A Native, A Gentleman......

I have said many times that the brook trout is not an early riser. He is a fish that likes to sleep late and when he does wake he likes to just lounge along the stream bottom and quietly get his thoughts together on the day ahead. He is very similar to me in that regard and probably like most of us. Over the many years of pursuing fontinallis I have found that he will not actively start feeding until 8 AM, and that 10 until 2 are prime times to see him work the surface. Maybe that's why I like him so much, he gives me time for that second cup of coffee which I so enjoy.

Arriving at the stream I found the water flowing gently. There were several stressed colored leaves floating along and I wondered what is the fall foliage season going to be like in this low rainfall year. As I stepped into the stream I could see brook trout racing for cover, a good sign and a bad sign. The bad sign they were aware of me the good sign they don't stay scared to long.

I moved upstream kicking up the bottom and sending clouds of silt downstream. I found a nice looking place to stop and looked over the stream. I chose to wait out the silt storm and looked about the forest on either side while figuring out my game plan. I tied on a fresh piece of tippet and a dry fly and was ready to work the stream. It was not long before I had a willing player. A beautifully colored brook trout was at hand. I was fortunate to take several more during my few hours. As I started working my way back to my starting point I spooked a couple of nice fish. They scooted downstream in a hurry. I stopped and decided to wait and see if they would return. Some minutes later I sent the fly on a drift, there was no response, I repeated this a couple of times with the same result. They did not return, and I started walking again and then I spotted the fish. He was lying just in front of some stream vegetation. I cast the fly and saw the fish move to it and take.

He took that fly all over the stream, in the process he created his own silt storm. I even enjoyed a leap from him before he was at hand. A wonderful wild creature, a native, and a true blessing taken on a dry fly. Thanks friend.