Memorial Day 2011

Memorial Day 2011. Thanks to all who serve, and all who have served.


My wife and I spent this day enjoying the day and each others company. We accomplished a few things that needed to get done, then we took the rest of the day relaxing, and enjoying a cookout.

We got our two tomato plants in. It's an Italian thing.




The rest of the day.

Simple salad

Baked beans

Grilled spare ribs

I am now enjoying the SOX on radio. It's the only way. Baseball is a radio game.

Journal Entry.... 5-28-11

I was able to free myself for a few hours yesterday, and headed for a favorite small stream. The sun was bright with the air temp about 78. The water temps were at 60. As I was fishing a nice run that I favor I noticed a raccoon who was wandering around in a daze. This fellow kept crossing the stream, back and forth. Not wanting a confrontation, I packed up and moved to an altogether different location.
As it turned out the move was OK. Fishing a small green worm pattern I was into some fine fish, and managed a few to hand.

There is some wonderful beauty along the stream

There is also some wonderful beauty from the stream.

I'd like to say a few words about this rod. It's a TFO Signature Series 6ft 2wt. This rod performs very well on these small streams that I fish.



A Follow Up, and a Quest.........

A follow up to a previous post on Mexican Trout. Here is a link to some of those beautiful trout.http://www.americanfishes.com/mexico/index.htm




I have started a quest, to find a population of sea run brook trout in Connecticut waters. The state stocks many coastal streams with both brook and brown trout. Many of these fish are caught soon after opening day, but some do survive, and perhaps a few of these will seek out the salt.
Connecticut does have a good run of sea run brown trout, and some are of generous size. While this fishery has its devoted following, most are caught by fishermen seeking other quarry.
In the next few months I'll try to locate one of these streams where a few salters will be found.
Today Jeanette and I started this search.

At the end of the last ice age, the glaciers reached their most southern movement at which is now Long Island. These glaciers carried many things with them, including these huge boulders, and probably frozen brook trout, and their eggs.
As the ice melted it may have created a large fresh water lake, which over the millions of years mixed with sea water, and with erosion and other natural changes created Long Island Sound.
Our coastal streams must have been full of these salters, and probably would be today if not for progress without thought.

A coastal river. Could it hold salters?

We walked through some wonderful countryside today.

To be continued.....



Classic.......

Classic...
The meaning of, well I don't have a Webster handy, but I'll give you my meaning in these few lines.

The timeless simple beauty of a delicate Catskill dry fly, as it sits near a wet fly, perhaps of English heritage, a workhorse for sure.

Several patterns created by one of fly fishing's inovators. Fran Betters flies appear to be a bit rough, but where ever a trout swims, and a Betters pattern floats, a connection will take place.

A book written by Joe Bates, which I and many who fish and tie streamers, consider to be the bible of streamer flies. Along with a few classic irons from Ray Bergman.

Classic beauty for sure...... Streamers, Carrie Stevens patterns.

Classic's for years. I have enjoyed these over the years. And perhaps a few of these have graced the tables, or the stones along side fishing camps.
Can any of the above be placed along side a 1955 Corvette, a Colt 45, or a Frank Sinatra album, and be equal..... Yes, in my world.



Pollen, Clouds, and Some Funky Feathers

In this time of year the streams and the woods are bursting with new life. Trees are in full dress, the water is crisp and the flows are very suitable to both trout and angler. The flowers have started to bloom giving a special eye appeal to those who cast their way.
It also can create some uncomfortable feelings. Pollen that is in the air will become a problem to many, flowers, trees, and newly sprouted mushrooms can cast spores everywhere.
My usual reaction to this is a raw feeling in the back of the throat, and some sneezing. For others it's much worse. I guess it comes to that old saying, Take the Sweet with the Sour.

If you were lying within inches of an undercut, in a clear flowing stream... and a bunch of funky feathers were to swim by. Would you take a whack at them?

These are what I like to call, "Clouds in the Stream". They appear as light riffles in the photo which look to be clouds. They give me a feeling of tranquility when I look at them.

Another sight that is wonderful to view. As well as to eat.



Stream Hot Spots, Waders, and a New Fly

There have been countless streams I have fished over the years. Many of those streams countless times. There have been those areas of the streams that look like they would trout hotspots, possessing everything needed to bring success. And as you fish these same spots every time you visit the stream it's always the same. You catch nothing there, most times not even any interest shown the fly you present. As I cast my fly on these places I ask myself, WHY. Perhaps I do this in the thought of taking an exceptional fish there. I don't know, but I will continue to do so.

These are examples of parts of a stream that should give up a fish or two, but never. Still every time I'm there a fly will drift through.

I had picked up these hooks at a fly shop sale over the winter. The other day I put a few other materials together and fashioned an emerger. An Ausable Klinkhammer? I fished this fly yesterday, and well thats for another post.

