"Wononscopomuc"

Lake Wononscopomuc is located in the northwest corner of Connecticut. It is Connecticut's deepest natural lake and one of the most popular. I can remember as a kid visiting the Burlington fish hatchery and seeing a mount of a large brown trout, it is said the large fish had died of natural causes. The CT. state record for a lake trout also came from Wononscopomuc, it weighed in at 29 lbs.

It has been some time since I've tied and posted a streamer. Yesterday I was at the vise and tied a streamer to commemorate this lake. I hope you like it.

I hope you are able to read my writing.

Pleasure comes in many forms.....

There is something special walking through a forest just after a fresh snowfall. The air is still and clean. The sounds of nature are enhanced and even a slight breeze can be heard. Such a day was yesterday and I was fortunate to be the one doing the walk. It is a must to use much more caution at times like this, the possibility of slipping is greater so a guy like me who walks slow to begin with finds a new slower pace. Walking slow also lets you observe more of your surroundings.

Fishing on winter days can run from fair to lousy, and to try and figure it out will drive one crazy. Normally I just stay with a few flies and hope the day I chose to fish will be on the fair side.

The usual trout holding areas produced some activity in the form of strikes. But the hookups were very few.

I found several of these little guys about but the trout were not to excited about them.

It was now about four hours into my outing and I had not had one fish to hand. This is what winter fly fishing is and I knew that going in. I was still a great day to be near a trout stream and to be able to fish for my beloved brook trout. There is a soft spot near the large boulder. The wet fly swirled in the current and was swept under water and pulled down. I lifted the rod tip up and felt some weight. As gained control I knew I had a fish on.

A just reward...a wild jewel.....all is well here.

A Day In The Life..Winter Fishing

Good morning folks. It's finally starting to dry out around here after another soaker. I heard some places got nearly 2"...I wonder what the streams look like now, maybe I'll check a few out today. Well Friday was a beautiful day, seasonable weather with lots of sun and a simple wind that could be handled easily. I selected a nice woodland stream to visit one that would give me pleasure even if the fish would not bite. I love seeing new growth in the forest, especially health hemlocks. There were lots of these little trees. A nice touch of color to offset the winter "browns".....

The stream looks a bit skinny here, but it tends to get deeper in spots. It has like all of out CT. streams changed with the high water events we've had in 2018. The brookies are there though and when your close to one with a fly they will strike.

A little jewel. The fish to have taken on their winter colors. Still pretty my friends.

With the heavy rains washing debris into the stream bottlenecks like this will occur. Places like this are fish magnets and if there are any sizeable fish in the stream they will find such places and keep them to themselves. Places like this are also fly takers. The branches you see are only half of what you can't see, but your fly will. I cast a fly into the area just beyond the red circled piece of wood. It floated a short distance and the trout rose, took and was hooked. A hefty fish was felt, the glass rod bent and I worked to get the fish away from that woody mess that I knew he was headed into. I managed to keep him away for awhile but my line snagged the red circled branch. I tried to free the line but couldn't so I took a few steps that would enable me to free it with my hand. Watch that second stem. The debris jam broke and I found my self up to my thighs in water. I managed to free myself only getting a little wet and I found that the fish was still on.

When I finally got it together I lifted this beautiful male brook trout. I took his picture and let him go into the cold water...a big smile came next.

A Little Bit Of Last Year And A Very Special Day

Brown caddis

I'm told you are supposed to show photos and writings of the previous year before the New Year starts. Well that's how some do it but not me. It was a fabulous year 2018 and some very good days outdoors were racked up. 2019 has just started and I hope it will match the results of 2018. So until I can get out fishing I would like to share a few photos from last year.

Caddis flies..they are probably found most everywhere, and fish love them. I like tying them because they are almost fool proof. No matter how rag tag you can put them together they work.

Pheasant caddis

Have you ever had real good bacon. Bacon that comes in a slab with the rind on. If not please find a shop where you can get it. Take it home and slice it thick and enjoy.

This was the smallest stream I fished last year. In the pool below the culvert I observed two small brookies. There was no way I could get close to the pool to make a cast. So I went upstream of the culvert and allowed the fly to drift through it. I could not see the trout take but felt it on. I unfortunately lost it in the culvert.

A Connecticut "salter"?

Hooked by the slimmest of margins and still made it to hand.

I had a blast fishing for these last year. This guy from Candlewood lake took a Spruce fly.

Today is National Spaghetti Day. A very special day at my home.