Monday, January 16, 2012

Mid January, Shelf Ice, and Streamers


Mid January and winter has just tightened its grip here in the northeast. The temps have been in the single numbers to mid teens daily for a few days. The streams remain open but shelf ice has formed and to attempt wading can be dangerous.
Saturday we drove to a stream that I fish often, in warmer times,that is. The road along the stream was all but abandoned. The sun was shining bright and gave some beautiful highlights to the stream. A crystal wonderland.




This is a streamer that seems to capture that wonderland.
Blue and white, like the colors of ice. A tail of hackles like thin icicles, and a body of white, like the snow that lines the waters edge.


The streamers name "Shelf Ice"


Stream darters are small fish that live in rivers and streams. These small fish make up part of the diet of trout that live in the streams. Brown trout are good examples of big fish eating little fish and often the largest trout in such streams are browns.
This darter is only one type found in streams, but it is the model for the next streamer.

The darter, almost looks like a small brown.


This streamer takes the colors of that darter. It is the hope that when the streamer is retrieved in a zigzag darting style a big brown will make a hit.

The streamers name, "Darter"

17 comments:

  1. Beautiful pictures and a wonderfully tied streamer. A work of art!!!
    Have fun tying streamers and fishing them,
    M.O.

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  2. Great pics and the darter is a beautiful tie. Simply gorgeous.

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  3. Wow that is a great post:) I love the stream picture. The streamers are wonderful and the Darter and the "Darter" streamer look like the trout would love eat them :) Tight lines.

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  4. Beautiful streamers. I agree with Jassid, they are works of art! Awesome

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  5. Beautifully tied flies, I agree they are works of art. I think I'd want to frame the streamers versus fish them. Thanks for sharing.

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  6. your pictures are great quality, nice flies to

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  7. The Jassid Man,
    Thanks.
    Many enjoyable hours are spent doing just that.

    Johnny Utah,
    Thanks.
    Wonderful comments from a master tyer.

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  8. Trout MaGee,
    Thanks
    Streams look pretty this time of year.

    Sanders,
    Thanks.
    Your kind comments are appreciated.

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  9. Benny,
    Thanks.
    Wonderful comments.

    pierce harrell,
    Thanks.
    I'm glad you enjoy them.

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  10. Darter looks like it will turn the trick! I am sure most any trout will inhale it right away. Great pics!

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  11. Yes ol' man winter has finally closed his hand on New England. We're in his grasp now but mid January to Mid April really isn't that much time to prepare for next season. And you good folk of Southern New England will be out even sooner. By the way Brk Trt, be extra cautious on that shelf ice..got grippers for your waders? And your "Shelf Ice" streamer? Cool!

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  12. RKM,
    Thanks.

    Savage,
    Thanks.
    I hope they do.

    penbayman,
    Thanks.
    We got our first snowfall last night. I figure we have to get through Jan. and Feb, March can have some decent days.

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  13. beautiful pictures as always...

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  14. Beautiful streamer!
    Stay warm, friend.

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  15. Steve,
    Thanks.

    G Lech,
    Thanks.
    Nantucket Blend coffee, chicken soup, and thoughts of rising trout.....Warm

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