Sunday, May 25, 2014

The "Leaper"

It's 5 AM and I've been up since 4. I'm working on my second cup of coffee. A bit of a side note, I'm a coffee drinker, and have been since childhood. All brands, and all methods of brewing have touched my lips. Some of these have been disgusting, and some very good. About 6 years ago I bought a Kuerig coffee brewer, along with those K-Cups and gave it a try. The best coffee brewer going. One cup at a time, always fresh and hot. My favorite brand is Green Mountain Nantucket followed by Eight O'Clock, an old A&P brand of coffee. Enough of that.....

Friday was a cloudy day. It had produce a sprinkle or two but not to bothersome. The night before had produced a heavy shower so the woods were wet. Care was required when moving through the brush, and bump of a small tree or bush sent water down ones neck. The smell of a wet Spring woodland with flowers and grasses in bloom is hard to describe. I started fishing wet flies and soon had my first fish, a brookie about 4 inches. I continued to toss wets and they proved to be the fly of the day.

I noticed several sulphurs about and then a rise or two. I tied on a sulphur parachute and sent it off to hunt. The fly brought no response, even though I continued to see the rise.

I realized these fish were taking the fly as it emerged or lying in the surface film. I tied on a light colored emerger and started working the section below the fallen pine tree. As the fly started to swing at the end of the drift a fish struck hard. He was hooked and proceeded to put on a display of airborne moves designed to throw the hook. The trout gave me the thought of a salmon with this display. I counted four leaps, along with some fast runs.


The pressure of the 3wt eventually prevailed and the brown was subdued. As it lay quiet in the calm water at my feet I reached in and gently lifted the trout. I admired this brown, both for its tenacity and beauty. I placed him back into the cold stream and a second or two he was gone.


The "leaper" released and always remembered.



22 comments:

  1. Brk Trt,
    a dandy post all around as well as a beauty of a wild brown.
    Good stuff..........Phil

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. DRYFLYGUY,
      Thanks.
      Phil, it's appreciated friend.

      Delete
  2. The only thing that beats the Keurig is a a camp percolator over the fire. Not quite as simple though :)

    Beautiful brown.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Michael Curry,
      Thanks.
      We would carry a percolator in the car and brew a pot while taking a break from fishing.

      Delete
  3. pretty and energetic. :)

    i've been a coffee drinker since i was a kid, too. but i drink plain, old folgers. hate starbucks - if i'm out, i'll hit mcdonald's. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. TexWisGirl,
      Thanks.
      Theresa I'm not a Starbucks fan either. McDonalds makes a good cup of coffee, and locally they're only 1$ any size.

      Delete
  4. Alan
    How do you fish for trout on the Farmington when they are feeding just below the surface? This is the feeding habits Friday of the rainbow on our tailrace. No one was landing trout because everyone was fishing dries. Very few fisherman fish nymphs or soft hackles on the tailrace. As written from my post I landed the trout I brought to hand fishing a soft hackle just under the surface. I am really impressed with the brown you landed fishing subsurface. What was the name of the fly you were using? Thanks for sharing

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Bill Trussell,
      Thanks.
      When trout appear to be rising, and will not take the dry fly it's because they are grabbing the fly as it is emerging. The insect is trapped in the surface film and can't break free. They are very vulnerable and the trout feed on them. The soft hackle works just like a struggling insect. I fish them on a dead drift and allow them to rise to the surface, I'll pause a few moments and retrieve VERY slowly. Most times this is when I'll take a strike.

      The soft hackles I've been fishing the last few outings have been sulpher emergers. Just some cream dubbing and a 2 turns of a light hen hackle.

      Delete
  5. very nice Alan, the trout, stream and green woodland foliage is pleasing to the eyes.

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  6. That one is a beauty AL. Nice job!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. TROUT1,
      Thanks.
      He still had good coloring along with those awesome spots.

      Delete
  7. Looks like you're having a great Memorial Day weekend Alan. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Howard,
      Thanks.
      You would be right. Hope you are too.

      Delete
  8. I've never had a brown leap for me, but they've all been stocked fish. Rainbows, OTOH, want to fly.

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    Replies
    1. Gary,
      Thanks.
      Wild browns will at times jump. And I agree "bows will put on some spectacular diplays.

      Delete
  9. While I don't own a Keurig, my name is Mel and I am addicted to coffee also! My day doesn't start without a big cup of brew. Beautiful brown trout and great spotting on the body. I am impressed that it "leaped" as much as it did, too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mel Moore,
      Thanks.
      Mel the main thing is the coffee, not so much the method of brewing. And it's not a good morning until that first cup is consumed. The brown surprised me with his acrobatics.

      Delete
  10. Alan....

    Back from Maine, only fished once, no fish..........had to put up with the Maine state bird (blackflies), covered from head to toe in welts from those little creatures...........they will drive a man insane, as they make you itch uncontrollably until you scratch the skin off your bones. Had to use a full body net and they still find a way to bite you

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. flyfisher1000,
      Thanks.
      They are nasty critters for sure..."the defenders of the wilderness" some say. We learned many years ago Dave that the best time to fish Maine was the month of September...no bugs, and plenty of willing fish.

      Delete
  11. I love the smell of wet forest you were describing , that and a thermos of coffee and a rod in your hand are the ingredients for a fine day.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. HighPlainsFlyFisher,
      Thanks.
      We both agree, and it's tough to beat.

      Delete