A cold day in.........

Yesterday mornings forecast was for sunny skies and light winds with a possible high temp around 35. Looking at the next few days Wednesday was the warmest day of the lot. So I set off to find a few trout willing to play catch and release. The day was truly spectacular, a snowfall the day before left the woods like a wonderland. As I was gearing up and deciding what fly to try first, my eye caught some movement. As I turned to the direction of the movement I saw a hawk burst from the snow. He had something in his talons but I could not recognize what it was.

To the stream. I fished only a few flies, knowing the water was cold most of the activity was going to come from the bottom or very close to the bottom. I must have fished for several hours and all I had to show for it was a solid strike on a small streamer, and endless build up of ice in the guides. The day was still bright but not warmer. I knew this was going to be a day for walking and enjoying that which is around the stream.

I watched a flock of tom turkeys feeding on some winter berries. These guys were very good at picking the berries, some even jumped to reach the ones at the of the bush.

In this slow moving pool near the bank is where I took the strike on the streamer.

About two in the afternoon I noticed a few of these guys on the snow and rocks along the stream. I don't have any real good stonefly imitations so I tied on a Adams parachute, the thought was that if I matched the size and the color was close it would work.

In this pool I noticed some rises. These were along the far side and were not an easy cast. After several attempts the Adams was sucked under. A brief twist and shake by the trout and it was gone. Trout 2, Alan 0. That's OK and I considered this a wonderful cold day along a small stream.