Small Stream Report 12-19-14

A stream in brook trout forest. This little stream that flows through some lovely woodlands, and in the past has been good to me. I had not been here since late August and did not know what to expect. The stream had suffered through a dry late summer and into fall. When I saw it in August it was almost dry in places, not a very good scene.

Since that time we have received ample rains and the stream has been replenished with the main ingredient needed to sustain wild brook trout. I had no idea on what the low water had actually done to the trout. I was hoping for a good day but I also expected little. The day was cloudy and cold with a sometimes brisk wind. The first fly up was a proven fish producer. After fishing it for a half hour without even a bump the thought was the brook trout had fallen on bad times and there numbers had dwindled. I moved upstream to a run/pool that has provided a fish or two on dry flies. I tied on a bomber, what the hell if your not catching trout on flies you might as well not catch them on dry flies. I sent the bomber on a drift and quickly a rise and a miss. Several more attempts and in seemed they liked the bomber.

Finally I was able to hook up. In a few moments I held a wonder. The brook trout was in almost perfect condition. The fish had survived a very bad period of low water as well as the spawn and came through in good shape.

I tied on a small yellow muddler and worked it the pool. Several casts later a brookie struck and soon was at hand.

With a short time left to the fishing day I decided to fish a few deep pools on my way back to the car. I tossed the muddler out and as soon as it stopped its drift a crazy brookie almost launched itself onto the bank to grab the fly. I said to myself no way is this fish coming back. On the second cast it did just that, this time he got stuck.

What the heck is a "muddler" Seems that this stream has a few survivors. Here's hope that this stream in brook trout forest is back.