals.
ReplyDeletemike
DeleteThanks
Mike they say you should learn something every day. On the stream we do. They do keep the insects under control and it's all natural.
Even brook trout get finicky once in a while I guess, Alan. Those you encountered seemed to be dialed in to what they were eating and that was all they wanted. I have found same on the Swift sometimes. I got a chuckle out of your barn yard hackle comment. Once one starts tying flies, we see more than food when it comes to chickens.
ReplyDeleteSam
DeleteThanks
Sam they were at that time on that day. That rooster had one gorgeous golden badger cape. Would make for some beautiful streamers.
Hi Alan, Much more true of big water, like the ocean but sometimes feeding turns on and off, like a light switch. I've had it happen with trout where they reject everything then "bingo" they become nonselective and chase and hit with abandon.
ReplyDeleteYour mileage may vary.
John Dornik
DeleteThanks
John it's quite true as you said. But selective small stream brookies, that's not common. And to rise to a nymph something was a bit odd.
Hi Alan
ReplyDeleteAs the late great Andre Puyans used to say "When I look at a chicken, I see a trout......"!
Thanks
Alistair
Alistair
DeleteThanks
Most see dinner, now there is a trout angler.
Those thorn's sure guard a lot of good trout water :)
ReplyDeleteHibernation
DeleteThanks
Will many a wader has paid the ultimate price trying to pass. The phrase "I bleed for these fish" was coined in such places.
Alan
ReplyDeleteTrying to figure out what fly the fish is going to hit or if they're feeding surface or subsurface is what makes this great sport so intriguing. Notice I said fish, I've seen bluegill, bass and crappie become finicky as well as trout.
I pat myself on the back when I make a connection with a particular fly that the fish want!! Thanks for sharing
Bill Trussell
DeleteThanks
Bill what a money making book if we could only figure it out. Then what would be the challenge if we knew.
Tell yourself "job well done"...
Goes back to the saying "You have to give them what they want". Only problem is figuring out what that is.
ReplyDeleteMark Kautz
DeleteThanks
Mark and when we figure that out, it's game over. So we hope.
Alan,
ReplyDeleteI am in total agreement with what Bill T. said above! He said it very well! Sorry to ride in on your coat tails Bill but what you said is exactly what was in my mind and heart!
Another excellent post Alan especially with the skinny waters and non-descript nymph! It looks so simple yet, so deadly effective!
Dougsden
Dougsden
DeleteThanks
Good morning from frozen Connecticut. It will be a few weeks before the daffodils bloom but we are positive here.
Your mention of a non-descript nymph highlights what small stream brookie fishing is. I wish you and my other readers could experience the joy and beauty of fishing a small stream.
Hi Alan, every time I pass by a farm and see the roosters I want to take one home ...
ReplyDeleteArmando Milosevic
DeleteThanks
Armando take one home to be a pet or to have streamer hackle? When they are "fixed" when small they make excellent eating..capon.
Hi Alan, really nice work on your soft hackles. Do you remove one side of the hackle fibers before you wrap or do you use the whole feather with less wraps?
ReplyDelete