Friday, April 13, 2012

Pink Chenille, And Some Other Hash


In New England we have been suffering from a lack of substantial rain fall. In Connecticut we are about four inches below normal. The streams are still flowing but a loss of volume is starting to show. While air temps have been cool especially nights this has managed to keep the waters cool. While walking the woods I've managed to see beautiful signs of Spring. They show themselves in the form of wild flowers popping up through the brown leaves of last Autumn.
I fished this stream the other day and was given the chance to take a few brookies. They were holding in the riffles and took a Bomber with gusto. There were two larger pools on either side of the riffle that looked like prime places for a nice brown. I sent the Bomber through the pool several times, and there was no respect paid this work horse. A fly change was needed for the pool just looked to promising to give up on. Perhaps a PT nymph or a wet fly might do the trick. So out of the box came the "Pink Chenille" nymph. Sending the nymph on several drifts through the pool brought nothing. Then on one drift nearer the bank a fish swirled and the fly was taken. The little 6ft 2wt was put to the test with this fish. It was a rainbow of generous proportions. The trout covered every inch of that pool trying to take me into the undercut roots and leaping on several occasions. He finally gave up and was photographed and released.
A very formidable opponent.
And as part of my healthy lifestyle change. Chicken hash. Chicken breast diced, red pepper, fresh baby spinach, scallions, diced Italian sharp cheese and salt, crushed red pepper, and chile powder. It's fried in a bit of olive oil to a golden brown.
It can be served with a baked potato, and beverage of choice.

36 comments:

  1. Brk Trt,
    I like the topic, the stream, the bow & the photos of the hash. It all looks real good.
    Its going to be a dandy of a weekend, which my plans are to get out & wet a line myself.....DRYFLYGUY

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. DRYFLYGUY,
      Thanks.
      Good for you. Get out there and enjoy.

      Delete
  2. Hi Alan.....I thought I was going to have to chastise you when I saw hash in the title but then I read that you made some good choices with respect to substitutions. Nice job all around.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ed,
      Thanks.
      It's a challenge to come up with healthier recipes. But I'm getting better at it.

      Delete
    2. Watch Dr. Oz or go to his website.....that guy has more tricks up his sleeve when it comes to eating healthier and still having the food taste good.

      Delete
    3. Ed,
      My grandkids watch him. They told me he is not in favor of microwave popcorn. Now that breaks my heart.

      Delete
  3. You always make me hungery! Beautiful stream. I had no knowledge of how pretty the CT woods were until starting to archery hunt there about 5 years ago. Amazing streams, hills, and valleys. Your images and tales bring it to life and help make great starts to the days I get to check out your blog - thanks! Keep the healthy lifestyle going!
    Will

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Will,
      Thanks.
      And what's nice about it, most of these streams are located on state lands.
      I think that lifestyle is here to stay.

      Delete
  4. Alan, Great report and pics, The myrtle has been in full bloom here for some weeks now, and many spring flowers are all around. I must say your photo skilled are superb in that you can take a picture of any food and cause me to salivate. Keep tying and flying.

    Your friend
    Johnny Utah

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Johnny Utah,
      Thanks.
      Sometimes it all comes together just right.

      Delete
  5. Great post man and beautiful fish. I wish we had streams like this here in Maryland. I only have one brookie stream in my area. It is very small. I try not to abuse it too much. I am jealous that you get to visit these wild streams and catch these beautiful fish. Well done.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. J and M Flies,
      Thanks.
      I am fortunate to have several streams within gas range.

      Delete
  6. Brk
    The New England area is where my wife and I should be living not only for the food but for the fantastic fishing. Thanks for sharing a great place

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bill Trussell,
      Thanks.
      It's a fine area for fly fishing, and the food not bad either.

      Delete
  7. Great story , and beautiful fish. It looks like Spring is slowly working it's way into your neck of the woods , gotta love it.
    That dish looks divine...might have to steal that recipe from ya , it'd even be one I could utilize on a camping trip.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HighPlainsFlyFisher,
      Thanks.
      When your ready for it just ask. It would be a snap to fix when camping.

      Delete
  8. All things good. Your Spring is looking very good indeed. The trout? More than good!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jim Yaussy Albright,
      Thanks.
      All things are falling into place. Just need some rain to fall.

      Delete
  9. Great fish. I'd eat that prison food any day of the week.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. RKM,
      Thanks.
      What prison food. Oh you mean the bow.

      Delete
  10. There you go again, putting pictures of that good food on your blog. I've got to go to the kitchen and get something to eat.

    Mark

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Shoreman,
      Thanks.
      I think a few of us suffer from good food photos.

      Delete
  11. Alan

    Love the new look of the blog! I carry some pink worms with me from one of your previous posts but haven't had the guts to fish them. I just can't seem to get past the idea of sneaking around small streams, trying to stay hidden and then tossing something pink in the water.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mark,
      Thanks.
      The blog needed a face lift. I don't fish the pink stuff always, but I will when I want something different. They usually work. Try it sometime.

      Delete
  12. It's looking like the water out here is going to be a little skinny as well...spring seems to have forgotten to do some of its job, as it looks like it has out there as well. Glad that you were able to put the pink chenille to use. Beautiful fish!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sanders,
      Thanks.
      What a difference a year makes. Last year there was plenty of rain.

      Delete
  13. Hey Alan, I like the new look for your blog and, as usual, I always seem to find your posts when I am a little hungry...now even more so!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Steve,
      Thanks.
      I'm glad you like the new look. And the food.

      Delete
  14. love the beautiful colours on that rainbow brk trt, and your new healthy option hash looks very nice too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. brian,
      Thanks.
      There are times when their colors are outstanding. The hash was wonderful.

      Delete
  15. Water levels here in PA are lower than I ever remember seeing them at this time of year. If we don't get rain soon it might not be a good year in the trout fishing department. Nice job on the rainbow and that had to be quite a battle on a 2wt! The hash looks really good!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bill,
      Thanks.
      I guess its like that all over the east. I'm hoping for a few wet weeks soon.

      Delete
  16. Lovely to see that the spring is approaching! Nice to see that you've had a nice fight with a rainbow trout (I know how it feels when a trout is rushing for cover in a small stream). The meal looks gorgeous too!
    Have fun trying out small streams,
    Mats Olsson

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The Jassid Man,
      Thanks.
      Yes its a beautiful spring. Trout in a small stream can cover a lot of ground in a hurry, and they know where to go.

      Delete
  17. The lack of snow melt and rain has been a real issue here too Brk Trt..word is out that many brooks and streams are extremely low and even some lakes and ponds are at "low tide"..if we don't get some serious moisture soon what will the water levels and temps be like come july and august?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. penbayman,
      Thanks.
      At this rate I hate to even think of July, August. We just have to hope for some wet weather.

      Delete