Last week I ventured out to a new stream. The day was predicted to be very warm and with the snow melt I guessed the waters would be cold and off color, "wrong". They were indeed cold but the clarity was unreal. As I moved along the stream I saw places that just screamed brookies, but knowing full well of last summer and fall's hot and dry conditions I really did not know what I would find in the stream. I found a nice feeder stream and wanted to check that out as well but time was limited and I chose to fish the main brook and visit the little feeder next time.
Water rushing into a beautiful pool, what will it hold?
Well a dry fly fished along a seam told me what it held.
Why the stream in named "Hemlock Brook" some areas are so thick with them, they are old growth and appear to be doing fine.
Some of the deeper water gave up several brookies that viciously slammed a streamer. Can you identify the streamer?
The further up stream I worked the more fish I saw, but not necessarily caught.
Wild and strong....
Lovely stream and even more lovely fish.
ReplyDeleteWilliam Shuck
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Bill both were outstanding that day.
Looks like you had an awesome outing! That certainly appears to be a beautiful new stream!! Congrats!
ReplyDeleteTROUT1
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Pete it was a crap shoot attempting to fish new waters after last summer, but this one turned out to be a winner.
Excellent Blog again Alan......
ReplyDeleteI love fishing new waters, the decision of what flies to try, the anticipation of what my take on each cast, the uncertainty of what is around the next bend and the elation when it all works out and you hook up is intoxicating. I got chance last season to fish a few new waters with mixed results - one excellent outing to a stream in Scotland, one ok visit to a river in the English 'Lake District' followed by disastrous trip to a hill lake (or Tarn), also in the Lake District (and the highest trout fishery in England!).
Alistair
Anonymous
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Alistair I feel comfortable fishing familiar waters, almost knowing where to place that fly and expecting a trout will respond. But I also like the feeling when I'm on new waters. The changing of flies and the anticipation of maybe a big trout taking. Sometimes it work out and sometimes it's a failure...but it's all pure enjoyment, as you well know.
Alan - looks like you found another beautiful stream with brook trout! I think you have a six sense about these things!
ReplyDeleteMark Wittman
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Mark this one was easy in the fact that I fished the stream at a lower point. It was just getting up and checking it out. PS that stream was almost dry last summer, nice rebound.
Gorgeous water there Alan! And the fish are pretty darn nice looking too. :)
ReplyDeleteThat's an Edson streamer correct? I feel like you posted the name recently and I dont remember it!
Hibernation
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Will you have the right fly tyer but the fly is Old Family Recipe.
Always a good tour. The countryside is just beautiful.
ReplyDeleteMark Kautz
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Mark and the terrain was easy on my legs.
Fantastic report and photos, great looking honey hole.
ReplyDeleteOh ..... also just wanted to say, thanks for the effort it takes to post these blogs .... they're great.
DeleteDoug Korn, Fly Tyer
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Doug it was a good trip, and so was the second one there.
I appreciate your comment on the blog posts.
stunning fish as always Alan, well done mate
ReplyDeleteGeorge
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I love those guys.
Beautiful place....I be green with envy....
ReplyDeleteArmando Milosevic
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Armando I also become envious every time out.
The variation in color of those fish is impressive, and the vividness of those spots... I might have to fish this new stream some time ;)
ReplyDeleteRM Lytle
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Rowan I caught one brookie in that feeder stream that looked to be an albino, it was super light in color.
Now I must check a few of my Mass. streams.
Also is the fly a Dragon..........Ethan's Dragon, maybe?
ReplyDeleteDoug Korn,Fly Tyer
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Doug it's Bill Edson's "Old Family Recipe"
Sounds and looks like another beautiful day on the water for this time of year. Your part of the country just amazes me with its number of small streams and epic solitude. I looked at the streamer pattern for identification, but, I am not sure if it one of the old time streamer patterns or not.....
ReplyDeleteMel-Fly Tyin Times
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Mel for a small state we are blessed with many small streams, and many of those hold wild trout.
"Old Family Recipe"
Fantastic trout, sweet coloring! Those pics show one nice stream with what look like some mini-plunge pools...... great Brookie territory, and you are tuned into them. Thanks for the pics/story..
ReplyDeleteJim M
Anonymous
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Jim those plunge pools seem to give up a nice surprise now and then. I never pass up one.
Simply beautiful, Alan. I am glad to see the brook trout still making their way after the tough conditions the last two years. Regards,Sam
ReplyDeleteParachute Adams
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Sam it appears they are doing OK in this stream. We fished 4 streams yesterday that did not fare very well.
Beautiful location and those fish can't be beat. Is the fly a Bloody Butcher?
ReplyDeleteHoward Levett
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Howard now there's an old pattern that is not mentioned much in these days. I have to look that up and see if I can tie it.
The fly posted here is the "Old Family Recipe"