My new hat. Truly it is some of the finest head-wear an angler can wear. My old hat had just about crumbled the last time I wore it. It had been with me on my adventures over the last 7 years. It now sits in a place of quiet, where dry and warm are the norm. In case you are wondering where you could get the ultimate in headgear you can contact the "Searun Brook Trout Coalition" you'll find the link at the bottom of this post...I can't say it will help you in your fishing but it sure will benefit the "salter" brook trout.
I christened my new hat on a small stream in Connecticut. It was a beautiful day and so comfortable. I'm a fly fisher and fishing is the ultimate reason for being out here on the streams, but not the only reason. I love photographing natural things no matter what they are. The pictures may not appear as I saw them but I try to give you the closest thing....weeds, in the right light they are so beautiful.
These seemed to be growing, fungi perhaps?
The third cast of the day, with my new hat on yielded a well conditioned brook trout. This lovely creature literally slammed a soft-hackle.
Can you imagine a brook trout living here, well 3 of them were, and 2 of them got away.
This chameleon was my last fish of the day. It took a rather large fly, dinner and desert in one. Beautiful days friends.
HERE'S WHERE TO GET YOUR HAT
Alan
ReplyDeleteVery nice hat. I like the color combo. Beautiful brookies and what a way to christen the hat. Good Stuff!!! What fly is that in the first brookies mouth?
TROUT1
DeleteThanks
Pete the hat helped me that day.
The fly is a grouse and yellow soft hackle.
Looks like your new hat is a winner.
ReplyDeleteMark Kautz
DeleteThanks
Mark I have lots of faith in it's ability to bring good luck to all who wear it.
You've successfully broken in that new hat. That last brook trout is quite stunning with its parr markings. I sometimes catch small rainbow trout that have those same bars. Pretty little creatures.
ReplyDeleteI considered buying one of those caps but it looked as if they only ship to the US. Pity.
Kindest Regards,
Steve.
Steve Hynes
DeleteThanks
Steve those lovely signs of youth. most of these wild small stream trout, my brookies and your rainbows will keep these markings for most of their lives.
I did not know the shipping details.
Alan
ReplyDeleteNew trout cap, colorful brook trout and a scenic stream--a great combination--thanks for sharing
Bill Trussell
DeleteThanks
Bill some brightness on these winter days.
Nice hat ... but great brookies! Really healthy. Ice broke here last night. Streams "open" so this weekend is my outing. Smallmouth on the Huron ... i can se the practice with new OPST heads...
ReplyDeleteGreat brookies!
ReplyDeleteIce broke here today. Smallmouth with my new OPST heads this weeknd. Lovely trout snaps!
spike
DeleteThanks
I take it your saying you now have your shot at taking a smallie which will be your first fish of'18. That's great.
Indeed. The Huron is 150 yards from my house and my stretch is a lovely stretch for smallies. C/R fishery as managed by the state. Has been a smallmouth factory before but heavy blow-outs during spawning 3 years in a row put a serious dent into population and calmed the fishing. For the locals in the know, the fishing on the fly has re-emerged though --- shhh --- we're not telling anyone "they're back." Going to try some slow passes with Spade flies tied in normal early season crawfish patterns swung low in the edgy slackwater holding grounds over ledges, cobble, and and beside serious structure. Might get one. Pictures if I do. New gear. New flies. That's never been a problem, has it?
DeleteWhat kind of camera do use? Great pics
ReplyDeletegerry
DeleteThanks
Gerry I use a Nikon L 820
Hats and Brookies are critical.... carry on....
ReplyDeleteDoug Korn,Fly Tyer
DeleteThanks
You could say they are a good match....we agree.
Alan,
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and useful hat! I love the low key colors that it incorporates! This helps when sneaking up on shy brookies!
I did notice the fly hooked to your rod and next to your hat. It's a Salars Nemesis! Did you try it? It looks wonderful from here!
The Grouse and Yellow looks good too anchored in the scissors of that beautiful brookie! Your patterns are beautiful to us and killers to trout! The last pattern shown looks like a Stewart Spider with really long, speckled hackles! I'm sure it has a name! Please share it with me(us)!
Doug
Dougsden
DeleteThanks
Doug I did try Salars Nemesis but it did not draw any attention, winter is difficult to get a fishes opinion on a fly. The fly in the last brookies mouth is a variation of the Neversink Skater. It uses coq de leon for the wing.
Great pictures as usual and nice job getting out in January!
ReplyDeleteNJpatbee
DeleteThanks.
Nice to hear from you, been a long time.
This winter has been a roller coaster temperature wise. Get a halfway good day and go for it.