Cold weather has been with us for a few weeks. We generally adapt and our bodies figure it out and adjust to it. On this morning I fished a stream that I'm familiar with and sort of felt at home. One issue was that I felt like I left my coat at home. Dressed for a thirty five degree day somehow didn't cut it and I felt a chill as I walked to the stream. The area was snow covered and several spots were icy and slippery. The stream itself had no ice in it or built up along the side. I tossed out a soft hackle and surprisingly it brought a strike. I continued to fish that fly but could not get another strike. I figured out after awhile where the best chances were in the stream to find fish. I also switched flies to a soft hackle tied on a heavier hook which brought the fly down deeper in the water. That did the trick.
This winter brookie was typical of the fish hooked today. Very healthy and quite feisty. I did try a couple of dry flies just to see the reaction and that was 'none'...take note of the brilliant clarity of the water.
Well after two hours my old bones could not deal with the cold. I walked back to the car and headed home. In the thirty minute drive home and the heat blasting I still was cold.
Hot soup and 'boiling hot' tea helped to defrost the insides, but the chill was with me for most of the night....I'm happy to say I now feel great.
Be careful on the ice, Alan. That soup looks amazing.
ReplyDeletemike
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I'm careful it's just that first cold day needs to get through the system....I'm fine now.
I too wandered out in the cold yesterday. Snow was not in my way ,it was all above 3500'. The Blue Ridge Pkwy was closed for a while. I dredged may fly along the bottom and had a lovely trip for the Rainbows. Thank you for your Blog.
ReplyDeleteRay
Ray
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Winter has touched the south east. I've heard that the snows can get to impressive depths in the mountains. Dry files are now reduced real estate in the fly box.
Alan
ReplyDeleteBeautiful winter image; the older I get the harder it is for me to deal with the cold weather. The coldest we've been here in Jasper this year is 25 at night and 45 during the day. Thanks for sharing
Bill Trussell
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Bill it seems that I need that one good chill to get my body accustomed to winter. I know as we age the blood thins. 25 is quite cold.
Well the weather and fishing were fine here above 6500 ft. About high 50's and lots of stocker bows. Tomorrow will be a different story with snow.
ReplyDeletebillp
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Bill that ever changing weather. Glad you were able to take advantage of getting out.
Alan,
ReplyDeleteIt's strange how some days the cold can get a hold of you and refuse to let go. On days like that it is no crime to turn your thoughts to a warm house and a hot meal. You have earned that simple comfort. Enjoy.
JJ
Beaverdam
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Joe that cold wraps itself around you and just squeezes. But that bowl of hot soup helps break that chill.
When it gets in your bones it's home time
ReplyDeleteBureboyblog
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Yes sir home was first on my mind. I see you pack soup when you fish. Maybe I'll try it.
I fished in the Driftless Area yesterday, 49 degree water temps, air at 54 degrees and no snow. Fishing wasn't great but the company, weather and scenery were. Life is good.
ReplyDeletedpnoll
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Dave those are some lovely numbers for near mid December.
And yes "life is good"....
Hi Alan- the cold has pretty much forced me to use my free time at the tying bench and not the river. Time to fill in the holes, work on new patterns and techniques. When my fingers get wet and cold they seem to only tie knots that fail. As I write this somewhere in the swift river there swims a really big rainbow who's mocking me because the blood knot I rushed failed. Anyway I know you will continue to tough it out whenever possible so- Last year a few of us recommended the Davy knot especially for cold days. It's super easy to tie even with frozen fingers and instructions can be found on the net easily. Did you ever get a chance to try it?
ReplyDeleteStay warm!
Dean
Dean F
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Dean that rainbow is yours and it will come to the master.
I have tried the knot you suggested. And I must say as a fly tyer I can work the thread but that knot still has to be worked on.
Beautiful looking stream, and healthy looking trout! Thanks for sharing. My strategies on streams like this is in warmer months is almost always dry flies, I've been trying to master the art of wet flies in small streams now that its cold again, and I'm having some trouble. How do you like to fish wets in brooks like this? I've cast it as I would a dry, controlled the slack but have trouble tracking the fly, I've fed the fly downstream, let it swing and stripped back up, this has worked a bit. Anyway, if you have any presentation tips for subsurface flies like a partridge & orange or royal coachman, I'd love to read them.
ReplyDeleteAndrew D
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Andrew I very seldom fish a wet fly upstream. Many say that this is how soft hackles should be fished. Not for me. I like casting down stream, feed out some line and let the fly drift naturally. On your retrieve pulse the fly, strip a bit and allow the fly to hang momentarily and then continue. I also like to let the fly sink to where it hits the bottom. You have to guess how long that will take by the flow of the stream. Once you think you have it on the bottom twitch it a bit and sometimes that can be effective. The Leisenring lift can also be applied. Experiment and have fun.
Hi Alan. A little slow getting here. Spent all day yesterday trying to figure out how one of my distant relatives had two sets of parents. Still working on it. Just the snow pictures gave me a chill, but the soup, mmmm warmed right up.
ReplyDeleteMark Kautz
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Mark 2 sets of parents can present a few issues. Yeah we have a lot of snow coming in the next week. The soup stock pot will being pressed into service again.
A day well spent, Alan, topped off by willing native brookies and hot soup and tea. That is living.
ReplyDeleteI fished for a couple hours myself on Friday after work. Finally got out of my prolonged slump and hooked a nice rainbow in a slack zone between two current runs. I hardly felt the hit but sure enough when I pulled up I had connected.
Best, Sam
Sam
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Sam it's good you had a chance to fish and hookup. Looks like some snow events coming our way this week. Today was a gorgeous day...
Great stuff Alan, that soup looks good. The last of our Jerusalem artichokes will be harvested this week for soup, antipasto and roasting. proper winter warmers! Stay safe, John
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