I spent a few hours yesterday morning fishing the Farmington river. The river is perfect for most but I still would like to see it little slower. I had taken am old buddy with me to fish this day. That buddy was my old Orvis Superfine 7' 5wt. It has been a long time since I last fished this rod and it felt good. The rod worked as I had remembered, in fact it was like the day I got it from Orvis about 30 years ago. It needs a new line though.
The sun was bright but the fish were still playful. I started fishing soft-hackles and it did not take long for the first hook-up. The fish was a fighter with skills and promptly gave me my fly back and resumed it's position in the river. I also had the pleasure of hooking several salmon parr. These little fellows know what "airborne" means. Moving about I hooked and further downstream I saw a fish rise. My cast was made just upstream and as the fly started to drop below the surface the fish took it. From the initial pull it felt pretty big. I won't detail the fight but as you will see my first thought proved to be right.
A wild Farmington river brook trout.
In this section I saw several dimples on the surface. Mind said the fish are either taking emergers or feeding on spinners. So I looked into the fly box and chose a #10 bomber.
This guy rose and took that big bomber...man did he fight. Bigger brook trout seem to handle a fight pretty much the same way. They head for the bottom and and bull-dog you and this guy was the epitome of that.
My Orvis buddy...been lots of places and tackled lots of fish. Landlocked salmon, Atlantic salmon, steelhead, lake Ontario brown trout and many bluegills.
Those are some nice Brookies Alan. Only Brook Trout that big here in NM are in a lake about 3 hours away far from any motels.
ReplyDeleteHad a great day on Pecos and Mora yesterday. Mostly stockers but one little brown. Lost a biggie at the lake, hook pulled out after a few seconds.
billp
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Bill a three hour ride and then having to sleep in the car, or maybe a tent is a bit much, at least for me.
Loosing that biggie will keep your mind active for awhile.
Wow, nice Brookies. Well worth the trip. I could really like that river.
ReplyDeleteMark Kautz
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Mark I should fish it more often but that small stream magnet draws me elsewhere. You would love that river.
Beautiful trout and beautiful water. Nice!
ReplyDeleteMy first real good rod was the 7'9" Far and Fine 5wt. gifted by my wife shortly after we married. It's still my favored trout rod. I have two Orvis rods showing those old spiral wraps on the blank and wish they still made them that way. Good fishing!
Al R.
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Al the Far and Fine was a close second. The Small Stream Special was a little shorter and that's what won out.
Those black/gray rods with those unique wraps are beautiful. I did a post on the Orvis rod, it's somewhere in the archives.
Wow Alan, they are some brookies.......
ReplyDeleteAnd that 1st pool - it looks so similar to one of my favourite pools on the River Tees in County Durham.
Finally, my favourite rod is also an Orvis, a 6' 6" 4 wt Superfine 'Trout Bum'. It is a superb match for the little river Leven is where the close quarters require almost instant loading. I have two other Orvis rods (Clearwater and Recon) and a Hardy's (Gem) but none have as much soul and feel as the 'Trout Bum'.
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Alistair
Alistair
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Alistair the Farmington is one lovely piece of water. You would truly enjoy it.
Orvis Trout Bum series is a fine rod. I don't own one but I have had the pleasure of fishing one.
It's always enjoyable to see you step out into bigger water like the Farmington every now and then. Looks like it was a beautiful day.
ReplyDeletemike
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Mike there are days when that river just seems to call me. It is not very far of a drive for me and it is always cold.
"So I looked into the fly box and chose a #10 bomber."
ReplyDeleteIt's only natural! If brookie won't take a bomber, is it even truly a brookie?
RM Lytle
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Rowan you make a good point there.
I don't know if the brookie was made for the fly or the fly for the brookie.
Great report, Alan! Beautiful and big brook trout! Congrats on the fine day on the Farmington.
ReplyDeleteBest, Sam
Sam
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Sam I think the Farmington is going to be the place to fish for awhile. Rain needed in the streams.
Going to try a few grouse and flash soft-hackles next time out.
Nice fish! I should be so lucky/skilled.
ReplyDeleteRKM
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Kirk it's without question luck plays a part. As for skill well...
Alan,
ReplyDeleteThis post is just wonderful! The Farmington is so beautiful on a bigger scale than we are used to seeing on your blog! I tend to dice up larger waters into smaller ones and I think everyone does that regardless! The brook trout are beautiful as always and of nice proportions. In fact, they look like torpedo's! How often do you fish the "Farm"?
Dougsden
Dougsden
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Doug the Farmington is big water when compared to my little streams. I'll fish the the broad parts but I also have those side channels and seams where I do feel more at home. I fish the Farmington many times throughout the year. I have been fishing it more the last weeks because of the drop in volume in the small streams. I have a few small streams that are safe to fish and I mix the two.