Thursday, March 17, 2011

St. Patrick's Day, 2011


I had been watching the weather forecast's for the last few days, and today's forecast was for warm and sunny, no wind. This is what I was waiting for, a day to actually enjoy. The stream was running bright and ever so clear. I dropped the thermometer in and it said a cold 44 degrees. I thought this called for a nymph to be bouncing on the bottom. NOT, I tied on a dry and let it rip. The fly floated many many drifts through the riffles before it was noticed. A silvery fish came up to intercept the fly, but missed it. Thinking the trout was a brown. I again drifted the fly to either side of a swift current, pulling the fly up as it was pulled under. After a number of drifts the trout came up again, this time there was a hookup. Soon a beautiful wild brookie lay in my hand. In the 4 hours or so that I was fishing this little stream I managed to hook quite a few trout on the dry fly, even a few to hand. I probably could have done better fishing the nymph, but I'll take the few on the surface any time.


A cold 44 degrees

The clarity of this stream is awesome. They can see you.........

The first wild one to come to hand, on a dry fly.


This was the fly of the day. An "Incorporator"


This guy looks to have fared well over the winter


And to finish this fine day, Corned Beef and Cabbage
at

17 comments:

  1. EdMarch 17, 2011 at 9:35 PM

    That water looks like gin. You must have been happy with the results while outside on a beautiful New England day.

    I am not sure that there are any rivers around me that are like that. I know that there are some in NH.

    I can't wait to get out there and catch a trout on a fly.

    By the way, I had the same dinner and it was excellent.'

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  2. BruceMarch 17, 2011 at 10:55 PM

    good stuff again... I was out today as well, but the streams where still running high around here. It was no where near as productive a day as you had.

    Great post and nice dinner!

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  3. Michael AgnetaMarch 17, 2011 at 11:22 PM

    Wow, that was beautifully clear water. Looks like you finished off the day with another good meal.

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  4. SavageMarch 17, 2011 at 11:33 PM

    Nice Job! I wish i did not have my brother's birthday today, because i really wanted to go fishing.

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  5. AnonymousMarch 18, 2011 at 6:36 AM

    Very Nice rpeort BrkTrt. Anytime you can take trout in March is a god day. We are humbled by your fishing AND cooking skills!
    -BT
    http://fishtalesofnewengland.blogspot.com/

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  6. Brk TrtMarch 18, 2011 at 6:49 AM

    Ed,
    Just to be along a stream like that was a pleasure.
    To bring a trout to the surface, a special reward.


    Bruce,
    Thanks
    If you still have snow melting, your streams will be off color. Give it a few more days.

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  7. Brk TrtMarch 18, 2011 at 6:54 AM

    troutrageous1
    That is one of a few tribs to a somewhat larger stream. Its water clarity is beautiful thing.


    Savage,
    Thanks.
    Today should be great weather wise, maybe?

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  8. KiwiMarch 18, 2011 at 8:56 AM

    There aren't too many other ways to have a great St Patty's Day like that one. Nice job!

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  9. JeffMarch 18, 2011 at 9:40 AM

    Lots of streams around here like that that need exploring although we have a couple feet of snow still. Nice pics and lunch.

    Love the new banner image at the top too!

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  10. J and M FliesMarch 18, 2011 at 2:17 PM

    Gotta love the brookies. Nice photos

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  11. Brk TrtMarch 18, 2011 at 6:47 PM

    Kiwi, Jeff, smokinprice,
    Thanks.
    I just saw the weekend forecast, goodbye early spring.

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  12. Fishing in PolandMarch 18, 2011 at 6:48 PM

    Nice photos, beatiful stream. I wish I had one like this near to me :)
    Check out: Fishing in Poland

    ReplyDelete
  13. Brk TrtMarch 19, 2011 at 6:45 AM

    Fishing in Poland,
    Thanks

    ReplyDelete
  14. DRYFLYGUYMarch 19, 2011 at 8:23 AM

    Brk Trt, what a great looking stream and a beauty of a brookie as well, with a touch of Irish tradition at days end. Actually I had the same meal of Cornbeef with all the trimings myself.

    The Incorporator fly pattern? I never heard of what looks like another great pattern. From your photo it kind'a looks like a cross between a Trude & a sofa pillow.

    Anyway, another great posting.....DRYFLYGUY

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  15. Brk TrtMarch 19, 2011 at 11:05 AM

    DRYFLYGUY,
    Thanks.
    The Incorporator is of my doing. I used many different materials, coming from already proven patterns, A
    and then incorporating them into one fly.

    I did a post on them in the April 2010 blog.

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  16. penbaymanMarch 19, 2011 at 5:43 PM

    I went to LL Bean today to pick up some new flies and lures..the streams we crossed are still quite high but there is a lot less snow in the woods so they should be just right by April 1st, like the one in your photos! And.. there is some open water around the shorelines of a number of lakes that we went by. So that's looking good too. Speaking of looking good..the CB&C looks awesome..hope you had some leftovers to make a hash.

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  17. Brk TrtMarch 21, 2011 at 2:09 PM

    penbayman,
    You a very fortunate to have some of the finest wild brook trout streams in the country. I've fished a few.
    By the way the hash was great.

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