Yesterday was not supposed to be a fishing day, but the chance to do it came up and I took it. The outing was only for a couple of hours and those hours were very early. I was up at 4:30 and out the door at about 5. There was only time for one cup of coffee, and that was not a good thing. I knew I had to stop for one for the road so I did. Back on the road for the 45 minute drive to the stream.
Upon arrival at the stream I noticed the water a bit off color. I could not understand this because it had not rained. Oh well, geared up I moved upstream to a favorite pool. The water was almost brown. A bad day was expected. I placed my thermometer in the water and it read 58 degrees, quite cold. I tossed out a wet fly and began to work the pool. On what was my third or forth cast I had a solid strike as the fly rested after its swing. A few casts later came my first hookup which was short lived.
I saw several rises along the bank. There were no bugs anywhere. I soon determined that the trout were jumping out of the water for the blackberries that overhang.
Dark stream, where the hemlocks grow. The riffles between pools held the trout.
Several brook trout were taken in these riffles. A wet fly as well as the BA Caddis worked well.
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| Brook trout and the BA Caddis |
Click Images To Enlarge
Beauties those brookies!!! Look to be well fed too!
ReplyDeleteTROUT1,
DeleteThanks.
Pete they were strong and did not come in without a good fight.
Those are some hefty brookies for sure, guess all those blackberries are putting on the ounces!
ReplyDeleteMark,
DeleteThanks.
For sure. Something was eating the berries, I hope they were friendly.
Told ya they were eating well there this year. :)
ReplyDeleteNice job Alan!
Apache Trout,
DeleteThanks.
And you were right. I can't figure out why the off color water.
Al, probably dam releasing water.
DeleteThat's what I thought.
DeleteAT!! Maybe you can tie a "Blackberry Fly". You seem to have the recipe for some of those crazy concoctions that work!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteGood idea Pete!
DeleteThe problem is I may catch a black bear instead of a trout. :)
Pete and John, it's already in the vise.
DeleteGreat story, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteMatt,
DeleteThanks.
I can't wait to tell the story to my grandkids. Berry eating brookies.
Alan
ReplyDeleteThat stream has to be the best looking stream I have seen you fish. Thanks for sharing another great post.
Bill Trussell,
DeleteThanks.
We have fished that stream on New Years day for a few years. I guess we should visit it more often.
Really nice Brookies, that's the first time I've heard of fruit eating trout.
ReplyDeleteCol,
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Me too. Imagine if there were apples hanging close.
That's a plump brookie!
ReplyDeleteLQN,
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They put a good bend in the 5wt. for sure.
the berries look great!
ReplyDeleteTexWisGirl,
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The blackberries were real sweet.
RE: Already in the vise!!! Somehow I just knew that!!!
ReplyDeleteTROUT1,
DeleteYes and I may give it a trial run soon.
That stream looks awfully inviting. Those are some nice sized brookies!
ReplyDeleteBill,
DeleteThanks.
A bit off color but it fished OK
A friend of mine caught a stocked rainbow trout on another river nearby some years back. He kept it for dinner. When he checked the stomach contents it was full of bittersweet berries & snails. On the stream you fished Al, I spent an afternoon one spring catching trout that were after inchworms repelling down from tree branches. That was a fun day.
ReplyDeleteApache Trout,
DeleteThanks.
I can believe that, especially from a stockie.
Those days are memorable.
Brk Trt,
ReplyDelete1st) I love the 1st photo. It looks very pleasing in everyway.
2nd) WOW!! Those are dandy sized brookies.
Well done across the board.........Phil
DRYFLYGUY,
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Phil I appreciate it.
Nice brookies. Way to take advantage of the opportunity.
ReplyDeleteCasey,
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You have to grab it when it's there.
The brookies are getting bigger and bigger.
ReplyDeleteKevin Frank,
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In that stream for sure.
Really enjoying your summer. Love to think of those brookies jumping for those berries.
ReplyDeleteJim Yaussy Albright,
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That I am. I can visualize them doing just that.
Beautiful Trout! I had no idea trout would eat berries.
ReplyDeleteAtlas,
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Until that day I never would have thought they would either.
Those are some great looking brookies. Those berries must be nutritious! How do you think a raspberry fly would do?
ReplyDeleteFinFollower,
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Agree on the berries. I'm going to try to tie one up.
"Berry eating Brookies" now that's a great fishing story! Nice fat Brookies too!
ReplyDeleteMichael Curry,
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One I'm sure is unique.
They were hefty fellas.