Browns, A Brookie, A Little Rod, And A Beat To Hell Fly

Last Sunday Kirk and I fished a stream, I wrote about it Monday or Tuesday. Well we had a so so day as far as hook-ups and fish to hand. There was some talk that the stream may suffered more from the drought of last year then we first had thought. Well hold on.

When we left the stream Sunday I had on a Hornberg, which is the fly that I fished and caught the only fish of that outing on. After a late doctors appointment I was able to get out on that same stream Wednesday afternoon. I tossed that Hornberg into the current and was greeted by a swift strike, and just as swiftly I lost the fish. A few more casts and another strike. A brief dispute and I soon had a beautiful wild brook trout at hand.

Brook trout are in this stream but not real common catches. This one was in prime condition.

A bit further downstream I crossed paths with this feisty brown.

He to took the Hornberg.

The stream in places has some tricky water, in that the currents are tough to get a fly to work properly. If I waders it may have been easier to work the fly. Well the fly was out and the current swirled and pulled it about. As I lifted the rod I felt the fish. Soon the rod bent and the fish ran, then leaped. I was able to gain control and managed to get him close.

As he lay in the stream I admired him, both for his size and for his determination to survive. The photo was taken with him still in the water. I removed the fly and off he went.

I would like to comment on the little Cane and Silk fiberglass rod. The 4'10" 2wt did a fine job. I love this small stream wonder.

Pearsall's Silk and Soft-Hackle Spiders

Good morning. Over the last few weeks I've purchased several new colors of Pearsall's Silk threads. These threads have been around for a while but they are new to me. So I kind of put the various colors along with several different hackles to create some fish catchers. The silk thread body is very much an eye catcher, especially when wet. When you add a whisp of dubbing either for the body or thorax you also add that subtle translucent movement that will at times be a key factor in getting fish to strike. Below are a few flies tied with the new thread.

The silk thread colors are, Chestnut, Salmonberry, Olive and Claret.

"Chestnut and Starling"...chestnut silk thread body, very sparse squirrel dubbing, and bleached starling hackle.

"Salmonberry and Partridge"...body salmonberry silk thread, sparse squirrel dubbed thorax and partridge hackle.

"Salmonberry and Starling"....body salmonberry silk thread, and black starling hackle.

"Salmonberry and Light Starling"....body salmonberry silk thread, starling undercovert hackle.

"Olive and Partridge"...body olive silk, sparse olive squirrel dubbed thorax, partridge hackle.

"Claret and Partridge"....body claret silk, sparse rusty squirrel dubbed thorax, partridge back feather hackle.

Olive and Partridge"...body olive silk thread, thickly dubbed black squirrel thorax, partridge hackle.

"Olive and Starling"...body olive silk thread, thickly dubbed black squirrel thorax, starling hackle. 

The last two flies are good representations of caddis larva.

A Beautiful Sunday

After several day's of rain, snow and just pure gloomy conditions yesterday was a blessing. We had the chance to fish for a few hours and the day was spectacular, not in the sense how much we caught but where and under what conditions. The first photo is a vernal pool, several of these were spotted. I love looking at the life that abounds here.

The sun was strong this early April day, the warmth and brightness felt good. Bright and sunny also puts the fish on alert and that may have kept the hook-ups to a minimum.

For me I enjoyed a day out along a beautiful stream. I had the pleasure of meeting a family of 5, mom, dad, a lovey little young girl and 2 frisky dogs. A wonderful chat took place and I gave a fly casting demonstration to the little girl who was quite interested.

I did manage to bring one lovely brown to hand...very strong and on a surface fly. Care to guess what fly it was.....

Today is supposed to be a carbon copy of yesterday, perhaps I might step out for a walk.......

The Jeremy Is Free

The Jeremy River is running free again. After 300 years this beautiful river in eastern Connecticut will be allowed to find its natural course and allow the fish to freely swim its entire length. On this site stood the Norton Mill, a valuable business for a growing colonial Connecticut. But it's purpose was complete many years ago and the dam that was required to power the mill was of no further value. So the Nature Conservancy along with the state DEEP and other groups got the funding to remove the dam. The project started last fall and here is how it looks.

The Jeremy once held Atlantic salmon runs that were epic. The dam sealed off the migration of these fish which in turn helped to kill the the salmon in Connecticut.

A few months after the dam removal the river has found its natural channel, it almost looks like its smiling. With the dam removed it opens up 17 miles of beautiful watershed. The dam will also allow sea run fish more areas to spawn. Fish like the alewife, herring, shad, and brown and brook trout.

The town of Colchester plans a park on the former mill site.

Projects like this make all of us winners. Thanks to all of those involved in this project.