Sunday, January 8, 2012

A Lesson Learned


Yesterday's temperatures topped out at around 58 degrees, not to bad for the &th of January. With a few hours to fish I headed for a wild trout stream. It's a Connecticut class 1 stream, this designation states a stream that has self sustaining populations of wild brook and brown trout. There is no stocking and artificials only with catch and release. Being located on state land, and with the warmer temps this brought out many people, families with there children. This is a wonderful thing, kids out enjoying nature instead of being indoors in front of TV's.

So with so many people in this particular area I chose to fish another part of the stream, a road less traveled so to speak. It was in this area I recieved an education from some wild trout.

In many of the pools and runs I observed trout rising. There were midges and small stone flies about, but I could not determine what they were feeding on. So for an hour or so in different locations along the stream my offerings were refused for the most part, and when a take happened a shake of the head and the fish was gone.
I did manage a few to hand but not what it should have been with so many active feeders.
It was a lesson taught to me by some educated wild fish.





An assortment of flies I thought would serve me well.



Ice that had formed was melting in the warm January sunshine. Crystal fingers falling into the stream



Long pools and the riffled waters in between were full of fish, some rising and adding to my frustration. The banks were lined with thorns like sharks teeth, I must do some trimming for sure.



But the cut legs, a few thorns in the face, a sore back, and wet feet, were all worth it for the opportunity to photograph this brook trout.

15 comments:

  1. Nice place. That section is definitely a bear to fish. Maybe I went to the wrong place yesterday! No rising fish and only a few insects visible.

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  2. You sure have some beautiful Brookies back there.

    Mark

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  3. thanks for the post Alan. glad to see that you can still get into fish this time of year. My streamers are mostly closed to mid spring, but I can live with it so long as I can reads posts like this.

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  4. Thanks for your contribution to my "armchair fishing" now. Very beautiful pictures of the nature and the wonderful brookie.
    Continue to have fun and giving us, that haven't got possibilities to fish naturally, doing it in our armchair!
    M.O.

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  5. RKM,
    Thanks.
    Maybe some day we could do away some of those nasties. I was in your neck of the woods for a spell today.

    Shoreman,
    Thanks.
    Some of the males are still holding on to their color, but that drab winter color will take hold.

    Darren MacEachern,
    Thanks.
    Glad you enjoy the posts. As long as weather permits I'll keep bringing them.
    Some great streamers so far on "streamers 365.com"

    The Jassid Man,
    Thanks.
    Enjoy that armchair, and enjoy the posts.

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  6. I suffer a few cuts and bruises for a brookie that nice on a Jan. day! Nice job.

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  7. Your posts are getting me through the closed winter season here in Michigan. I can't get enough of those jeweled beauties of yours.

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  8. Kiwi,
    Thanks.
    It's a small price to pay.

    CVH,
    Thanks.
    I'm happy I can provide you with a bit of relief.

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  9. Alan

    Nice to see there were some rising fish in that little stream. I was visiting family in PA and took a walk along a nearby stream and there were a few fly fisherman out enjoying the weather. The thorns are just the price of admission, I wouldn't do any trimming.

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  10. Mark,
    Thanks.
    I don't mind the admission, just don't like the increase.

    Atlas,
    Thanks.
    He was very pretty indeed.

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  11. I love brookies more and more! Glad you struck it out for that prize...

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  12. The River Damsel,
    Thanks.
    He was worth the physical abuse.

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  13. What a beautiful Brookie! Nicely done.

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  14. Steve Zakur,
    Thanks.
    There's a few still holding their color.

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