Earth Day dawned with a mix of rain and fog, with a very raw breeze that seemed to find every bit of my covered bones. Kirk and I agreed to meet and do some fishing on a stream know by some as the "family secret". A beautiful area of Connecticut highlighted by rolling hills, old stone walls, a quaint general store that has some of the best brewed coffee that I have ever tasted. Not to be left out is the stream itself. Kirk and I both agree that this is one of the states best wild brook trout streams. We say this in the meaning of location, quietness, beauty, and such a mellow sound of the water as it rumbles to meet the sea.
Spring awakes...there were so many wild flowers of every size and color, their beauty enhanced by the gentle rain.
The fishing was enjoyable, the catching was slow at least for me...but no complaints.
I came upon a run that has been good to me in the past. I cast the fly and it soon found a willing participant. The fish was on and soon it was off. Several casts later the same event "on then off". They say the third time is the charm and that was the case. To say that a brook trout knows his stream is an understatement, they know every stone, branch, and deep hole in it. A few moments of battle and this incredible dark wild jewel was at my feet. I took out the camera to photograph it and the rain drops were all over the lens. I dry it and to my surprise the fish stayed posed for me. The fly removed and off it went.
Earth Day 2017, in the Connecticut woods.
Excellent post! I can see the woods starting to green up! It is good to see that the stream is full again!!
ReplyDeleteTROUT1
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Pete the stream is in excellent condition. Lots of new logs in the way.
Very good work with the camera, Alan. Especially since your pose stayed calm enough to capture the beauty they brought to hand. Earth Day at it's best..........
ReplyDeleteMel-Fly Tyin Times
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Mel sometimes they stay put for a few moments, then they realize that this is not where I would like to be, the zoooom.
Alan
ReplyDeleteWhat impresses me about this stream is the width, easy to wade or fish it from the bank. Just curious have you fished this type stream casting up stream and letting the fly drift back to you? Thanks for sharing
Bill Trussell
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Bill at this time of year with high waters the stream does open up.
Bill the upstream cast is my least preferred method of presenting the fly, but I will use it if pressed.
I would have to agree with Bill, that stream is very much to my liking. Fish that live in those cold waters sure hold their color well.
ReplyDeleteHoward Levett
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Howard the brookie was exceptionally dark. There are a few streams that hold these dark jewels.
Looks magical, a special place.
ReplyDeleteBaslowfisher
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In the soft rain and almost still air, with the muffled sound nature "magical" is the perfect word.
Nice to see things greening up. Saw my first trout lily last week, actually there were hundreds of them along a bank beside the road.
ReplyDeleteMark Wittman
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Mark those lillies really blossomed today, as well as some trillium.
The trilliums are up but the blossoms haven't opened yet. Long Is sound keeps us a bit cooler along the shoreline.Fished Hammo today and the mayfly hatch was heavier than I have seen in years. I fished a quill gordon and followed it with a march brown when they tired of the QG. I love fishing the old catskill patterns. Six fish in about an hour.
ReplyDeleteJohn Dornik
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John you had a very good outing. Where I fished there a few midges about, but the fish were active.
Those patterns are beautiful and time tested.