It's official, Connecticut has just recorded its coldest February ever. The average temperature was 16.1 degrees. The photo above is a small stream. I took this photo on February 21st. The stream was locked in a ice field that must have been from top to bottom. It was almost impossible to see any running water. This scene was typical on the small streams of Connecticut from mid January until perhaps mid March. It is hard to believe any creature would make it through, let alone a fragile brook trout.
Well they did. I fished a few times in the previous week and found the brook trout willing to strike a fly, not one dragged along the bottom but a fly almost on the surface. When hooked and brought to hand the condition of these jewels was that of prime.
The ice field has all but receded and a fresh new beginning is about to burst forth. The brook trout is truly a survivor.
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| A small Connecticut stream.....3-25-15 |
Looking at the 1st picture, it's hard to imagine anything surviving under a sheet of solid ice. Amazing creatures fore sure.
ReplyDeleteDrew LooknFishy,
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Drew it is truly amazing. That ice was scary just looking at it, never mind trying to live there.
gosh, crystal clear water! beautiful!
ReplyDeleteTexWisGirl,
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Nature has a way of showing us clarity.
Just goes to show how tuff those Brook Trout are to survive a winter like you guys endured. I’m really impressed with those colorful pebbles lying at the bottom of that stream bed. No need to use a rock tumbler to bring out their colors. We have colorful pebbles lying in our tailrace stream bed, but none that colorful. Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeleteBill Trussell,
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Bill snowed here again last night. Natural scrubbing action taking place in that stream.
Everything is coming to life over here . strange isnt it we havent had a proper winter for a few years not seen enough snow to cover the drive in three years, I envy your proper climate proper winter proper summer...tight lines
ReplyDeleteAndy
becks and brown trout,
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Andy don't say that to loud. The seasons are nice, but it seems as though Winter is so long.
Nice to see those little jewels survived.
ReplyDeleteHoward Levett,
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Indeed.
The ability of the brook trout to survive is amazing whether high temps and low water or ice, they seem to cling to life against all odds.
ReplyDeleteRI brook trout,
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That they do. Now we must put our best efforts forth to keep the odds a little better.