"Whitewater Pool"

Small streams don't usually have their pools named, unlike larger rivers which do. These little blue lines change to much from season to season. A large dead fall can change the direction of water to create a new channel, massive clumps of woody debris can cause a nice pool to become silted over and change the ability of it to hold trout.

But the pool at the base of a waterfall usually remains constant especially when the falls are created by rock put there by nature thousands of years before. This is one such pool, I have named "Whitewater Pool". The first time I fished the pool I was impressed with the depth of it, the nice undercut in rock it provided as well as the swirling water created by the falls. On that day the sun was shinning brightly. I cast a dry fly into the pool hoping to see a wild brook trout rise quickly, but that did not happen. Many more attempts to bring a fish to the surface failed. I was not discouraged by the lack of response for I new that this beautiful pool had to hold a nice trout.

On my next visit to this small stream the conditions were a bit different. The pool was cast in some shadow and the flow was a bit slower. I cast a dry fly into the pool and suddenly a small brookie rose in a splash but missed the fly. Several more casts produced nothing. I then tied on a Picket Pin, a wonderful fly for taking brookies. Only this one was tied with a yellow tail and wing. I cast it and it floated a bit before the water pulled it under. As I started to retrieve the fly I saw the trout move to it, but darted for cover swiftly. On a second cast made up into the falls the steel made contact. After a brief, but admirable struggle a beautiful brook trout was at hand.

"Whitewater Pool" This pool has been here for centuries and holding brook trout. My hope is that it remains as such.

The big boy of "Whitewater Pool". He is truly a gift, and a pleasure to hold. He was released back into the pool, hopefully we can meet again.

An apple never tasted so sweet.

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Hemlock And Laurel

I started to write this about an hour ago as I was finishing a cup of Nantucket. But it was put on hold as I listened to the free concert out my window. The birds are exceptionally vocal, or should I say their volume is exceptionally loud. Well it's a sweet sound and it put me in a nice frame of mind. Combined with another cup of "joe" I might be able to type a decent report.

Hemlocks and laurel seem to grow very well together along the small streams I fish. Together they perform a valuable service to the brook trout that call these streams home. The hemlock grow big and provide necessary shade to keep the waters cool. Their root structure holds the soil from washing into the stream. When branches fall from them or when they fall they still provide cover for the brookie as well as food in the form of ants, and beetles which take up home in the decaying tree. The mountain laurel provides cover in the form of natural thick wall which at times you can't penetrate. Together they do a valuable service to wild trout and their streams.

A typical stream. Hemlock and laurel doing their thing.

A wild brook trout taken on a "Bomber" from the stream above.

Beautiful colors.

The hemlock and the laurel doing their part to keep these jewels with us.

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History Changing

A part of fly fishing history is undergoing a change. Upper Dam Maine is being rebuilt. This place is where the Gray Ghost was created and fished by Carrie Stevens, and cast from one of the concrete piers into the swirling waters of the pool where she hooked a 6lb. 13oz brook trout. Since that day in 1924 many anglers have fished these waters. I to have fished here many times and have so many wonderful memories of hooking brook trout and salmon both on streamers and dry flies. There is a need to rebuild this old dam, but will it change the way the waters swirl within this huge pool. I guess we'll have to see.

A pier I have fished many times. This is the last time I fished it. The net in the photo was dropped into the water and lost. Perhaps it lies in the bottom of the pool.

"Carries Favorite"

This is a streamer I tied by hand. I did not use a vise. The only tools used were a bobbin to hold the thread, and a pair of scissors. This is the way that Mrs. Stevens tied her streamers. The stone that the fly in photographed on was taken from one of the piers of the dam.

You can find out more of this streamer challenge here http://globalflyfisher.com/streamers/guest/challenge2/

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"Fire in the Mountains"

These are some memories of time spent in the mountains of Maine.

Golden friends.

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