Dark Brook Trout And Unexpected Company

Sunday morning plans were to fish the Farmington and that's what I did. I got to the river kind of late but was still the only angler in the runs I planned to fish. Stepping into the river I looked for rising fish and I observed one solitary fish working a spot close to the bank. A dry fly was cast and he rose, but being slow I did not set the hook. Keeping it short, I fished the next hour in a bit of a strong breeze and had issues trying to work the fly on the little 5foot 2weight. Frustration was setting in and I decided I would soon leave. Well you know what happened, breeze subsided and I hooked my first fish and managed to bring it to hand.

That was the only fish I would have on this Farmington outing. Farmington brookies are strong fighters but they lack that great color of small stream brook trout. I walked back to the car and drove to a small stream that's pretty close...I felt at home.

What a beautiful stream...dark water, and dark brookies.

These special native char are the absolute epitome of tannin waters. These guys were hunkered down in the rocks but shot right up for the dry/wet fly.

These flowers lined the stream, so pleasing.

In this little run I hooked several wild jewels.

While fishing my eye caught some movement in the woods. My first thought was that it was a deer....not.

This fellow wandered close to the stream, then stopped. I was ready to vacate when he stopped and looked at me. A few seconds and he turned and started to walk back into the woods. I got the camera out of my pack, trying to focus and get a photo but the bear kept walking. I did manage a couple of photos, this one was the best. I estimate him to be 150 to 200 lbs. Friends parted, both of us happy.