As I sit here and try to write this post, a cup of coffee, Green Mountain "Nantucket" blend along side me, waiting for the caffien to kick in and give me the clarity to remember the details of yesterdays trip to a stream I love.
Jeanette and I had planned to take the day and spend it at Bluff Point Coastal Preserve. But for a reason I don't know the trip was canceled for a reason I can't remember, The caffien is not working yet.
Well being one who had a few hours of free time I headed for the stream. The sky was a bit sunny and a bit cloudy with a touch of humidity. Taking the water temp, the thermometer showed it to be 62 degrees.
This time of year the dry fly is #1, and I fish it almost entirely. I tied on a Ausable Klinkhammer and let it work. It wasen't long before I was into some action, and a brook trout came to hand. There were many short strikes today, I believe this is happening because the trout are taking up some positions in the stream where the water is moving rapidily and when the rise occurs it can be missed by the trout.
The Mountain Laurel is in bloom and is a beautiful sight along the streams. I do see from time to time snakes, in the water, and along the stream, laying on the rocks. Most of the time they appear to be of the same. I noticed these two, and there seems to be a difference. I'm not an authority on these guys, perhaps Jay at "The Naturalist's Angle" can give us an answer.
I'm going downstairs for another cup of coffee. I hope you enjoy this post.
Great Post BT! Thank you so much for the tip, I will try that approach you suggested.
ReplyDeleteThanks,
Cliff
That's some sweet looking water for sure and those brookies are just beautiful! The fins on that last one look almost painted on , great pics....Jeff
ReplyDeletewatch out for the snakes! great pics and i am glad you had a great day on the river.
ReplyDeleteCliff,
ReplyDeleteThanks. In small streams there is not a lot of insect hatches, so the trout will not be found in locations not associated with positions where they might be found in larger rivers where the insect hatches are more profuse. So any thing falling into the stream will be forced into faster moving waters.
Jeff,
It's a wonderful little freestone stream.
That last brookie was colored well.
Thanks
Savage,
ReplyDeleteI probably walk past more of them then I see.
But I'm always on the look out.
Professor.....another good class on the water.
ReplyDeleteWhen is the mid-term? :)
Thanks.
Beautiful looking water...great photos! Those brook trout would be worth every snake encountered.
ReplyDeleteEd,
ReplyDeleteThanks.
Mid-terms will be given at mid-term at a stream to be determined by..........
Sanders,
Thanks.
I agree with you. The snakes are part of the brook trouts environment.
We need to do a New England fly-fishing blogger get together in the fall. I need to buy some Cliff Notes for the mid-term.
ReplyDeleteEd,
ReplyDeleteA few years ago I suggested a gathering of fly fishers, tyers, and anyone else who wanted to come.
It was going to be held at Peoples State Forest, along the West Branch of the Farmington River.
I called it "WindKnot".
A day of fishing, fly tying, a cookout and some swapping lies.
Just couldn't get a date straight that made everyone happy.
Maybe this year, at the end of Sept.
Those are some great pics and beautiful fish. I hear you on the coffee. Need some badly myself. Looks like canceled plans turn into an alright time after all :) Tight Lines
ReplyDeleteYou can never make everyone happy.
ReplyDeleteHey Alan....be a benevolent dictator and pick a date. If you give plenty of advance notice, people who want to make it will make it.
I have been on too many committees that it has made me "not a big fan".
Trout Magee,
ReplyDeleteThanks.
Sometimes cancelled plans will work out OK.
Ed,
I may throw out the idea again on a blog post, and see what happens.
You'd better start packing a sidearm from now on Brk Trt when you out stalking the wild trout. Just saw a video of a mountain lion in Ct. The stalker could end up being stalked!
ReplyDeletepenbayman,
ReplyDeleteWild Connecticut.
The US Fish and Wildlife says the Eastern Mountain Lion is extinct. That's the second sighting, and one killed. I'm an avid hunter and I have seen some strange animal kills in the woods, and they're not coyotes doing it.
Best blog this month in my view, well done.
ReplyDeleteNice pics, as always.
ReplyDeleteThe whole mountain lion thing will be interesting to follow. I'd certainly like to see fewer deer about but mountain lions also like two legged game cause we're easier to catch.
Beautiful post and pictures. Mountain laurel blooming is one of those signs in the cyclical changes of the seasons I always look forward to.
ReplyDeleteFlyfishermanrichard,
ReplyDeleteThank you, it's appreciated.
Steve,
Thanks.
Very true on us being easy to catch.
Kiwi,
Thanks.
There is so much to enjoy out there...
We need only open our eyes.
yeah northern water snakes.come all black or with that pattern on the smaller one.no venom but very mean. leave them alone. just applied for my pistol permit to keep the coyotes away now mountain lions in ct. and a few black bears. might be interesting in the woods. dave in north haven
ReplyDeleteSomehow I missed this last year. Those are definitely Northern Watersnakes (Nerodia sipedon). Sorry I'm so late with my ID. Better late than never, right?
ReplyDelete