Waters of Color

There are many small streams in Connecticut that hold wild brook trout. This one is a special one, I shouldn't say that because all of them are. What I should say is that its surroundings are special. Its located in northwest Connecticut and its a freestone stream. I don't know its origin but can give a guess, some spring fed swamp, with help along the way. The true beauty of this stream is the hemlock forest it flows through. The smell of a hemlock forest is hard to describe, it can be so sweet with that evergreeen fragrance, and also have that boggy, peat odor almost like an old ash tray.

The stream was flowing nicely over stones, logs and various other obstacles. A check of the water temp gave a reading of 58 degrees. I tied on a Bomber and started prospecting. The fly was hit repeatedly but by small fish who could not be hooked. After thinking a bit I changed to a wet fly, a Picket Pin, and sent it through a pool. The fly was met with the same result of hits from small fish.

I continued to fish under a canopy of large hemlocks, which at times made the area as dark as night. I came to a pool, the water flowing over a boulder and several sunken logs. The water color seemed to look like iced tea. That swift run is where I found the bigger brook trout. They were holding in the fast water behind any boulder or tree that gave cover.

The tannin waters of this stream, cold and clean.

Wild brook trout. Most of the fish taken were this size, but I'm confident there are a few larger.

Again I am so appreciative of such places, and of the special rewards they give.

CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE