Tuesday, July 31, 2012

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.










19 comments:

  1. Nice find. I'll have to start pouring over the map and see if I can find some gems as well.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. RKM,
      Thanks.
      Good idea, finding them is only part of it. The fun is exploring them.

      Delete
  2. Looks nice...I bet that photo did not do justice to the descent you had to make.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Love those dark forested streams! I believe the red wildflower is a cardinal flower

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mark,
      Thanks.
      They are sure pretty. Cardinal flower, thanks.

      Delete
  4. When I view your great photos, something deep in my brain "lights up." Must be like what the meth addict feels, but I get to keep my teeth.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. tenkara ambassador,
      Thanks.
      That's one wild way of putting it.

      Delete
  5. Hi Alan,
    In your view what is the best map out there to find gems like you found?
    Great pictures and I like the new header too.
    Ed

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ed,
      Thanks.
      I use the DeLorme Atlas and Gazetteer.
      It's a streamer. I'll post more about it soon.

      Delete
    2. Thank you.
      I will pick one up.

      Delete
  6. I am fascinated every time I can find such a beautiful fish in such a "thin blue line". To me, the moss covered logs in a grove of hemlocks just adds more for me to appreciate. Nice job.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kiwi,
      Thanks.
      I'm in total agreement on both.

      Delete
  7. There's nothing quite as special as discovering a new piece of water and then proceeding to fool the quarry you had hoped would live there!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HighPlainsFlyFisher,
      Thanks.
      It's a nice feeling for sure.

      Delete
  8. Very Nice Al, as usual you have the uncanny ability to find such gems!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Trout1,
      Thanks.
      Once in awhile I get lucky and the fish are there.
      But it's fun prospecting.

      Delete
  9. Low, clear water is tough to fish no doubt. It's always fun exploring new waters, you sometimes get the feeling you've discovered something that nobody else knows about. It's not always true but it's nice to think it.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thanks for taking us along on your discovery..good job there Brk Trt

    ReplyDelete