Memorial Day, 2013

Memorial Day weekend, a long weekend for most and the official start of summer. Here in the northeast is was a bit strange. One day was cold, rainy and for some there was quite a bit of snow. One day was a transition back to some decent spring weather and the last day was pretty nice. My weekend was pretty full. Saturday was my grandson Ethan's birthday, "Happy Birthday Ethan" the family had a great time. Yesterday was a family gathering for a little cookout. Lots of burgers, hot dogs, and the stuff that brings it all together. Sunday the middle day I managed to get in some time to do some fishing. A small stream that had managed to come up some do to recent rains. The water was clear and a drop of the thermometer brought a reading of 54 degrees. The day in general was a transition of sun and clouds, some wind and rain. The streams thick leaf canopy allowed only the sun to pass through.

There were small sulphurs on the water, and the few rises I saw were of the trout taking them. I fished a sulphur imitation and in a quiet run had my first hookup.

This little wild brown sipped that sulphur and when hooked put up a good accounting before coming to hand.

There are sections of this stream I've never fished, on this day I also explored. Parts of it are thick with laurel, but others open up. I found many swift runs and pockets, areas I love to fish.

And in these runs and pockets I found willing brook trout. This one with his hooked upper jaw will be a beautiful representative come Autumn.

Spring flowers are about, there beauty is awesome.

A sulphur. A beautiful dainty mayfly. They had the trouts attention today.

The section where the log enters the water had several natural sulphurs eaten up by a fish. After watchcing this I sent my fly through. It produced a violent strike on the small fly.

Soon this beautiful wild brook trout was to come to hand. A quick photo and back to his cold lie.

I continued to explore this stream, but there is much more to check.

The last brookie of the day. I was fortunate to fish this day, and I know that part of that opportunity was given to me by those who have fallen in so many wars.