For those who love small streams, wild trout, and life...in their simplest form
Saturday, May 31, 2014
"Fern Meadow Creek" and a Streamer
I spent a few hours yesterday at a place I'll call "Fern Meadow Creek". It's a lovely stream that has its banks enveloped in ferns. Parts of this stream run pretty rough and others meander like a snail. These waters are home to wild brown trout.
For this outing I tied up a couple of streamers. The pattern was one I have never heard of and it's name shall remain quiet for now, a full post on this fly will come soon. I wish to thank Mel Moore for telling me of this streamer.
The lush green meadows of fern that seem endless. On this day when sunshine prevailed and a slight breeze moved the air just enough to keep the insects at bay. I tied on the streamer, fishing my 6ft 4wt this day. I sent the fly to work along the seams that border the rough water. It did not take long, perhaps the second cast when a trout hit the streamer. The fish was on solidly and soon found a root to seek cover. I attempted to move him away from that destination but it was not to be. What I had was no fish and a fly stuck in the submerged wood.
I continued to fish this place and was soon given another chance. A second strike and a second hookup. This time the result was better.
A nice wild brown. The streamer could not be left alone. As I worked the stream. I had many strikes, along with several browns to hand.
This brown had an impressive tail for his size. I can only imagine this guy a year from now.
A series of slow pools and short riffles proved unproductive. Then a large wood dam created a pool below it that was quite deep. These places can be hot spots for sure. I tossed the streamer and it sort of landed on its side and floated a bit. Suddenly a trout whacked it, pulled it under and was gone. Several repeated casts brought nothing. On one cast I allowed the fly to hang in the current a bit. This allowed to sink and move to the surface, sort of up and down. I soon felt a hard take and a nice fish was on.
Soon this handsome fellow was at hand. This outing took place in the middle of the day. A time of bright sun and some shadow. The streamer still worked very well. The next time I hope to work this fly under very low light conditions, the time when browns prowl.
Nice outing Alan. I went looking for browns yesterday afternoon as well but didn't find any interested in a dry.
ReplyDeleteMark,
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I don't know if these would have taken a dry, but they hit the streamer.
I saw those brookies you took....beautiful.
That fern carpet looks cool.
ReplyDeleteSwamp Yankee,
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The amber waves of grain have nothing on those ferns.
What a beautiful spot... The streamer is such a simple, enjoyable looking fly... Love it!
ReplyDeleteHibrenation,
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That streamer is pretty easy to tie as well as effective.
beautiful area! wish texas had more of that running water. :)
ReplyDeleteTexWisGirl,
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We are indeed fortunate.
Looks line a nice place for a nap. Good for fishing too.
ReplyDeleteMark Kautz,
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Your right Mark, a peaceful few winks can be obtained there....but the fish get in the way.
Alan, thanks for the shout out on the streamer pattern. Typing words on a computer can't show you the smile on my face. So you will have to settle for this. :)
ReplyDeleteMel Moore,
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That they can't. But this streamer put a smile on my face the with the second cast I made.
Beautiful wild browns Alan, I like the light colored wing on that streamer!
ReplyDeleteLQN,
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Long that wing looks to be the perfect match for a minnow, especially in the water.
Nice looking streamer, brook and fish. I hope you checked yourself carefully for ticks if you walked through those ferns!
ReplyDeleteRKM,
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I knocked a few off, but managed to not have any sink their teeth in as of yet.
Great stuff Alan, the stream and the browns, beautiful.
ReplyDeletebrian,
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It all makes for a wonderful outing.
Alan
ReplyDeleteOutstanding image of the fern field, which is the name I will give it, and as always colorful images of some wild brown trout. In the pool area are you wading next to pool to dangle the streamer? It looks as if the stream is somewhat wider there. Thanks for sharing
Bill Trussell,
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Bill most of that stream is fished from the bank, there's no wading. That plunge pool was fished with an upstream cast. The fly was allowed to swirl in the current.