I was able to fish a few hours on Sunday before the start of hunting season. The day was actually not bad for late November. I think I could have worn only a heavy fleece and felt comfortable. The stream was up due to the ample rainfall in November. Higher flows do move fish around and for the most part "where they were" may not be "where they are"...so I fished in the most likely areas and with a streamer for I felt confidence in the flies ability to get some takes. As I worked the streamer I had some bumps and hits but not anything like I thought. I tried a wet fly in a pool where the streamer failed and managed to hook a brookie. As I moved along several more hookups and I felt that the wet was the way to go.
November is on it's way out and it was time to take a fish on a dry fly. The fly selected was a bomber, which is about as good a choice one can make knowing it's history, which is well documented in the posts of SSR's. So it was fished and so it did produce.
A pretty brook trout. He took the bomber as it was skated across the riffles.
The Ausable Bomber. Look closely at the hackle..one's larger then the other. Mr. Betters was a genius in fly crafting.
The brookies continued to smack the bomber as it skated and dipped below the surface on the riffled sections of the stream.
What will December bring?
Great to see you are still chasing trout! The Bomber is a great fly and a brookie favorite. With all the rain in the Northeast this year hopefully the trout had a good spawning season.
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As long as the weather allows me to fish then I'll find a stream and fish. You could fish that fly and be happy any time of year. The trout had plenty of water to find what they need to carry on. Fingers crossed it continues.
Nice to know we can get an actual weather report from you. If you look at the National News, the Northeast is under 10 feet of snow. Weather Guessers, ya just can't trust them.
ReplyDeleteMark Kautz
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Mark if you follow the reports you will be wearing parkas, boots, and then you'll need a light sweater all in the same day.
We now just look out the window.
Alan - wow it looks like things are really up with all the rain! Nice to see you still fishing dries!
ReplyDeleteMark Wittman
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Mark it's awesome to see these streams so full now, I hope it continues.
The bomber brings them up.
Going back to your former post Alan, who needs more than two shots when hunting? I have a Winchester pump which I never put more than 2 shells into while hunting. I tied up a half dz bombers last night. Should get me started next Spring.
ReplyDeleteJohn Dornik
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John that Winchester one of the older models? They were great guns. The movie Deer Hunter with Robert Di Nero it was said that a deer must be taken with one shot.
Those bombers will do you very nicely.
Not all weather reports are wrong, some of us really are buried under snow; 3 feet of it so far. I agree with your assessment of Fran Betters, the man knew what he was doing. A beautiful tie, Alan.
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Mike you must have hit the jackpot. Sunny today, and what did we get cloudy and snow showers. I have tied up a couple of flies using Fran's favorite materials. Calftail, orange aussie possum, woodchuck, and brown and grizzly hackle. all of them work well.
Glad your still getting out Alan, No fishing here this weekend, all our rivers are in flood with all the rain & its still raining..Ah well some reading & tying time .
ReplyDeleteAlan
ReplyDeleteIts good to know that the high water will produce a new stream filled with new brook trout for the coming season. Thanks for sharing