Thoughts Along a Blue Line

We had a very heavy rain event at the end of last week. The idea of fishing had crossed my mind the only question was how the streams would be, were they able to handle the water in such a short while. With that in mind I chose to fish close to home and not have to travel further and find the streams blown out. This stream I had not fished since late September and at that time it was low. This day it was flowing at near capacity, looking lovely in a manner only a small stream can.

The forecast for that day was sunny, windy and cold with high temps in the 30's, that may have been true but it sure felt warmer especially in the sun. I am the guy who doesn't give on the dry fly because the time of year says I should. So the first fly to hit the water was a Bomber. That fly looked so wonderful bouncing along the current, a meal that couldn't be refused. I fished along the likely holding water hoping for a take, and that never came. Perhaps the fish were staying in much softer water and holding the bottom. Looking into the fly box I selected a Picket Pin, one of the few I tie that have weight. I cast it into the water and let it drift slowly towards the bank. I felt the fish strike, pulling back I felt the fish on. Bringing the fish to me I saw a beautifully colored brook trout. Keeping the fish in the water while I retrieved my camera. As I stepped off the bank I slipped and slid into the water. As I pulled myself up and gained composure I found everything to be in order. Sliding my hand under the brookie and attempting to lift him up he shook a few times and was off and running. I did not get wet for I was wearing waist high waders.

I sat up on the bank and poured myself a cup of hot tea, As I sat there I noticed how quiet the woods were, the only sound was the water and the breeze acting up through the laurel. As I sat there I had a thought of a magazine cover. On that cover was an angler holding up a big brown trout, perhaps 20+ inches. The angler had a smile so large you could almost say it was unnatural. Well I wonder what he would have said of me attempting to hold up a 6 inch brookie, and having a bigger smile that he had.

I continued to fish the Pin and in a soft spot near a sunken log I was able to subdue my first brookie.

A beautiful male wild brook trout.

The stream was full of washed in debris, everything from leaves to twigs to some full size branches. With all this happening I still managed to catch several more trout. The soft water near the bank across from the point of the rock my fly stopped swiftly. Suddenly the fish ran upstream and I could tell he was a battler. Several runs up and down, and side to side I finally achieved the upper hand. This time as I slid down the bank with control and lay my hand under his belly and lifted him up for a quick photo...snap and back to the leafy bottomed stream.

It wasn't until I got home and put this photo on the computer that I realized what a gorgeous fish he was. Looking at that tail showed me why he was so strong.

A fine few hours along a "blue line"

Iridescence

Many materials used in the craft of tying flies have an iridescence to them that will attract fish to the flies tied with these materials. Above are a few natural materials that hold a special iridescence that I like to call "spice". Each of the materials, which are a pheasant tail, peacock herl, and starling contain some very fine examples of fine and detailed iridescence.

While the flash of a man made material such as tinsel, crystal flash and others contain many attributes and do indeed help catch fish, I believe that flies that incorporate the three natural materials above do a far better job. I have never observed a trout from underwater and the way he views his world. But a fly that can reflect various light conditions in a subtle and moving way will more likely bring a strike.

Below are examples of soft hackle flies using all of the materials above. If you look closely you can see each ones special "spice"..."iridescence" that will garner attention.

The facets of light being caught in tails and body. The material is pheasant tail. The same delicate light can be seen in the peacock herl thorax, as well in the beautiful feathers of a starling soft hackle collar. While the use of these natural materials will make a "best fly" they will indeed aid you in the ability to catch more fish.

"The day after Thanksgiving"

While others were still trying to digest what was consumed on a wonderful Thanksgiving day, as well as those who chose to take a beat down to save a few bucks at the mall, I was the one who said I'm going to spend this day so called "Black Friday" at my favorite brookie stream. After several cups of Java at home I headed east, taking note of the heavy traffic thankfully headed in the opposite direction and saying am I glad there's none of that stuff cluttering my day.

We had received some snow and in some locations more than others. The woods along the stream were beautiful in their winter dress, the first of the season. The water was brilliant, crisp and clear. This was a day to fool a trout into taking a dry fly. First up was a "Bomber". I drifted it in the locations where I knew there would be someone waiting. No takers. Moving along the stream I changed to a parachute Adams and worked the fly in searching fashion but with the same result. It was time to try something else, something that was closer to where the trout were holding.

I tied on a beadhead fly some would call it a nymph but I don't fish nymphs so I call it a BH soft hackle, now some would call this BS and perhaps rightfully so. Well anyway the fly so brought a strike on the third cast, with a hookup that was short lived. Moving along to the next pool I was greeted with a subtle strike and the result this time was a beautiful little brook trout. The brookie was in great shape, a sign that things were good in this stream.

As I continued to fish I came to this plunge pool. Upon closing in I spooked a good sized trout, perhaps a foot long. The fish darted upstream and vanished near the undercut. I did not fish the pool, deciding to leave it be and come back and fish it on the way out which I did. It took about an hour before I returned to the pool. This time my approach was a little bit more cautious. I tossed the fly in and as it drifted a shadow darted for the fly but seemed to hesitate before taking and retreated. A second drift brought a strike and the trout was on.

A few moments later I slid my hand under this handsome wild brown. He was not the big boy I scared earlier but still a prize on this "Black Friday"

Success...back form Pennsylvania.

My son and I returned Tuesday evening from a three day deer hunt in Pennsylvania. It was a hunt that will go down as one of the better ones in recent memory. We were both successful in filling our tags, and were rewarded with a fine harvest. I am getting around to reading your posts and will get to them all. For now the work begins of processing the deer.

This will be on Wednesday's menu. Sufrite, which is an Italian specialty.