After so many years of fishing small streams I should know that surprises happen. Some come in the form of lots of fish, a brookie or brown taking a fly that it really shouldn't. There are the times when I slip and fall in and find out I did not break a leg. Cold snowy days when the trout are rising to "bombers", and days when coffee from a thermos that really tastes good.
Today, I found out something that I suspected but never experienced. While fishing a blue line I noticed a smaller blue line feeding into the one I was fishing. Looking into it I saw quite a few brookies. It's said as the streams rise this time of year they tend to draw brookies up into them. I think they seek these waters to spawn. Now I'm not one who will not say that's just a stupid idea, I mean what if they dry up. On the other hand these fish have been doing this for centuries and have survived just fine....so what the hell drift a fly, I did just that and once again I was gifted.
Now friends take a good look at this wild brook trout. A spawning male with a hump in his back, orange, blue, yellow, red, black and white colors mixed into his body. An incredibly strong fish who rose to a Ausable Wulff and bent the heck out of my 5' 3wt....a fish that did not surrender and as I lifted him up to take a photo he twisted and freed himself of the fly....moments later he was gone. This is a memory never to be forgotten.
Holy Cow! That trout is BIG! Hooking that beauty surely must have gotten your heart beating at a fast pace. It would have mine. I'm thrilled you got a picture of that beautiful brook trout...your camera captures all the colors so well. I have to believe that is a 5 or 6 year old fish which somehow survived very tough times with the recent droughts we had. I am in awe of that trout, Alan.
ReplyDeleteParachute Adams
DeleteThanks
Sam my heart was working overtime. He was ready to start the process of renewing the population. You are about right on the age, I guessed 4-5, but as you said they were tough years.
I think that is one of the best pictures of a brook trout ever taken. Once in a while I have to take a look again.
DeleteSam, thank you.
DeleteI caught another one yesterday that is very similar. A different part of the state. I was up in the Berkshires today and was amazed by the full streams. I may have to fish there this coming week.
I think he is the King of that stream! Resilient and tough.
ReplyDeleteBrookie61
DeleteThanks
Kurt he was at the top. Strong fish.
These fish have an immense urge to populate new water and re-populate old water at all costs. Remember the photos I took last year of brookies attempting to jump a waterfall? Some were undoubtedly very similar to that male you caught. They felt they had a job to complete, and impossible and stupid though it seemed to me, they were determined!
ReplyDeleteRM Lytle
DeleteThanks
Rowan I remember those photos. As a species brook trout seem to have a will to survive unlike others. What they will do and where they will go to keep the cycle of life going...so special.
Nice! The river less traveled yields some great surprises - that's a beautiful fish.
ReplyDeleteMatthew Grobert
DeleteThanks
Matt the river less traveled sure paid a dividend.
Talk about survival of the fittest! Hopefully that awesome specimen will successfully pass on his genes.
ReplyDeleteWilliam Shuck
DeleteThanks
Bill I'm sure he did just that in the past. His age may prohibit it in the future..
brilliant fish from such a small stream well done again Alan.
ReplyDeleteGeorge
DeleteThanks
A big guy moving about a mini stream.
And....a nice sized gift indeed for such slender waters! This is super Alan! I always feel really good after reading and viewing a great thread such as this! This Brookie is truly a living gem! So beautifully marked and in such fine condition!
ReplyDeleteDoug
Dougsden
DeleteThanks
Doug it's incredible the years this fellow has been swimming in that stream. I'm happy to have made his acquaintance. He is a survivor.
Hi Alan, Rose to an A. Wulff not an A. Bomber. Curious why you would carry both patterns? I often go out, no vest, no bag carrying all the flies, for the day in a single simple "Daisy" round, rotary fly box. An antique. Do you remember them Alan?
ReplyDeleteJohn Dornik
DeleteThanks
John I love them both, and there are those times when for what ever reason they seem to like the Wulff. The bomber is easier to tie, the wulff has those split wings, issues, issues. I do remember those round fly boxes. I bought one at Western Auto a long time ago.
Hopefully this comment will get through after all the Google problems. That small stream is a really first class example of the old adage 'never judge a book by its cover', most people would just keep on walking. A super trout and what colours. Regards, John
ReplyDeleteThe Two Terriers
DeleteThanks
Google, well that's a?
John those words seem to come true more often than not.
What is meant by the term "blue line". Thanks. I fish for pond bass mostly.
ReplyDeleteMrKevinkins
DeleteThanks
Kevin it refers to those blue lines that you see on topo maps. The blue lines represent moving water like streams and rivers. The thinner the line the smaller the stream.
Hi Alan
ReplyDeleteThat is some Brookie for such a small stream,
I hope some of his DNA gets passed on......
There is a small feader stream on our stretch of the little river Leven called Potto Beck, it comes into the river right at the top of our club waters and this time of year is temporary home to some spectacular trout! I have seen them running up the beck many times and often thought “well I wonder where you were hiding all season!” There is a YouTube video of them using the fish pass the club installed to help them on their way, I will see if I can find the link.
Alistair
Alistair Corbishley
DeleteThanks
Alistair I'm hopeful he can go another season, he obviously has the genes to produce some fine offspring.
It's surprising where these fish will go to get the job done. I'd like to see that video.
Alan
ReplyDeleteTrue some fish you never forget and hopefully this beautiful brook trout's genes will continue to populate that stream. Did you take him in the fast pool or the open water? Congrats on an awesome catch!!! Thanks for sharing