A lovely little stream, slow riffles and quiet pools. The stream meanders through hemlock and hardwoods, creating cool waters. The part I have been fishing holds a fair share of brook trout and has been good to me over the years. The brook trout are not alone in this stream, for it also holds another gamer.
That day I had success with the natives. They were hungry and they took flies readily.
The stream takes a plunge through some nasty boulders. I have wanted to fish the pockets created here but do to some safety concerns I chose not to and leave it alone.
Beyond this log jam there is a stretch of quit water. A section of the stream where it flows into a pond. It was here where I viewed fish rising. I tied on a dry and cast to the rises. Slurp and a battle was on. A few moments later and a wild one was at hand.
In the course of an hour I must have caught 15 of these guys, all on dry flies. These fish move up into the stream from a pond, I assume the insect activity draws them up.
It is a good day when you can catch brookies and sunfish in the same stream.
lovely alan, another species I didn't know existed
ReplyDeleteGeorge
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George they are quite popular in the US.
Alan
ReplyDeleteBeautiful sunfish taken on a stream that needs no stream restoration; the natural habitat adds to it's beauty for sure!! Thanks for sharing
Bill Trussell
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Bill this past winter was hard on our forests. The streams came through OK.
They are soooo much fun those little Gills.
ReplyDeleteMark Kautz
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Mark they are so sweet. Battlers too.
I fished a WTS last season with brownies and sunnies, loads of fun on light gear. I did well today, lost count after a while. Wild brookies from 7" to 14" on a little stream with a few beaver dams
ReplyDeleteMichael Capurso
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Mike that's great. A 14 inch brookie from a small stream is very impressive. Well done.
What a beautiful fish the Sunfish is. With that burnished golden colouring it looks almost heraldic, I can see a version of one on a shield or standard. Great blogging again. The weather looks better than Norfolk's sea mist blowing in a chill from the North Sea. All the best, John
ReplyDeleteThe Two Terriers
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John the colors are amazing on these little fish. Lots of shades in the right light, much like the sun.
A cold mist off the North Sea, chills, so I must have a hot coffee.
Hi Alan,
ReplyDeleteThose Sunfish look wonderfull! As an undergraduate student back in the 1990's, I had a part time job in the aquatics department of a pet store to help fund my studies (or was it to help fund my beer ;-)). The owner of the store bought some in as an alternative coldwater fish, however despite the amazing colours they proved unpopular with the patrons and remained in a show tank for many years. I have read about John Gierach catching them in his books, but didn't know they where distributed as far North as you!?
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Alistair
Anonymous
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Alistair interesting story. The sunfish is very much at home here in the northeast. These fish can tolerate cold water but they like somewhat more temperate temps.
Alan, always a nice surprise when an unexpected fish takes your fly.
ReplyDeleteRalph Long
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Ralph I loved taking these sunnies...great sport along with the brookies.
Alan - I normally associate sunfish with warmer waters but to have a section of a wild brookie stream that has them is a bonus.
ReplyDeleteNJpatbee
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Pat I always caught sunfish in warm ponds and slow sections of streams..but in with the brookies, got to love it.
A great specie to start a youngster fly fishing. In my experience sunfish are always hungry and will take just about any fly pattern.
ReplyDeleteJohn Dornik
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John that's for sure. They are willing to strike as most everything. I think they may have been the first fish I caught way back when. Or was it a bullhead....
Alan,
ReplyDeleteThis has to be your best entry to date! It has my two favorite fishes....the wonderful bluegill and the venerable brook trout! You once called the native brookie a great "survivor" and I can plainly see that! I have also seen my little speckled darlings survive some pretty rough situations and conditions! Thank you for posting this! It makes me appreciate each of them all the more! Great stuff Alan! I really like your blogspot!
Dougsden
Dougsden
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Doug nature and man have managed to do some nasty things to these fish. Hopefully the corner has been turned as far as man when it comes to doing harm. Nature is the one we can't do much about.
Be kind mom....