New England Small Towns

Small towns are plenty all over this country. They possess a certain charm and grace that large cities just don't come close to duplicating. New England has some of the most beautiful small towns I have ever been to. Being one who loves the small stream I have crossed through some quaint picturesque places and I could not begin to list there names and the qualities they bring forth. I was asked once how do you know when your in a small town, what is key to what defines a small town. My answer is this. When in New England you know when your in a small town when there isn't a Dunkin' Donuts shop.

Without a doubt New England is known for it's barns, and beautiful fall foliage. One of these day I'm going to wander through one of those barns.

Where else could you fly fish for wild brook trout in salt water? Then a few miles away from the stream find your self getting dizzy trying to negotiate a traffic rotary.

How about catching a brook trout on a salmon fly...not many areas of this country can lay claim to that.

And to add to strange happenings, how about catching a blue gill on a salmon fly...

You know your in a small town in New England when you see a fellow preparing feather-wings for a few Rangeley streamers...

February In "Brook Trout Forest"

Yesterday morning I picked up Rowan and we had planned on fishing a stream that held some promise. A stream that could hold brook trout in the 14-15 inch group. When we arrived we found that the stream had a bit of a problem, "access"...we had to walk a large field that was filled with last years corn stubble. We reached the tree line which was the easiest part of the trek. Once in the trees we encountered those briars, those devils that will draw blood and keep the "aqua seal" company in business. Drudging through mud and pockets of ice we finally saw the stream. It flowed rather slowly and had some deep holes. The possibility of finding some trout was there but trying to fish for them was terrible. So a decision to go to another stream was made and it proved to be the right choice.

You have heard me make mention of "brook trout forest" those special places where the body mind and soul and at peace. Where beauty in so many forms are present. Well here it is. The little stream was one where you could just walk along it and have a complete day. It meandered down and made some interesting curves. It's dark slow pools were almost black. It was in these pools that willing brook trout took our flies.

Wild, in a place that sees maybe one angler a year. These brookies were extremely sensitive and I spooked more than a dozen fish.

Rowan trying to make a cast into one of those slow dark pools. Trout were rising and a well placed fly brought a response.

Rowan with a wild jewel. The stream was full of these fish. Each one seemed to be prettier than the last. We turned over some rocks in the stream and found out why there were so many healthy brook trout in this stream. The stream had golden stonefly nymphs, caddis larva, and aquatic worms. It was a tout buffet. We both agreed that this stream would be a dry fly heaven come May and June.

A pool in brook trout forest. Just downstream from here Rowan took a large brookie, one of many I think will be found in this little stream.

The Irish Mayfly on Super Bowl Sunday

Some months back I read a magazine article on Irish Flies. As the article went on it highlighted Irish mayflies. The flies were absolutely beautiful and quite large. They involved using various tail materials which were tied quite long, pretty basic body dubbings and a wing comprised of three hackles of different birds and different colors. I tied up some and yesterday I ran them by the locals to get their reaction.

I was not expecting much when I let them float the stream. The weather has been cold although it had moderated some in the last days. About 11 am it actually felt good and apparently it got a few insects flying about. The ones I saw were small, black in color. They did not bring about any rises that I saw but maybe it got the trout looking up.

The Irish fly did not resemble the actual flies I saw about but it got the attention of these little guys....they would not leave it alone.

It was here in this riffle where I saw my first rising fish. I cast to it and it surfaced and took the fly.

I did not expect this, but I welcomed it. He was strong and healthy and even retained some of it's color.

The fly floated well and did double duty as a wet fly. I think those Irish fly tyers had a bit of Yankee blood in them when they created these flies.

This brookie was amazing. I can't describe in words the battle he put forth. The hot action lasted only a short time but it was enough on a early February day to satisfy this angler.

February...Some Comforting Thoughts

Winter can be beautiful and comforting if your inside

February the month of my birth, oh happy day,...Great things going on this month. Our friend from Pennsylvania "Punxsutawny Phil" will make his prognostication on an early Spring. There are two wonderful fly fishing shows/expos. The Connecticut Fly Fishermans Association Expo on Saturday 2-2-18 at Maneely's in So. Windsor CT...and on Saturday the 16th The Bear's Den Fly Fishing Show in Taunton, MA.

A comforting sign will be "Truck Day" at Fenway Park in Boston. That's when the truck heads south to Florida with the World Champion Red Sox gear to start the Spring training and Grapefruit League season.

So you would like to tie Rangeley Streamers. Can you tell how many separate steps are needed to tie this body?

BT's #3

These streamers require some work to complete. They do offer the tyer  great rewards and satisfaction when completed..

While on comforts...is there anything more comforting than a grilled cheese sandwich? This one has American and Provolone cheese on seeded Polish rye.