Small stream scouting.....7-12-14

Saturday we did some exploring of a stream in northwest CT. It's a little freestone that I was told about by a co-worker several years ago. He told me of the wild brook trout there and how as a kid he would catch them on worms. When asked he told me he had not fished the stream in many years, moving up to fishing larger rivers. He said that his brother was still fishing the stream and it was still giving up some wild brookies.

Well I got out the atlas and found the necessary routes and town roads that got us to the stream. Parked the Honda on the side of a dirt road that saw more bike travel than autos and started our walk. The road follows the stream and allows access to it with relative ease in parts and in others it's a little tricky. While walking for the 2.5 miles of the stream we saw 3 bike riders and one auto, just the way I like it.

The stream was low and incredibly clear. It had the usual runs and riffles with some deep pools. Peering into a few of these pools as we walked I observed several, to many rising trout. Further spying revealed the trout to be browns. These fish were eating ants probably as I saw no visible insects.

The water clarity was outstanding the entire length of the stream we walked.

We came upon several pools like these. There were trout at the head, center and tail of the pool. Suddenly at the head a trout would rise and all the others would swim in the direction of the rising fish, hoping he would miss the insect and give them the chance to grab it themselves. These trout were all browns.

I will venture back to this stream again, with fly rod and fly.