A November Day

November days, one such day was yesterday. It was bleak with rain in the forecast. I chose to fish a stream that was close to home and did not know what I was going to find. The summer as well as early fall was lacking rainfall and some of the streams have suffered. After gearing up I walked to the stream and found it flowing like early spring. Lots of water. The fly in the batters box was a winged wet, it was there from my last outing. I tossed it out and after many casts I did not take a strike. I moved upstream fishing and enjoying the sights of the woods, and the wind blowing through the leafless trees. I changed flies, the bomber was called to duty. No love for that fly either. A look into the box and another wet fly was selected, a yellow mallard wing, and a gray body.

On the third cast I had a strike and a brookie came to hand.

I fished the stream to the old washed out dam, which is quite a walk. All along I continued to take hits, and a few more to hand. A light rain started to fall, and a chill was felt.

In this area where the large clump of instream wood had collected creating a bend in the streams flow and a perfect ambush point for a trout. The little yellow fly drifted just about to the end and a sudden swift strike took place...no hookup. I fished that fly several more times running it through everywhere I thought that fish was. I changed flies twice but the trout was put down. The rain continued lightly as I moved upstream. I knew my time was limited but until I felt the rain working through my jacket I was going to fish. Upstream proved to be slow and I said to myself it's time to head back. Before leaving I gave that wood clog another shot. I tied on a Royal Coachman streamer. Into the water it went, and the strike was fast and effective. A brook trout was on. Soon the fish was at hand. I don't know if it was the fish I had missed earlier, but it was indeed a fine wild trout.

"Hats Off" to..........

This past week has been very exciting and very humbling for me. I enjoyed several days of fishing and walking along a few streams on Cape Cod. That little adventure brings with it the opportunity to take some photos of the area and the truly special trout that call it home. But the humbling part was still to come.......

Friday morning I did a post on Red Brook. During the day I checked back like I usually do to reply to comments. I also checked my e-mail and saw one from "Fox News Channel"..I opened it and it was a request from a producer for the show "The Five" which airs live every week night at 5pm. The request was for permission to use the photos of the Red Brook feature on The Five. It seems that Tucker Carlson one of the hosts on the show is a reader of "Small Stream Reflections" and wanted to feature it on his portion of "One More Thing". Well I responded and gave the OK.

I watched the segment feature and was so pleased. I can also say that there were many more who felt the same. Since Friday night at 6:05 the post that was featured on Red Brook has seen 15,000 page views. That my friends is very humbling. I wish to thank Tucker Carlson, Mina Pertesis, and the Fox News Channel. If you missed the feature then you can read about it here.

"Sea-Run brook trout...11-2015 part 1

"Red Brook" photo courtesy of Jeanette Petrucci

Did I ever tell you about the brook trout streams of southeast Massachusetts and Cape Cod, perhaps in a post or twenty. We returned from a few days of fishing for some of New England's most special natives. They are the sea-run or "salter" brook trout that inhabit several of the coastal streams in the area. And I wish to tell you of some of the pleasure we found in being able to fish for these brook trout.

The weather could not have been better for the first week of November. We were blessed with sunny skies mild temperatures and a touch of color that seemed to be hanging on. As usual we found some trout willing to take a streamer and a few special moments were caught of salter brook trout actually spawning. Both Jeanette and I agreed it was the highlight of our trip.

I know it looks tight but actually it was not bad and I could present the fly pretty easily.

I tangled with some incredibly strong brook trout. These fish were smart in their habitat and used it to avoid capture. I was graced by a few to hand.

My type of path....soft pine needles a a bit of sand. Easy walking in beautiful surroundings.

We found a deer trail through some thick woods that led us to some very productive water.

This wild jewel along with three others were taken from a ten yard stretch of stream.

"Take a break"....there is no better place. More on this adventure in my next post.

A Challenge, Bombers...........

The master, Fran Betters. Look at those materials..whats he tying?

Anyone who has read the posts on this blog, and various fly fishing forums knows my love for a fly known as "The Bomber". The fly is a creation of Fran Betters of Wilmington N.Y. I think the "Bomber" was created around 1964 I base this on the fact that Fran also created the Ausable Wulff in 1964, and the both flies are similar in that they use the same materials just tied differently.

Fran was a master fly tyer but I don't think he knew just what a "GREAT" wild trout fly the Bomber was to become. I know I've said this before, and most who have fished this fly would also agree it is the "Best" wild trout dry fly. I have taken trout on the Bomber in every month of the year. On day's when nothing else is working out comes the Bomber and "fish on". I gave myself a challenge...the next time out I will only carry and fish the "Bomber".

"Ausable Bombers"......the fly in the center is my tie, and the two that flank it are Frans.

I'm looking forward to this challenge.

A couple of "Bomber" results.