Here is a nice brook trout that slammed the darter. This fish really had some fight within him.
For those who love small streams, wild trout, and life...in their simplest form
Wednesday, February 20, 2019
The Three Days of the Condor
The Three Days of the Condor, that 1975 thriller starring Robert Redford. It is one of my top five movies of all time. Probably next to the Godfather and Caddy Shack.
I have been out fishing and over the days the overall results have been super especially for winter. Starting late, 10:30 or 11 am the trout have waken and with the sun warming it up just enough to get them feeding. As I have said many times all that's necessary is one or maybe two flies, pick what you like and fish it. Most times I'm fishing soft-hackles but the dry and nymph see action. But when I come to an area of the stream where it's deep and has somewhat slower moving water I'll fish a streamer. I have a couple of thoughts on what type of streamer and size. For the most part I choose to fish a smaller streamer size 10, but I also throw out a bigger one say size 6 or 8. Most times a attractor pattern with colors and other times I'll throw a baitfish pattern. Some of the patterns are the Mickey Finn, Edson Tiger, Black nose Dace, or a darter pattern.
Ideal small stream places to work a streamer. Try different retrieves from super fast to letting it scrape the bottom on a slow retrieve.
There are no soft strikes on a streamer. They hit it so hard as to stun it, then chomp it to finish it off.
I lost a big one here. He was hooked on two separate times and I could not bring him to hand....one day my friend.
I guess your wondering what this report has to do with the movie Three Days of the Condor....meet the "Condor"......
Sunday, February 17, 2019
Of muffins, men and crushed hackles...or something.
Saturday morning we were up at 6...showered and shaved. A few snacks were packed for the road. A fast cup of coffee, and my list of what I need, and off to the Bears Den fly show. But there were a few things that needed to accomplished first, and one of them was to stop for breakfast at Leo's in Buzzards Bay. Leo's has probably the best grilled blueberry muffins in Massachusetts. Please if you are ever in Buzzards Bay stop and enjoy one. Also Leo's is bottomless cup of coffee establishments. After leaving Leo's we took a short drive to Red Brook. As we pulled into the driveway to Lyman Reserve we noticed several vehicles and a young man standing by the a large sign. As I parked my car I said I know that man. As I stepped out the man came towards us and sure enough he was familiar. Geoff Klane came to us and gave us a big hug. We exchanged happenings since we last saw each other. A few seconds later another young man came over and Geoff introduced us to Ashu Rao. The two of them had plans of fishing Red Brook. As they geared up Jeanette and I took a walk along Red Brook.
One of my favorite places at Red Brook. It is here where the fresh spring fed waters of Red Brook meet the salt water of Buttermilk bay. At this time of day and this time of year the quietness can be deafening. Although I did not cast a fly on Red Brook I still came away with a catch.
We left Red Brook and headed to Bears Den. It was a great show as usual. I met some old friends and made a few new ones. I scored on some awesome material, and was gifted some old streamer hooks from a follower of SSR's...a great day all around.
A little tip. How many of you find that after use your hackles get crushed. I know that I find this problem for instead of putting the flies back where they should be, dries with dries and wets with wets etc. So what I have done to revitalize those crushed hackles is this. Get your self a wire tea strainer from a dollar store. Boil up some water and place the crushed flies into the basket. Hold the basket over the steam and shake for a few seconds. Place the flies on a paper towel and let cool. The flies will be just as stiff and straight as the day they were tied.
Ashu, Geoff, and Jeanette |
Thursday, February 14, 2019
Winter Fishing
winter woods, they look lifeless oh but they're not |
Riffles, have I ever mentioned how much I love fishing places like this. Diamonds my friends.
It's the riffles where you find 6 inches of water and little jewels like this.
Monday, February 11, 2019
Salars Nemesis Revisited
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"Salars Nemesis" tied by Alan Petrucci |
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Doug Duvall |
The three flies in the above photos are from other tyers including Sylvester Nemes
As you can see this fly is a great brook trout fly, and as of yesterday still gets them.
Here is a trio of Salars Nemesis flies. Each one is tied with a different wing feather.
