Hemlocks, there are many along this stream |
Yesterday my son needed some work done on his truck. The shop was a distance from his job so I gave him a ride to work. He just so happens to work very close to a stream I have fished many times and you just can't let a chance like this go by. After dropping him off I headed to Cumby's for coffee and drove to the stream.
As I walked down to the stream I noticed how beautiful it looked with it's water flowing full. This stream like so many others suffered terribly last year from a brutal drought and a hot summer. The stream you see was puddles and exposed rocks the last time I visited here. So not knowing what I would find I cast my fly on the water.
The very first pool just as the fly drifted under the shadow of an old wooden bridge a fish struck the fly and missed. A few repeated casts and up he came, this time the fly held. Moments later this wild jewel was at hand.
Now the fact that I had caught a brook trout from a stream that was almost non existent last year would have made my day, but a few more hours to spend along one of the most beautiful streams in Connecticut was my thought.
I'm not going to fill up this post with a lot of words, but I will show you just how well this stream recovered. Brook trout like this were found most everywhere.
A very picturesque and peaceful setting...the trout like it also.
This was another stream that has made a good recovery. I think in a year or two if conditions are favorable to our native char then this stream can become one of the best we have.
Great post! The Ausable Bomber has been one of my favorite flies for awhile. I live near where the pattern originated and its truly a special thing to fish a bomber for brook trout.
ReplyDeleteBest - Tim
Timothy Parker
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Timothy it indeed is a great pattern. I have taken trout on in every month of the year, as well as every stream I've fished it in.
Fran was a genius at knowing what trout favored.
Alan
ReplyDeleteAn outstanding post!! I am so happy to see that particular stream has made a successful recovery and now holds those wild jewels. The first brookie has some pretty pronounced par marks! Beautiful.
TROUT1
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Pete I was thrilled to see fish in that stream, some pretty hefty as well.
That brookie had a beautiful green color to it as well.
One time I'll tell you the story of how those parr marks originated.
Truly amazing what they can survive through - awesome fish, and super fun to have a dry fly day like that Alan!
ReplyDeleteWill
Hibernation
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Will the more I see of it the more I'm in awe. I did notice some ground springs near by, perhaps they were of help.
Nice looking stream. The fish were probably just hiding last year so you'd have fish to catch this year. Think they're that smart?
ReplyDeleteMark Kautz
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Mark I think they are indeed smart...for they knew where to seek a thermal refuge and survive.
I love reading your posts as we don't get many real brook trout here in the UK. they all look like jewels!
ReplyDeleteBaslowfisher
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They are truly special. Has good a camera can photograph these fish, it's true colors are realized right after lifting them from the stream.
Mother Nature giveth, and, Mother Nature taketh away........ Looks great in recovery mode! Those Brookies are tough son of a guns............
ReplyDeleteThe Bluegill Bug
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Mel all of what you said is so very true.
As a side note, "the hemlock giveth and the hemlock taketh away" I'll explain in another post.
great post again and lovely fish Alan, well done
ReplyDeleteGeorge
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George a fine outcome to a wonderful day.
How those brookies survived last summer is beyond me. Nice ones too! Instinctively they must know where to go to get the cold water they need. Hopefully they won't be challenged that way in the near future. Regards, Sam
ReplyDeleteParachute Adams
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Sam all I can say is they find a way. I have 4 more streams that I want to check. That should give me a good assessment of the overall condition of the recovery of the streams and the trout survival.
I look forward to hearing those reports, Alan, and seeing your great pictures too.
ReplyDeleteSam thanks. I'll do my best to bring them to you
DeleteSimply beautiful Alan. I now have a bomber to try on my Rocky Mountain waters. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteHoward Levett
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Howard I'm sure you'll be happy with the results.
Excellent post once again Alan. Good to see the stream and, especially, the trout have bounced back well from a hard drought last year. Here in Yorkshire my stream suffered significantly dry weather last year as well, resulting in many stressed fish in shrunken pools with lots of flotsam, jetsam and detritus. I could not bring myself to fish the last month of the season as it seamed so unfair to the trout! With a dry winter and spring the club I am a member of are hoping for rain shortly as the river is now below average summer levels already!
ReplyDeleteAlistair
Anonymous
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Alistair, that is disturbing news. Your rains are so needed and this being late spring and t has not happened is not a good sign. I hope the air temps are favorable. Fingers crossed all works out.
Alan- Wow! I haven't seen so much water in that stream in a long time. Somehow the brook trout manage to make it through year after year. It's encouraging to see the smaller ones too (first picture)!
ReplyDeleteMark Wittman
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Mark as you well know that stream looked dead last fall. A nice comeback. Small and not so small a nice variety.
Great fly and an excellent, uplifting post. Of all the small streams and brooks that I have sampled, I have caught fish, too. A true testament to the resiliency of brook trout and wild browns. Keep up the fantastic posting.
ReplyDeleteMichael Carl
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Mike that's good to hear that the streams you fish have come back. Lets hope for a far better summer this year.
What a lovely setting and beautiful trout..the fly ain't bad either..
ReplyDeletepenbayman
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Mike they seem to go well together, like Maine lobster and red potatoes.
Alan
ReplyDeleteGlad to know this stream is back to normal and producing some outstanding brook trout. I really like to fish the Bomber, and still fish those you tied for me a while back. In fact I will give the Bomber a try next week on my return trip the Sipsey. Thanks for sharing
Bill Trussell
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Bill good luck on your return to the Sipsey. I hope the Bombers work well for you.