Monday, November 21, 2016

"Finally"

Saturday morning I had the pleasure of fishing with Mark. It had been about six months ago we last ventured on a small stream together. We met around 10 and Mark so graciously provided coffee and muffins, corn muffins that is, such a treat. While enjoying that snack we discussed the brutal summer and hoped that the recovery would continue. A few other issues were put on the table and we resolved everything to a wonderful conclusion. We then rigged up and headed for the stream.

I had a dry fly on, a "Cinberg", which is a soft-hackle dry fly, Mark had on a dry also a Adam's Parachute. During the entire outing I believe we only used two flies.


Mark stalking brookies. Low profile, some camo, and the rest earth tones.


My first brook trout of the day. There was no resisting the Cinberg. That fly continued to produce, but I knew the fish were there just in a different portion of the stream like the bottom.


Tough fishing, but the rewards are enormous. In that pool a rising brook trout was observed...eventually Mark hooked him on a Elk Hair Caddis but the fish slipped the hook.


Beauty along the stream. Mark and I agreed that to fully convey the experience of a small stream is hard. We try to convey that experience in photos as best we can.


The fish were holding in tight places, but I managed to coax a few to the fly.


Wild brook trout....New England small stream fishing at its best.


This was the last place I would fish on the way up. The little foot bridge provided shade, and the sun was low enough that the undercut bank was in shade. I made my cast upstream of the bridge but was unable to get the fly near the undercut. I moved to the other side of the bridge while hoping I did not scare any fish. I cast the fly to the bank and suddenly a fish darted out and took the fly.


Moments later I slid my hand under this marvelous fellow. I could not believe how dark he was, almost black. His orange flanks seemed more pronounced in comparison to his very dark body. Another feature of this male was his black mouth.


It was a great day...we enjoyed each others company, we were rewarded with some fine angling, and found a good deal of hope for this stream and it's residents.










22 comments:

  1. Alan - As always, a day spent with you is always a pleasure. Thanks for your company. For those interested we took a quick video clip of Alan admiring and releasing that last fish https://www.facebook.com/Fishingsmallstreams/

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    1. Mark Wittman
      Thanks
      Mark it was a good day. And folks I urge you to view the video....

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  2. Good to see you gents got together and had a great day enjoying the weather and the fishing!!!

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    1. TROUT1
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      Pete it was a nice warm day for late November, and we had a few fish cooperate.

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  3. Great that you guys could get together and do something that you both are very passionate about. Love me some Fall!

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    1. Grandpa Mel
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      Mel a day to enjoy, the busy seasons are about to make their debut and this felt good.

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  4. Replies
    1. George
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      Angling is such an enjoyable task.

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  5. Beautiful. Unfortunately, our native Ohio brookies are a little too pressured to fish for on the regular. Only a few people know where they are and most only fish for them seldom. I've known where they were for a year now but have yet to go fish them. I'm hoping to make a trip to PA's brook trout streams in the near future just to experience it.

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    1. Gabriel Venditti
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      Gabriel I have read about that special stream that holds Ohio's only wild brook trout. I'm happy for those survivors. Protect and care for them.
      PA is a fine place to seek wild brookies, I wish you luck.

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  6. Wow. What a gorgeous male Alan. Love when they get that dark color and black mouth. Makes their lighter spots/orange color more pronounced!

    Justin

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    1. MrFishman80
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      Justin, those dark males are special. The black mouth does not show up very often in the brookies I catch so that makes this guy a true standout.

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  7. It always amazes me the different variations of colors on the brook trout. Each and every one is beautiful. Congrats on the great day spent with Mark.

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    1. Parachute Adams
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      Sam as many brook trout we catch they all are similar, yet they are different in some way. Makes us come back.

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  8. Excellent, excellent photo essay Alan! I am still just amazed at the beauty and brevity of the waters you fish and enjoy! The brookies in their beautiful surroundings are well represented in the excellent photography that you and Jeanette give to us! It's like we are right there with you!
    Doug

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    1. Dougsden
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      Doug that old saying "trout don't live in ugly places" is true. I hope we have such places forever.

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  9. That brookie blends in pretty well with those leaves Alan..I hope you and Janet have a very Happy Thanksgiving!

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    1. penbayman
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      Mike they sure compliment each other. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

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  10. Wonderful gems from a pretty little stream. Many would not even believe that such a tiny water would even have minnows. That is the charm of fishing small streams. You never know what may turn up. Thanks for taking us along.
    Cheers,
    Steve.

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    1. Steve Hynes
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      Steve not knowing what will take your fly is a big plus for small stream fishing....one of many.

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  11. Replies
    1. Becks and Brown Trout North Yorkshire
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      Small but large in terms of satisfaction

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