July 2012

As July comes to a close, it has turned out to be a good month. While the rainfall was not what we hoped for it still managed to keep the flows ok in the small streams. I have been fishing a tailwater for the most part in July but still managed to fish a small stream from time to time. This stream was a cool 64 degrees, and with low, clear water it was tough convincing a brookie to take.

I have been doing some prospecting this month, trying to locate another wild brook trout stream. Well I may have found one. I was a thin blue line on the map and I was encouraged by it's location. Yesterday I paid a visit to it.

After parking I walked into the woods. The hemlocks and hardwoods made for a dark walk. Soon I could hear the brook, its waters sounding, telling me its here. As I got closer I could see there was a drop off, and sure enough there it was.

I climbed down, or should I say slid down to the stream. It was beautiful. Good flow and a temp taken showed 66. I thought this may be a gem. I cast a fly into a nice run and quickly had a strike. This happened several times and I soon realized these were mini brookies. The stream was full of them, all to small to take the fly.

A pristine habitat, but so very harsh. Having fished many streams like this I knew there would be a bigger fish somewhere in this stream.

As I moved upstream I glanced up to the rocks above,"did I climb down that".

I continued fishing and taking all the beauty that was this stream. The fly kept producing a few hits, and even managed to hook one of the small residents.

Persistence paid off. In a tight wedge of the stream near a woody clump a wild brook trout took the Bomber. He was worth the effort. I will visit this stream again, perhaps this fall. I know the colors will be beautiful.