"The Outback"..this is a kinder gentler version known as the "Fern Brook" section. I spent some time here a few days ago and found myself surrounded by unbelievable beauty. The ferns were such an intense green, and were slightly swaying in the soft breeze. As I moved to the stream I could almost hear a trout rise, slowly moving to the edge I gazed over the glassy surface looking for that rise, which was not to come, at least not at that time.
I moved along the stream fishing a dry fly. In certain pockets I managed to bring a trout to strike, and in a few of those pockets the strike lead to a hook-up.
While fishing I noticed some rises right along the bank. They were very splashy and being so close to the shore I thought the fish were taking ants...I was right.
Any place that featured woody debris seemed to be a hot spot. This run produced several hook-ups.
And some strong wild brown trout.
A fine day this was fishing "Fern Brook"...paid a visit to the tree we decorated for Christmas for the lovey wildlife in the area, good to see old friends.
Alan
ReplyDeleteThose are gorgeous wild browns!! The surrounding scenery, the ferns and pine trees add to the beauty of the "Outback". Certainly a variety of colors and markings on those browns!!
TROUT1
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Pete a few of those browns were caught within feet of each other. Their colors were truly different. The ferns are greener with all the rain we have been getting.
Alan, the fishing and flies look nice... that fern floored forest though... WOW!
ReplyDeleteHibernation
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Will the stream in that area is overwhelmed with ferns, and like I told Pete the rain has been beneficial to them.
Alan....I am a Native Brown nut. They are some great pics. Thank you for sharing your day.
ReplyDeleteRalph Long
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Ralph that stream is shared with brookies, but it was the browns that dominated that day.
Alan
ReplyDeleteSo many likely spots to fish in this stream, got to love the wild browns---nothing like wild ferns on the forest floor---thanks for sharing
Bill Trussell
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Bill it seems that most of the activity happened along the bank and the downed logs in the stream. The ferns were indeed beautiful.
Very astute on your part, Alan, to decide to use the Ant pattern! Lovely and absorbing scenery and wild trout is a win-win situation...
ReplyDeleteThe Bluegill Bug
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Mel I figured they were chomping on something other than aquatic insects. Handsome browns indeed.
More great scenery.
ReplyDeleteMark Kautz
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Mark it's so easy one the eyes.
What a beautiful time of year to be on Fern Brook...or any brook in your neighborhood! The water, the ferns, the forest in general are stunning! I am still thrilled to pieces that browns and brooks not only live but thrive in these "Thin Blue Lines"! I really need to come a-calling to your woods and waters some day!
ReplyDeleteWell pleased with what I see thru your lens and your words,
Doug
Dougsden
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Doug that area of Fern Brook is one of my favorites. The stream flows through there and is not thick with low brush making it an easy place to work a fly.
Fern Brook is featured in the book "Thin Blue Lines"...and I would be happy to fish it with you at some point.
Now that is nice, You are really spoiled over there, nice again mate.
ReplyDeleteGeorge
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Spoiled to the max. It has been a good year so far George.
Very Nice Alan - did you notice all the dark caterpillars falling from the trees? I was covered in them the last trip out. I'm wondering if the success of foam ants on the small streams right now is due to trout looking for inch long black things!
ReplyDeleteMark Wittman
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Mark there were a few, and a few more down the back of my neck. The trout could very well have been feeding on them.
The nice browns look to be doing very well in that stream, Alan. Are there brook trout in there too? What beautiful pictures of the stream and surroundings. A slice of heaven.
ReplyDeleteParachute Adams
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Sam the stream does have brookies. Some of the spots where I caught the browns I have had luck with with brookies.