The majority of the streams I fish are small, generally not very wide or deep. I do not ware waders or hip boots but a pair of hiking shoes. I'll fish these streams from the banks, and if I have to cross a stream, there's always those areas where a gravel bar, or a log may help me do so, if not, well wet feet.



One of the Best

Bill Edsons Fly Wallet with several of his streamers.









The Light Edson Tiger is a bucktail that I have fished with great success since the mid seventies. It was created by Bill Edson of Portland Maine in 1929. It is a good pattern for aslmon, and trout.
It's an easy fly to tie, with materials that are fish takers.
I tie them in sizes 6 to 10, with sizes 8 and 10 being my favorite sizes to fish.
I have posted three variations of this bucktail, and they all work well.

These two flies are similar, only the tails are different.

This fly is tied with brass cheeks. This is what Bill Edson used on his streamers. and is on the original Edson pattern.

This pattern has worked so well for me over the years, I consider it to be one of the two best bucktails for wild brook trout.



"Bandaids"

A few weeks ago while fishing a small stream that ran through a wildlife management area, I noticed a group of children and a few adults talking near the stream. They walked to the streams edge and I could hear one of the adults talking about the various residents of the stream. When I was asked about how my fishing was going by one of the instructors, I said just fine. He explained that it was a class field trip, which I thought was a great idea, get them out for a first hand experience.

While continuing to fish I soon hooked a brook trout. Bringing the fish in, I asked the teacher if they would like to see one of the streams most beautiful residents. He said yes, and all of the children gathered streamside. As I gently lifted the brookie from the water, and their eyes saw this fish, there was a look of amazement, and joy. They all wanted to touch the trout but I put him back into the stream and told them about how he would be much better off there.
While this was going on one of the children stepped on my rod and broke it.
Having noticed this I tried to lift it up and walk back to my fishing, not wanting them to see the broken rod. As they stepped back, they all said thank you mister.

Looking at where the rod was broken I decieded it could be possibly repaired. When I reached my car I looked for some tape, duck,or adhesive. I had none. Then I saw a first aid kit and it had bandaids in it, so I soon repaired the rod with a few bandaids, and off I went to fish that little stream for a few hours. I was going to send the rod out for repair, but I may just keep it as a reminder of a special day.

An on site learning experience.

The broken St. Croix Avid

The repairs made, and fishing resumed



Two Streamers

These are two fine streamers that were created by Dave Goulet from Massachusetts. Dave is an outstanding fly tyer and owner of the Classic and Custom Fly Shop, on the Farmington River in New Hartford,CT. He operated this shop until his retirement a year or so ago.

The first streamer is the "Mobey Dick". I have fished this fly for years and it's a streamer that gets attention. It's fished in the normal way of fishing streamers, and can also be fished as a wet fly too. In times of high water I have placed a split shot just above the eye of the hook and have had good results sort of bouncing it off the bottom.

The second streamer is the "Brown Olive Ghost". It's a featherwing streamer tied in the Rangeley Style. This streamer is featured in G. Hilyards book "Carris G. Stevens". Its's a beautiful fly, and a productive one I'm sure, although I have never fished it.
I tied both of these streamers, and they are not extremely difficult to tie. The "Mobey Dick" can be found in the fly shops of CT and MA I'm pretty sure. The "Brown Olive Ghost" is a streamer that might have to be tied for you by a fly tyer.



Small Stream Journal Entry 5/12/11

On this outing I had a new companion. A new small stream rod.
I picked this up for a good price. It's a TFO Signature Series, 6ft 2wt. It had a few cosmetic scratches on the reel seat and the out the door price 62.00. It worked very well on its maiden trip.

This plunge pool produced several nice fish, and several nice Bomber flies also met with an underwater demise.

This little run gave up a few brookies. As the fly drifted to the tail of the pool and was allowed to pop up in the broken water, it was to much for those brookies to pass up.

Two beautiful wild jewels, from a free flowing healthy freestone stream.

These are salmon cakes we enjoyed that evening. The recipe was from, "FISH ON---FISH OFF" blog. They were simply delicious.



"Bits and more Bits" 5/11/11

Some of my thoughts and ramblings on small streams, books, food, flies and wild trout. There are times when I'll hit a stream, wanting to fish, and then instead of doing so I'll just wander about. I'll toss the fly in a promising stretch of water, then lift the fly out and put it in the hook holder, then find a place to sit and just take it all in.
The birds, trees, toads, the water as it cascades over the rocks, and at times the splashy rises of wild brook trout attempting to secure a meal. These are tonics to refresh ones mind and soul.

The beauty of a plunge pool.

For those who love wild trout and the small streams they inhabit, I reccomend this book. Well done, with nice photos.

An outstanding sandwich my friends. Pastrami heated in a skillet, placed on rye bread, and topped with swiss cheese.

A brook trout that fell to a reversed parachute emerger. I tie these in size 14 and 16 with various colored dubbings, and hackles.

These are "Bombers". I believe they are the best fly to take wild trout from small streams. I tie these in size 14 and 16, but there is no doubt size 14 is tops.