Red Brook 5-23-17...A Quest For Salters

The Lyman Cottage

Yesterday I spent some time at my favorite salter stream on Cape Cod. The trip was not planned but the time seemed right to do it. With the summer season about to begin which brings summer tourists and traffic associated with them now was the time. I left home at 5am and was having a blueberry muffin and coffee at Leo's in Buzzards Bay a little after 7. Breakfast finished it was a short drive to Red Brook. As I pulled into the parking lot I noticed two cars there and guessed they were walkers.

As I started to gear up I had the pleasure of seeing the Lyman Cottage, what a pretty sight to view before starting my fishing day. In a few minutes I was on the trail to the brook. The air was clean with a hint of salt. The sun was out and the air crisp.

Red Brook at tidewater, fresh meets salt. The tide was high and just starting to move out. I crossed the bridge and headed inland.

I moved along the trail that wanders near the brook. My plan was to walk upstream as far as I could and fish the brook all the way back to the sea. Let me tell you the walk alone is worth the trip. Wild life, birds, and the many forms of greenery.... "it's just beautiful".

I reached my starting point. I heard voices, which was strange for I had not passed anybody on the trail. As I peered through the trees I saw three young women in the stream. I said hello and it sort of startled them. I asked about them and their mission and was told the were students from Mass. Maritime Academy and they were doing a flow survey of the brook. It was part of a year long project to see how much flow the underground springs contribute to Red Brook. They were just finishing up, so I waited before starting my day.

Brook Trout...I don't know if this guy spent anytime at sea

Fishing streamers is always a good bet on Red Brook...and the third cast a streamer brought this beautiful unique strain of brook trout to hand. These fish are incredibly strong. They battle and will find every bit stream cover in an attempt to gain freedom.

Like I said the beauty along the stream is worth the trip.

So much vegetation, it's almost jungle like in places. I was working a streamer when I observed a fish rise. It's not uncommon to see that here but I attribute it to a larger fish chasing a smaller fish to the surface as apposed to a trout rising to an insect. But when it happened several times I decided to put on a dry fly and see if I could bring the fish up.

It worked...I was able to get two of these guys to take the dry.

An iconic New England streamer, stands ready to take an iconic New England brook trout.

I sat down here to have some water and a few walnuts. The peace and the quiet was refreshing.

This fish had such color. The blues and greens of its body really stood out from the "reddish" color of the brook.

I was on my way to a spot close to tidewater when I observed this bird...it was here where I encountered my strongest fish of the day..more later on it in the next post.

My day was complete at Red Brook. I caught a few brook trout and had a surprise or two.

One very pleasant surprise was and old friend, and a new one....It was nice seeing you again.