The Brookie Is Doing Well Here

I had wanted to fish several streams, four to be exact before the season closed on the 28th of Feb. I managed to fish 3 of them and yesterday I fished this one. As you can see we had some snow and with the deep valley location of this stream there was a fair amount of shelf ice. While ice and snow are not a big problem for most but for us seniors it can be an issue. So the theme of the day was slow and easy. The stream was flowing nicely with several pools giving me the chance to hook-up but I could not keep the fish on. The fish were holding in the slow pools and I watched a few of them until they realized I was not a tree and they quickly became only spirits in the stream.

I came to this beautiful pool. It was deep and had a nice gravel bottom. The sunlight covered most of the pool with shadows and shelf ice about the edges. The streamer was cast and as it drifted the current brought it to the bottom. Two or three strips and the fish hit.

There was plenty of room for the brookie to run, and he did. The fish was strong and took to tail walking a few times.

Culvert pools...folks never pass these places without fishing them completely. In most every corner I can tell you will hold a fish. This culvert was recently made fish friendly to allow free movement of fish upstream.

A healthy female

Several fine specimens came from the culvert pool including this one.

At home a late lunch awaited.

It's Near My Friends

The white flag is up. I'm ready. It has been a long time. Change is on the horizon. Oh welcome. As the days get longer there is a feeling that we have turned the corner and better days are near. I long for those milder days clear streams and rising trout. Those days where wet wading actually feels good. When you see sulphurs on the water. The excitement as the fly drifts and a fish rises. Those days where if one fish misses your offering another will grab it readily. Those days when streams come alive, and the banks are lush with green. When you are never alone even when no one is there. When birds sing they have a joyous meaning. Oh yes my friends those days when I can savor a cup of coffee in my t-shirt. Each day brings me closer. And with each day I look forward to fresh new season that holds the promise of being my best.

Always Special And Unusual

As February comes to a close, I have to focus on fishing several streams before they close. All streams in the state of Connecticut with exception of Class 1 wild trout streams close on the last day of February until opening day which is the second Saturday of April. I'm sure there is a reason and I'm sure it was well thought out. That reason is for another time.

Well Saturday I chose a stream that will close the end of February to fish. I had not been here since early fall. Since my last visit we have had several heavy rain events and this little beauty of a stream took a hit. I witnessed several of its runs and pools that were scoured by the heavy flows. In some of the areas the stream took on an arctic glacial effect. While many of the larger pools remained the same some of the smaller ones were totally gone, reshaped by enormous fallen trees and logs. All of the changes I believe did not hurt the wild brook trout population. What I fear is that the spawning areas may have been washed away which will have an effect on the future populations. That is something I will keep an eye on in the next several months.

The stream looked as beautiful as ever. Rumbling and tumbling along to it's final destination. It's hemlock and laurel lined banks remain a bright spot of green in a brown forest. I was not alone in the forest. I was watched and scolded by a Kingfisher who flew from branch to branch. I fished my "usual" compliment of flies, wets, dries, and streamers and not a single strike. I was then required to select a couple of my "unusual" flies in order to persuade the brookies to strike...the "unusuals" were a couple of bead-head generic nymphs.

In the deeper pools I found willing brook trout like this late winter jewel. I have always said that this stream has the prettiest brookies in the state.

Before nature chose to restructure this pool it was always a place I could count on to find some brookies. They are probably some fish there but trying to present a fly is not something I wished to do at this time.

A very friendly pool. A slow drifted nymph did the job.

It was like the first brook trout I caught. It seems like that's always the case.

A couple of my "unusuals" generic stuff that brookies will not pass on especially in a small stream.

Images

Here are a few images that are kind of special to me. I don't think I've shared them before. I hope you like them and if you really stop for a few minutes to look at them I'm sure you can relate to them and probably put yourself in them.

What makes a man do this? Perhaps photo number one is the answer?

A wild trout stream in Potter County PA. A reader sent me this photo.

Jewels in the stream.

A gentleman I meet once a year at a fly tyers gathering. Always a pleasure to chat with him.

Where will I be cast, and what will be to outcome?