"Epitome"

Brook trout fishing, brook trout fishing in New England in particular may mean tossing a fly into those famed rivers in Maine, or perhaps a back country spring fed pond in Vermont that has been held a secret to a few over the years. There are the large lakes of New Hampshire, and Massachusetts where trolling a fly will bring a bend in the rod. Rhode Island, while not know for their brook trout, as they are for stripped bass, do have a few beautiful brookie streams.

My native state of Connecticut is gifted with many streams that hold and sustain wild brook trout. The Farmington River while not a small stream does have wild population of brook trout. To me this is fine and well accepted. But  the "epitome" of wild brook trout fishing is a small freestone stream.

These streams have been flowing this way for years. They were dammed at one time or another, perhaps sustained a man made mishap, and natural disasters that are countless. Still they survive as do the brook trout that call them home. It is on these streams that you'll find me. As a matter of fact they will be my choice for almost all of my fishing. I believe this to be because I have never experienced a bad day on them, not meaning in terms of catching brookies, because there are skunks out there, but the whole small stream experience.

The "Ausable Bomber". This fly is the creation of Fran Betters. In the back of Frans mind I believe he created it for small streams and wild brookies. These "Bombers" were tied from materials from Frans shop. "Bombers" have taken brook trout in every month of the year. The "Bomber" is the "epitome" of a small stream fly.

A small stream that I fished Monday. The fly used was the "Bomber" Letting it work in pool, riffle and run. There were lots of brookies rising to it and even a few to hand.

Christmas 2014

Wishing all a Merry Christmas.

May the light and peace of this time carry you through the New Year.

Some Pokings

Last Friday night Jeanette and I attended a Kenny Rogers concert. We both are lovers of Kenny's music and have followed him since his days with the First Edition. Kenny did not fail to give a great performance, singing many of his hits as well as lending some of the stories about his life both in song and some of his "sort" of private thoughts. Kenny recently had a knee replacement and was a bit on the sore side, but did his best to entertain. One observation that I made while enjoying the show was the fact of a very distinct odor the permeated the hall. Back in 1967 that probably would have been some tobacco know as marijuana but in 2014 it was the smell of "Ben Gay"........Great show Kenny and Linda.

Back awhile, maybe in early Spring Kirk had given me a pocket first aid kit. It was small and compact and contained all the stuff need for a small emergency in the field. The kit was placed in my sling pack and kind of forgotten. When my son and I headed off to Pennsylvania to seek whitetails I placed the kit in my field pack that I carry while hunting. So the time is at hand, deer down and the need for field dressing it. So the first cuts start, no big deal it's been done many times. Well as I was drawing the knife up to the brisket I had the feeling of cold fingers. Well cold fingers, and sharp knives don't mix, and soon I found myself bleeding from my thumb. Wiping the wound I could see it was deep. I reached into my pack and retrieved the first aid kit. I took out the bigger bandaids. Sticking my finger in the snow to help slow the bleeding, I them wiped the finger and put on a bandaid. Well in a minute or two the bandaid could not hold. I put two more on and they did not fare well. In the plastic bag that was with the kit was a roll of black plastic tape. Army training kicked in and I improvised a tight dressing that stopped the bleeding. Not pretty but effective.

The other day in the mail I received a package and a card. They were from Mark, "Fishing Small Streams"....The package contained some beautifully tied parachute patterns. They are tied in a range of sizes, and one pattern in particular caught my eye. The fly had a purple body and while I'm not familiar with it I'm sure Mark will fill me in on it.

Here is a streamer that was given to me by John, aka Apache Trout. The fly has some Jack Gartside influence, with the pheasant feathers. I don't know the name of the fly, but I'm certain I'll find out.

I would like to make mention of this. I would like to congratulate the "DALLAS COWBOYS" on their winning of the eastern division.

Small Stream Report 12-19-14

A stream in brook trout forest. This little stream that flows through some lovely woodlands, and in the past has been good to me. I had not been here since late August and did not know what to expect. The stream had suffered through a dry late summer and into fall. When I saw it in August it was almost dry in places, not a very good scene.

Since that time we have received ample rains and the stream has been replenished with the main ingredient needed to sustain wild brook trout. I had no idea on what the low water had actually done to the trout. I was hoping for a good day but I also expected little. The day was cloudy and cold with a sometimes brisk wind. The first fly up was a proven fish producer. After fishing it for a half hour without even a bump the thought was the brook trout had fallen on bad times and there numbers had dwindled. I moved upstream to a run/pool that has provided a fish or two on dry flies. I tied on a bomber, what the hell if your not catching trout on flies you might as well not catch them on dry flies. I sent the bomber on a drift and quickly a rise and a miss. Several more attempts and in seemed they liked the bomber.

Finally I was able to hook up. In a few moments I held a wonder. The brook trout was in almost perfect condition. The fish had survived a very bad period of low water as well as the spawn and came through in good shape.

I tied on a small yellow muddler and worked it the pool. Several casts later a brookie struck and soon was at hand.

With a short time left to the fishing day I decided to fish a few deep pools on my way back to the car. I tossed the muddler out and as soon as it stopped its drift a crazy brookie almost launched itself onto the bank to grab the fly. I said to myself no way is this fish coming back. On the second cast it did just that, this time he got stuck.

What the heck is a "muddler" Seems that this stream has a few survivors. Here's hope that this stream in brook trout forest is back.