Yesterday was Father's Day and one of the nice things about this day is the fact that there's not much resistance from other parties to the thought of going fishing. Permission granted and I was out the door. I headed to a stream that has in the past been good to me in terms of fishing action. When I got there I found tumbling water and plenty of it. While gearing up I could already feel the humidity, that nasty clammy feeling. The clouds were hanging on but the forecast was for some sun to break out, which may not be helpful in terms of feeling good.
The mountain laurel is in full bloom, like snow in the mountains, and a prettier sight is not possible...well maybe.
This is the "well maybe"...wild brookie on a dry fly....a dry fly that would work very well today.
A typical Connecticut freestone stream. Lots of rocks to hop and dodge.
Behind some of those rocks hold fish like this one.
"The Conover" a Catskill fly that got a lot of attention. This fly was tied with ginger hackle, but now I have in my possession the golden badger hackle this pattern requires. The dubbing is home-made.
There is a nice little story behind this fly... I'll tell you about that later.
I probably have caught 1000's of these fish and I never get tired of them....
I never get tired of views like this.
Beautiful!
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Kirk it was a nice few hours.
Simply gorgeous, the stream, brookies and the flowers.
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Pete, now with the strong storms predicted for today, I'm wondering what things will look like tomorrow.
All good, Alan.
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Bill it's hard to find fault in days like such.
It's hard to come up with a comment sometimes as the area is always beautiful. It is once again.
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Mark as I take photos I say to myself, I hope those that view them will come to appreciate the beauty of the small stream.
Alan, that is such a beautiful stream. Once again, through your camera work and written words, I felt like I made the trip with you. Oh, for the love of it all!
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Mel in saying that I know I have done my job.
Beautiful pictures, Alan! Those brook trout are real chunks for coming out of a small stream. The first one looks like its coloring up for spawning already.
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Sam some of these streams come up with a surprise or two once in awhile. That fellow is a couple of months early.
Alan
ReplyDeleteSo impressed with this fly, do you add any floatant to the fly to keep it afloat after repeated cast in the ripples. Beautiful images of the brookies and mountain laurels----what size was the Conover, have you tried it on the Farmington? Thanks for sharing
Bill Trussell
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Bill I will reapply floatant as necessary to kepp the fly riding high. I tie them in 14-16. I have fished the Farmington with the Conover and had mixed results.
Lovely photos, Alan--as if that needed to be said! That mountain laurel is quite beautiful--dont see that in OZ.
ReplyDeleteThis report gave me a much needed boost after battling a severe cold over the last week or so. Not the dreaded "MAN FLU" but unpleasant all the same. Your reports are the fishing trip that I have when I cant get out myself and they are wonderful fishing trips. Many thanks.
Kindest Regards,
Steve.
Steve Hynes
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Steve, I hope you were able to fish before your season ended?
Colds can sure drag you down. The mountain laurel will be in bloom for about another week, and like all things it comes to an end.
Stop back and I'll take you fishing again.
Gorgeous creek and trout Alan......
ReplyDeleteWe have a similar fly to your Conover called the Grey Duster (not sure if you have them over there?). The fly uses the Badger hackle collar and tail but with out the red fur mixed in with the grey.
The creek looked in good condition, my little stream is suffering a bit at the moment - despite have one months worth of rain in one day two weeks ago, we are now back to below average summer levels and are just coming out of a heat wave (we have had some of our hottest June weather for 40 years!)Had the VIPs from the South of England on the river yesterday but conditions were far from ideal. Still I managed to get them into some trout on the dry fly despite the river being low and warm. We are in the middle of a substantial down pour here at the moment - just hope it last for another day or two!!!!
Alistair
Anonymous
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Alistair, not sure on the "Grey Duster" but the Conover does call for a Golden Badger hackle. They say and I agree the proper hackle makes this fly.
It sounds as if your experiencing the same summer we had last year, not very trout friendly. Keeping the "sport" clients happy is always a good thing.
Best.
Alan, I have used both Silver and Golden badger to equal effect in the past. We also have an emerger pattern called the 'Dirty Duster'which has the bottom of the hackle trimmed so it sits in the film (it is also sometimes tied on a curved 'grub' hook as well). The 'sports' left the river hot & tired but content that they had had a good day despite the conditions and had experienced a different side of trout fishing than they were used to on their southern chalk streams.
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Alistair, it's always good when everyone is happy.
DeleteThat Dirty Duster sounds like a 'thorax dun" I fish it with good success at times.
Thanks for showing us the "Conover." I have a similar fly that has caught 4 out of the 13 trout I've got this year:
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https://flic.kr/p/U6yJLh
https://flic.kr/p/Ua8Dtt
https://flic.kr/p/SSLc6y
I like the white tail on that one of yours. Will have to try to make one. So far, I have yet to catch any trout on my own flies...
gios
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The pattern calls for cream hackle for a tail, the one pictured has cream microfibetts for a tail....works well.
Thanks--will try it!
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