Well Super Bowl Sunday is upon us. My chicken wings are prepped and marinating. Phil the groundhog has made his forecast, which is for an early spring. I'm enjoying my second cup of Nantucket blend and tossing around the thought of fishing, or should I say freezing for a while this day.
In December I did a post on fishing a winter stream. I received many nice comments. One in particular from a follower "tenkara ambassador" really summed up ones feelings about the seasons changing and angling. A short poem that he wrote and I would like to share with you.
" The river willow keeps its gold,
'til taken by Decembers cold,
and the winter long, unseen
fashions its spring mantle, green"
I received this surprise in the mail about a week ago. It was sent to me from Todd over at http://kingfisherriverguides.blogspot.com/. A old fly wallet that was made by LL Bean. It's made of leather and fleece. One can only imagine the streamers and stories it once held. Thanks Todd.
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| "Rustic Native" |
This is a framed photo of a Connecticut Brook Trout. "A Rustic Native"
I would also like to tell you of a wonderful group of anglers, and preservationists. The Sea Run Brook Trout Coalition. They are doing great work on trying to restore the habitats of this truly special brook trout. Check out their web site, and enjoy some the wonderful videos and info they offer. http://www.searunbrookie.org/
CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE
Allan,
ReplyDeleteI have the exact Fly Wallet on my fly desk (displayed)full of old streams, from a house my mother had sold years back (early '90s). Sad story, the family sold the house after an old gentleman passed, she listed it as the broker, the family took out what they wanted and told her to hire some workers and dumpsters for the rest...Long story short this fellow was an avid fly fisherman. My father has a half dozen or so of his old 'boo rods, thousands of old flies and wooden lures were taken from the house (1920s-1960s I'd guess just on materials and aging), as well as a few old wicker creels. Old wooden duck decoys my father now has are pretty cool too. Funny how some people regard their loved ones charished items, this fellow kept his old fly fishing and hunting equipment pristine for decades, even though the family said he hadn't used them in 20+ years (1970s).
Anyways...If you'd like I could e-mail you a photo of all those old streamers in the LL Bean wallet, some are pretty cool patterns with trailer hooks.
Tony,
DeleteThanks.
That's quite a story. Lots of history and memories in those items.
I would love to see a photo of the fly wallet and the streamers in it.
You can email me at uppahdam@aol.com
Hi Alan!
ReplyDeleteAn enjoyable post as usual. The photo of the stream look like a nice hideout for a trout. I've been thinking of getting me a leather wallet for flies since it would feel much better in the pocket and I was thinking of using it for small dry flies that has to dry. Very nice poem you quoted too. Well worth pondering over.
Your friend,
Mats Olsson
The Jassid Man,
DeleteThanks.
The wallets are wonderful, but there best for streamers and wet flies. The hackle on dries gets crushed in them.
Stay warm my friend.
Hi again Alan!
DeleteI was thinking of the type of flies like the black flymph I sent to you. I fish them dry and they are killers. Dry flymphs will do good in a leather wallet. Even tiny hackled dry flies could be put in a leather wallet. Try the black flymph as a dry fly and you'll never regret it, I promise!
Friendly greetings from a cold Sweden again,
Mats Olsson
Mats,
DeleteLike I said I used your fly the last outing, and I'll post the experience.
The others will get a full work out too. I just want to be able to fish and still feel my fingers.
Regards,
To cold Sweden from cold Connecticut.
Brk Trt, thanks so very much for publishing the poem and for your kind words. Currently I'm lying on the couch, victim of some malevolent virus when I had planned to be on the stream today. Next week, perhaps.
ReplyDeletetenkara ambassador,
DeleteThanks.
It's words are fitting to so many of us anglers.
Sorry about your illness, may I suggest chicken soup, and hot tea.
Take care
I would imagine one could find a good trout or two in that pool as the two waters converge. Nice picture. I used to have a leather fly wallet made for your streamer collection, but, have since passed it on. Nice to re-kindle a memory.
ReplyDeleteRainbow Chaser,
DeleteThanks.
They're there.
The one who received is lucky. Those are like old Wheatleys.
Hi Alan,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the link to the sea run coalition. They had a video on there that ran on World Fishing Network (WFN) about how to catch a salter down at Red Brook.
Ed,
DeleteThanks.
The one by Warren Winders. Nicely done.
I like that fly wallet and would like to get something similar if anyone still makes them. Rustic Native has a nice ring to it, beautiful picture!
ReplyDeleteBill,
DeleteThanks.
Bill, LL Bean still has them. They're quality and priced very reasonable.
http://www.llbean.com/llb/shop/48766?page=maine-guide-waxed-canvas-fly-wallet
Great wallet, poem & photo Alan!
ReplyDeleteI tied a Mummichog Streamer that I think will work well on those salters.
I'll put up pic & recipe on my blog.
I'll also give you a few to test out the next time you venture up there.
Won't be long now, days are getting longer...
A.T.
Apache Trout,
DeleteThanks.
I just checked it out, well done.
I'll take you up on it.
Alan
ReplyDeleteI am a stickler for anything old, especially fishing equipment; hang on to the fly wallet, it is a beauty. I really enjoyed the poem. thanks for sharing
Bill Trussell,
DeleteThanks.
There's just some things you don't part with.
Nice, nice poem. Thanks for sharing it.
ReplyDelete