Being an outdoor person I can usually take pretty much what nature can dish out. There are those extreme weather issues of which I think you are all aware of being the exceptions. Cold is something you deal with when angling in winter, most times it's more about ice in the guides than it is about hypothermia. Well this is about one such winter day on the stream where I got a chill that I could not break. This past Sunday I reached the stream and was engulfed in sunshine. The air temps were near 40 and a slight breeze was about. I started fishing tossing some familiar flies, and observing nature. It was probably a half-hour into the outing when I felt my feet getting cold, this is not usual for I have taken the needed prevention first with socks etc. I sort of passed it off until I started feeling "well just cold"..perhaps this was because to fishing was so very slow.
I said to myself this day is not good, I thought I was at the start of cold or maybe worse. It was then I made the decision to stop fishing and head home.
The stream had some shelf ice but that's not uncommon for the first week of February.
Near to where I parked my car the stream crosses the road through a large culvert. The lower end at the spot where the culvert stops a very good sized and deep pool is created. Looking into it I said there could be fish in there. I was still cold and was at the car door when I said to myself "you have to toss a fly in there"..well OK just a couple of casts. I tied on a streamer and went to work. I cast to the farthest point and let the fly sink a bit. Stripping the fly back I saw a fish move on it and suddenly back off. A few more casts and he came up from the bottom and took the streamer.
He knew his home pool well and pretty much took me to most of it before putting up the white flag. One fish so stunning in the cold water, the bright sun reflecting of him presented a natural picture that was so beautiful.......suddenly I was no longer cold.
I'm sure you must be aware, but US Fish & Wildlife Service is doing a live broadcast "Brook Trout Discovery" Feb 15, at 2:00 pm ET. Here's the link for more info https://nctc.fws.gov/broadcasts
ReplyDeleteTaken from CT fishing tips CT DEEP info emails.
John Dornik
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John I was not aware of this...thanks,
Alan is that your own creation, the "Montreal Lady"? I ask because I have had amazing luck with a fly that looks the same but which I've tied with calf tail instead of marabou. Never named it, but it's caught a lot of small stream fish. I need to try the softer marabou wing, makes sense it would workout great.
ReplyDeleteHope you feel better soon!
Will
Hibernation
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Will the streamer is actually a Montreal Whore. It has been around for some time now. It's a very good streamer. You can find it online.
Alan
ReplyDeleteWhat a great way to end the trip landing a gorgeous brookie; as we get older the cold plays heavy on the joints and yes the feet. Thanks for sharing
Bill Trussell
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Bill those last casts can sometimes surprise you. Lot's of miles on them knees.
Alan,
ReplyDeleteGreat post and lesson provided! Can't tell you how many times that I stopped on my way out to fish a stretch of water that I ignored previously because it was close to where I parked and caught fish. Thank you for sharing.
Bob W
Bob W
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Bob like I told Bill, those last casts can make the day.
I read some where "fish all the water".......
Well, Alan, I can sum it all up in one word. "Yanevano". Somedays are cold and bitter, but, just one fish gets the heart pumping and the blood circulating. Real nice fish!
ReplyDeleteMel-Fly Tyin Times
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Mel it's that one fish that can change you feelings in a very short time.
Well done, Alan, trying that last pool despite being cold. Connecting with a beauty like that one definitely has a way of warming a person up. Beautiful photo of the fish in the water.
ReplyDeleteRegards, Sam
That little streamer is a gem by the way, and effective to boot.
DeleteParachute Adams
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Sam after that brookie the ride back home was warm and pain free. A very effective streamer indeed.
Us old guys have to pay attention to the shakes. If they start, time to bail.
ReplyDeleteMark Kautz
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Mark very true, and I usually do..."one more cast"
Glad things warmed up for you. You know what they say about fishing the near water first.
ReplyDeleteJay Guarneri
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Jay you are so right. I over
looked the obvious.
Alan, lovely fish again at least you were sensible and bailed out before it got any worse, I never even got out this week after slipping and taking a nose dive down the stairs landing in a heap at the bottom.
ReplyDeleteGeorge
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I hope you are OK George...no broken bones hopefully.
Cheers Alan, No bones broken, just a bit battered and bruised, hopefully back on the bank this weekend, kind regards George
DeleteWhat a neat little streamer!
ReplyDeleteBill Thomas
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Bill there is lots of movement with that fly, and the colors that attract.
I guarantee you'll never find me with that sort of problem. Winter is necessary to sustain the flows but I believe in giving the fish and myself a little vacation. Beautiful fish though and the same with the fly.
ReplyDeleteHoward Levett
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Howard there are times when you need a lift, and times when you need a kick in the...
Bucktails and brookies....How cool is that in the middle of February?
ReplyDeleteRalph Long
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Ralph that's tough to beat.