Arriving stream side I quickly saw a buffet of insects about. There were the ever present midges, stone flies, both crawling and in flight, and I noticed what appeared to be caddis about.
So the first fly sent into action was a elk hair caddis. I worked the fly through riffles and a slow deep pool. It was soon made clear the fish were not ready to surface feed, so I tied on a soft-hackle and bingo. Several hits but it took some time before I had my first of the day.
A lovely little wild jewel.
Warmer temps can also cause problems. As snow melts along the side of the stream it drops and floats, this can cause water temps to cool and they will cloud up.
This male took a soft-hackle too. He also took a jump or two before sending up the white flag.
As time went by I noticed several faint rises. These were not the splashy ones but more like a sip.
I tied on a mini-hornberg and in the next half hour brought several brookies to hand.
The last fish of the day also took a dry fly. Well that gives me February in the books on a dry fly.
Great pictures Alan. I especially like the first picture. That looks a good sized Brookline. Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteBob W
Bob W
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Bob when your tracks are the only ones, you are in for a fine day.
Quite a good day afield in the snow Alan! The warm the next few days should open the streams a bit... Be safe and have fun out there.
ReplyDeleteHibernation
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Will it was one of winters top 3. They are saying by Sunday temps should be in the fifties.
Nice report Alan. Those brookies look like they have coped with your winter with ease - has it been mostly mild over there?
ReplyDeleteHoping to get out at the weekend for some end off season winter grayling and the pictures you posted have got the fishing bug urging me to get onto the river.
Alistair
Anonymous
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Alistair it has been pretty much a typical winter, a few days have moderated some and that enabled me to get out. I'm happy to have a positive effect on you...now go out and fish.
Simply Beautiful photos Alan!! Gorgeous Brookies too!!!
ReplyDeleteTROUT1
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Pete they were fly taking mood that day.
Alan
ReplyDeleteA good selection of flies to cover this stream today, and some nice brook trout taken to inhale them. Thanks for sharing
Bill Trussell
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Bill the fly selection worked very well. That last photo is where a Mickey Finn would have worked but to much snow.
What a beautiful set of pictures to highlight your posts of this Winter fun.......... Very good coloring on those Brookies........ Alas, The Hornberg, now that is a pattern from our younger days.
ReplyDeleteMel Fly-tyin Times
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Mel some of them had fall colors intact. The Hornberg is a staple in my fly box.
Lovely photographs of some stunning fish as always Alan.
ReplyDeleteGeorge
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Like I mentioned to Mel I was surprised that they held their spawning colors, at least some did.
Alan, Great pics and looks like you owned that water. Now I have to deal with a fresh case of the shack-nasty's though. :)
ReplyDeleteRalph Long
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Ralph love those days when it all works out.
The nasty's have not been an issue as of yet for me....fingers crossed.
Do you use the bow and arrow cast at any time?
ReplyDeleteChris Ingrassia
Nanuet
Anonymous
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Chris I very seldom use the B&A cast. Most times I'll try to position myself to make a more conventional cast.
The colors on those fish are so vibrant! Hard to imagine that in the middle of winter.
ReplyDeleteI also wanted to say thank you for the leaders. They are going to be used in a W&M display I'm making up. All I need is one of your beautiful classic flies to finish it off.
Howard Levett
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Howard looking at the fish you would think it was more like October.
Your quite welcome....keep checking your mail...
If you can abandon the brookies for a moment, the white perch are piling up, at the marinas along the CT River down in the brackish zones. On a warm Feb day the fishing can be truly outstanding. White perch fillets are gourmet fare especially taken from cold salty water.
ReplyDeleteJohn Dornik
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John Hamburg cove comes to mind. As a younger man I did seek the white perch, but now it's the brookie that has my heart.
Nice going Alan on finding a brookie to take a dry in February!
ReplyDeleteMark Wittman
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Mark it seems that Feb and March are tough months to get them to take a dry. The next week could bring them up often.
Well done catching the brook trout on a dry fly this time of year. By far my favorite way to fly fish, and I can't wait for the warmer weather with the hatches that come with it.
ReplyDeleteRegards, Sam
Parachute Adams
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Sam they were looking up but not like they do in May.
My trip up NE MA was put on hold...to much snow. I'm not complaining for I know it will help later on.
Good call, Alan. There is indeed too much snow as I found out this afternoon on a vacation day I took. I hit a couple of runs I like on the Swift, but hitting others was too much for me with hip waders on and such. Trout didn't cooperate today either, but still nice to be out.
DeleteSam deep snow puts strain on my knees, and that's why when I find a nice run I'll stay put for a spell. You may want to burn another vacation day next week for I hear it's going to be nice.
DeleteBy the way I fished your Royal Wulff the other day and had a brookie rise to it.
I am glad the Royal Wulff got some interest! Hopefully it connects next time. I have made my mind up that I am going with dries next time out too.
DeleteAlan,
ReplyDeleteSuch a wonderful post. If you don't mind me asking, how were you fishing that soft hackle, by itself or as a dropper under a dry? I'm trying to learn the 'Way of the Soft Hackle in a Tiny Stream'!