For the second year in a row a group of anglers who love small streams and the wild trout who live in these streams get together to fish the first day of the new year.
The stream we chose was a Connecticut Class 1 wild trout stream. A wild trout stream that author and artist James Prosek fished and wrote about in several of his books. It's a beautiful stream with lots of pools and riffles.
We gathered at the stream, exchanged a years worth of stories while enjoying hot coffee and donuts. We then dressed for a few hours of fishing. We split up with Pete and Kirk going upstream, and John and I fishing downstream.
Fishing for an hour or so I saw John working his way back to me. He stood on the bank and said lets move upstream and meet up with Pete and Kirk. As we walked along we told each other the happenings so far. We both had taken brook trout and missed others.
We finally met up with Kirk and Pete and were told fishing was good to them. We all walked together to the parking area for lunch...Sausage and Peppers, brownies and beverages. While eating we all commented on the weather, 50 degrees, bright sunshine, no wind, and no snow. Pete told us of the fly that was a killer on this day. A fly that he is a master of. The Bead Head Soft Hackle. As it turned out it was the top fly that day.
We fished again, and as the day wore on, some had to leave. Saying so long we ended this New Years Day with our first brook trout of the year.
Classic small stream trout water.
John, Kirk, and Pete.....the three wise men.
We were joined by another angler.
In this beautiful pool, I was able to take my first brook trout of the 2012. He was fooled by a midge pattern.
A wild jewel...
Thank guys for a fine day...New Years Day, 2012
That was great fun. I can't wait to go back there and give another shot. Beautiful fish.
ReplyDeleteGood fun...nice way to spend a New Year's Day!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful little stream. I can't think of a better way to spend the first day of the New Year , with good friends enjoying some of mother natures wonder.
ReplyDeleteRKM,
ReplyDeleteThanks.
I thought I would have read a report allready.
Steve,
Thanks.
You could have not asked for more.
HighPlainsFlyFisher,
Thanks.
It seemed as everything cooperated.
Alan, That sounds like a great tradition. I believe this is the largest stream i've seen you picture. Its a beautiful stream, and that brook brook trout is a trophy as well a beauty.
ReplyDeleteCare to share the midge pattern that got that beauty? I would like also to see a pic of the beadhead soft hackle fly.
Alan, Nice brookie to start out 2012 ! Glad you guys had a great day, just sorry I couldn't make it. Pete called me and told me he did well with the flies I tied for him for Christmas, it's almost like I was there with you. Hoping 2012 is filled with another year's worth of days fishing small streams
ReplyDeleteJohnny Utah,
ReplyDeleteThanks.
Yes it is one of the bigger small streams I fish.
I'll post the midge pattern on another blog post.
As far as the bead head soft hackle, perhaps Mark at "fishing small streams" can post it. He is the one who tied them for Pete.
Mark,
Thanks.
We would have enjoyed your company. Pete and that fly were in serious action all day.
The best to you in 2012.
Mark,
ReplyDeleteCould you post a photo of the fly you tied for Pete, along with the recipe?
great photo essay! Very enjoyable day!!
ReplyDeleteBT,
ReplyDeleteWOW, That's a nice brookie! What a fish!
Cliff
Brk Trt,
ReplyDeletewhat a way to start a new year off right, and what a dandy brookie in the photo.
Any info on the soft hackle fly of the day would be much appreciated.....DRYFLYGUY
Alan
ReplyDeleteI will work on a step by step for the pheasant tail and partridge soft hackle for folks interested and try to have it up in a couple days
mark
TROUT1,
ReplyDeleteThanks.
It was a great day fishing with you all.
cphaneuf,
Thanks.
He was bigger that I thought he was. The take was so subtle.
DRYFLYGUY,
ReplyDeleteThanks.
Mark at "fishing small streams" is going to do a blog post on the fly. From what I've seen of the flies results I would watch for his post.
Mark,
Thanks.
I'm looking forward to it as well as many others.
Awesome fish, there is nothing better than wild trout!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteIt's always enjoyable when you post a picture of a Brook Trout, since I haven't seen one in more than a year. It's not that I haven't tried, they just haven't been cooperative. I haven't given up yet.
ReplyDeleteMark
Very nice. I'm anxiously awaiting my first outing of 2012. That's a good book by the way.
ReplyDeleteThe pictures were great. I'll have to pick up the book this week, too.
ReplyDeleteMy 11 y/o caught his first wild trout in a small stream in Andover, NH where we live. You should have seen the look on his face. He had no idea that fish were in this stream and then he was amazed at the beauty of that brookie.
Thanks for your post!
Mr. Q,
ReplyDeleteThanks.
I agree with you totally.
Shoreman,
Thanks.
I hope you'll get that brookie soon.
Jay,
ReplyDeleteThanks,
I hope it's a good one.
Trout Undiscovered,
Thanks.
You'll enjoy the book I'm sure.
Congrats to your son on his achievement.
Brk-
ReplyDeleteGreat start to the year...
SamHall
What a way to start the year!
ReplyDeletesamhall,
ReplyDeleteThanks.
Now if I could only have a few more like it.
Sanders,
Thanks.
This is the second year that the weather worked in our favor. And this year the fish joined in.