Saturday, February 9, 2019
New England Small Towns
Small towns are plenty all over this country. They possess a certain charm and grace that large cities just don't come close to duplicating. New England has some of the most beautiful small towns I have ever been to. Being one who loves the small stream I have crossed through some quaint picturesque places and I could not begin to list there names and the qualities they bring forth. I was asked once how do you know when your in a small town, what is key to what defines a small town. My answer is this. When in New England you know when your in a small town when there isn't a Dunkin' Donuts shop.
Without a doubt New England is known for it's barns, and beautiful fall foliage. One of these day I'm going to wander through one of those barns.
Where else could you fly fish for wild brook trout in salt water? Then a few miles away from the stream find your self getting dizzy trying to negotiate a traffic rotary.
How about catching a brook trout on a salmon fly...not many areas of this country can lay claim to that.
You know your in a small town in New England when you see a fellow preparing feather-wings for a few Rangeley streamers...
And to add to strange happenings, how about catching a blue gill on a salmon fly...
Wednesday, February 6, 2019
February In "Brook Trout Forest"
Yesterday morning I picked up Rowan and we had planned on fishing a stream that held some promise. A stream that could hold brook trout in the 14-15 inch group. When we arrived we found that the stream had a bit of a problem, "access"...we had to walk a large field that was filled with last years corn stubble. We reached the tree line which was the easiest part of the trek. Once in the trees we encountered those briars, those devils that will draw blood and keep the "aqua seal" company in business. Drudging through mud and pockets of ice we finally saw the stream. It flowed rather slowly and had some deep holes. The possibility of finding some trout was there but trying to fish for them was terrible. So a decision to go to another stream was made and it proved to be the right choice.
You have heard me make mention of "brook trout forest" those special places where the body mind and soul and at peace. Where beauty in so many forms are present. Well here it is. The little stream was one where you could just walk along it and have a complete day. It meandered down and made some interesting curves. It's dark slow pools were almost black. It was in these pools that willing brook trout took our flies.
Wild, in a place that sees maybe one angler a year. These brookies were extremely sensitive and I spooked more than a dozen fish.
Rowan trying to make a cast into one of those slow dark pools. Trout were rising and a well placed fly brought a response.
Rowan with a wild jewel. The stream was full of these fish. Each one seemed to be prettier than the last. We turned over some rocks in the stream and found out why there were so many healthy brook trout in this stream. The stream had golden stonefly nymphs, caddis larva, and aquatic worms. It was a tout buffet. We both agreed that this stream would be a dry fly heaven come May and June.
A pool in brook trout forest. Just downstream from here Rowan took a large brookie, one of many I think will be found in this little stream.
Monday, February 4, 2019
The Irish Mayfly on Super Bowl Sunday
Some months back I read a magazine article on Irish Flies. As the article went on it highlighted Irish mayflies. The flies were absolutely beautiful and quite large. They involved using various tail materials which were tied quite long, pretty basic body dubbings and a wing comprised of three hackles of different birds and different colors. I tied up some and yesterday I ran them by the locals to get their reaction.
I was not expecting much when I let them float the stream. The weather has been cold although it had moderated some in the last days. About 11 am it actually felt good and apparently it got a few insects flying about. The ones I saw were small, black in color. They did not bring about any rises that I saw but maybe it got the trout looking up.
The Irish fly did not resemble the actual flies I saw about but it got the attention of these little guys....they would not leave it alone.
It was here in this riffle where I saw my first rising fish. I cast to it and it surfaced and took the fly.
I did not expect this, but I welcomed it. He was strong and healthy and even retained some of it's color.
The fly floated well and did double duty as a wet fly. I think those Irish fly tyers had a bit of Yankee blood in them when they created these flies.
This brookie was amazing. I can't describe in words the battle he put forth. The hot action lasted only a short time but it was enough on a early February day to satisfy this angler.
This brookie was amazing. I can't describe in words the battle he put forth. The hot action lasted only a short time but it was enough on a early February day to satisfy this angler.
Friday, February 1, 2019
February...Some Comforting Thoughts
Winter can be beautiful and comforting if your inside |
BT's #3 |
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