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| A simple and effective feather-wing streamer |
My last few outings have been pretty productive, after all it's the end of January and my ability to get a fish to strike at something really needed some thought. When water conditions are cold insect activity is not at it's best and a slower metabolism of the trout usually does not bring banner catches. But a one or two fish outing is fine with me but I was given a couple of days of "put this down in the journal" results. The flies chosen to take the heavy lifting were streamers. Hair wing, feather-wing and marabou. These flies are scaled down to the size of the fish presumed to be in the stream I'm fishing. A good read on the stream as in speed of flow, the pockets and seams where fish maybe holding all comes into the mix.
Looking at the stream photo you can see the slack area of soft water, a likely fish holding area, yes it was and I took a nice brookie from there. Now on the other hand you can see the swifter flow of water towards the bank. A streamer was cast so the current allowed it to drift to almost right under the bank.
As the streamer stopped it's swing a brookie hit. Into the current he stayed trying to get his freedom. Soon he was at hand and soon he was back into the stream.
A little bit about the fly. It was gifted to me by a fellow who reads this blog He hails from Ohio and is known as "dougsden"...one of the flies is this red and white marabou streamer. While most would think a yellow and red combination would be better suited for brook trout like the "Mickey Finn" the red and white has been a producer for many years. As a kid I fished a Red and White spoon with success. And going over to fly fishing the Red and White bucktail has earned a permanent spot in my fly box. One day when I get the urge to type I'll tell you a story of the Red and White bucktail and it's day in the sun while fishing Upper-dam in Rangeley Maine.
Another stunning January small stream brook trout on the Red and White marabou.
Not the usual food featured at SSR's but it's was what I had in the fridge from the night before. Starting my fishing later in the day I need to take something to eat for lunch, and this was it...roast chicken, seasoned with spices and cayenne pepper. It's amazing how simple food can taste gourmet out on the stream.
Nice flies and beautiful fish Alan. Honorable wear on the Cane and Silk cork.
ReplyDeleteGood day yesterday, my last before the tropical trip. Met a woman that was fishing egg patterns. She did well on the Stocker 'Bows and was so excited.
bill piatek
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Bill I do use the cork when I'm to lazy to hook the fly on one of the guides.
Egg patterns a very effective on wild fish when used at the right time of year.
"It's amazing how simple food can taste gourmet out on the stream." Especially PB&J as it brings me back to being a kid fishing the stream where I grew up.
ReplyDeleteBrookie61
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Kurt PB&J is one of my staples, either on the stream or at home...marshmallow fluff is a great substitute.
Fun trip for sure!
ReplyDeleteHibernation
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Will so enjoyable especially for the end of January.
Alan,
ReplyDeleteYou have taught me that simple is good.....and best! Thank you for featuring my simple streamer on your blog and for proving that yes, my stuff can catch the wiley brookie! All I need to do is beat a path up to your state and try them for myself!
Your simple but effective feather wing streamer above is tops! That has got to be a killer!
Dougsden
Dougsden
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Doug that streamer has all the requirements for a brook trout taker. If your coming back east bring a parka and snow shovel. The streamer above has proven itself in the field or should I say stream.
it's a nice tie, not everything has to be difficult and involved.
DeleteAlan, thanks for helping me through winter with your great posts. Man those are beautiful brookies. They look to be well fed and in great shape. I bet that chicken for lunch in the woods was tasty. Here's to an early Spring.
ReplyDeleteBest, Sam
Parachute Adams
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Sam I've been lucky to be on the stream when the weather has been favorable. The next several days will lights out as far as fishing, just to cold. Maybe a hike would be OK
Here's to spring.
So happy to see someone is still picking them up, got skunked the other day. As always love the pics.
ReplyDeleteMichael Capurso
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Mike thankfully the brookies have been kind to me this January. For me March has always been the tough month and skunks appear.
Our wonderful butcher roasts chicken breasts and thighs and sells them individually. You can have oriental, chilli, paprika or curried spices rubbed in before they are roasted. My staple expedition food now. Lovely. Another super post too. Regards, John
ReplyDeleteAnonymous
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John oriental and chili sound great. I personally prefer thighs to any other cut of chicken.
Cooked chicken travels well and always is a treat out there.
Dougsden really does tie great little streamers. He sent me a batch of Size #10 3X long red and yellow marabou over silver tinsel for use as shad flies and they do kill.
ReplyDeleteWilliam Shuck
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Bill I have not targeted shad in years. I remember fishing for them in the CT. river and the Delaware in PA.
Strong fish.
Like miniature tarpon!
DeleteBill your right.
DeleteI think is was baseball player Ted Williams referred to them as a "poor mans salmon"
I agree, when you're starving (after fishing) most anything is gourmet. I usually carry a couple chocolate granola bars in my backpack, just in case.
ReplyDeleteMark Kautz
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Mark the granola bar would take away that hunger and probably tastes better than cold chicken.
Alan
ReplyDeleteCook foods taste twice as good on the stream or lake as it does at home. Impressed with the wing streamer; what insect does it minic?
Sent you an email a couple of days ago. Thanks for sharing
Bill Trussell
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Bill the taste is so much better.
The featherwing streamer represents many of the little minnows and other forage fish found in the streams. Trout will take these streamers when presented.