July has been a month of changes. The beginning of the month saw rather comfortable conditions and favorable conditions on the small streams...and then summer really took hold. High temps and low rainfall put a damper on some of the fishing. Some streams held up better then others keeping water temps in the low sixties and sufficient flows to keep the fish well. Unlike several years ago when a nasty drought took place and pretty much wiped out a lot of brook trout, this is really not bad. As I write this I can say very happily that a very good substantial rain event took place overnight and continues this morning. Some numbers tossed about have the amount so far upwards of three inches.
I take water temps every outing and you can see from my last one the water is cold.
The issue in fishing low water is finding the brookies. While the deep pools will usually give up some fish, it's the riffles and faster water that hold more fish. A problem fishing these areas of swift water is hook-ups. The fly moves by the fish pretty fast and while the brookies will see it and attempt to take it there are a lot of misses. But I still love those riffles.
A real dark brook trout taken in a riffle. This guy took a soft-hackle and did not miss.
Now this is not a fishing story, this really happened. You can see the large grass covered rock. To the left the stream is really pushing water over the cobble. Right below the rock is a deeper flat that appears to be gray in color. I drifted a fly through that spot and took a nice hit. Again the fly drifted a again a hit. Both times I missed the fish. Just slightly down from that rock I did find this....
...this jewel was holding in the riffle in a shade spot and did not miss the fly. Did I ever mention just how much I love this fishing and the lovely brook trout I find.
Pretty much all I needed that day...Purple silk and a pheasant feather.
Lovely stream Alan. Caught a little brown that size last week. That stream is mostly stocker rainbows so it made me feel good to know wild fish were surviving there.
ReplyDeletebillp
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Bill I think those little wild browns are so pretty, and super in strength for their size. It is always good to hear of wild fish in a stocker stream.
Bill, there is a photo down below of a small wild brown taken in a tributary to a small stream.
DeleteSweet! I must do more exploring, as much as my bum knee allows.
DeleteHi Alan
ReplyDeleteWe are just building up to another heat wave with more UK record highs forecast for later in the week (39 deg C / 102.2 deg F). With this in mind I will probably give the fishing a miss this weekend to spare the fish more stress.
I did get out on Sunday and had 10 fish in about 5 hours (3 Grayling and 7 Trout) on dries and wets (Hare's Lugg & Cree top scored with 8 fish).
Thanks for sharing.
Alistair
Alistair
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Yes my friend it is always best to leave the trout alone when temps get so hot.
Great day for you on Sunday...Hare's Lugg and Cree...I tie the Hare's Lugg and Plover. Must be similar.
Alan - Thankfully my home waters received over 2 inches of rain last night also which should help us through the next couple of weeks. I will likely not get back to them until the Fall and hopefully flows hold up through the spawning season. By the way, what size was the pheasant and purple you had success with? I use the starling and purple often but in size 18 and smaller. Thanks for the pics!
ReplyDeleteNJpatbee
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Pat great news. So pretty much most of the east benefited. That fly was tied on a Saber #12 curved hook. Starling feathers a great for smaller flies. If you look through your hen pheasant skin you'll be able to find some pretty dark feathers.
Like I've always said, you have to fish every, well you know the phrase. Well done.
ReplyDeleteMark Kautz
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Mark never leave a stone unturned, and fish all of the stream.
I love this time of year when the trout are in the shallow riffles!
ReplyDeleteMarkW
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Mark it's a fun time. The brookies have no problem slamming your offering.
Low water, brook trout and soft hackles........perfection.
ReplyDeleteRalphsFlyBox
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Ralph it all came together. We got some much needed rain and that should do the streams well.
Recent rain was much appreciated, Alan. These days I welcome rain, both for our trout streams and our garden which is doing well this year.
ReplyDeleteSummer squash, cucumbers, and zucchinis have been outstanding this year. Neighbors close their doors when they see me coming around to give some away, that is how much there has been. Haha!
Plentiful amount of tomatoes ahead by the looks of things tonight. Not much fishing for me lately, but I surely enjoy reading about your brookies, and same as you always check stream temp when fishing.
Best, Sam
Sam
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Sam sounds like you have a farm. I love fresh native veggies. We put up with some hostile days in winter and it's the thought of those native veggies that help us make it through. I fished a stream yesterday that has ample wild browns. The stream temp was 64. Thankfully the rain and the break in heat probably kept the temps from going higher. Today it's bluegills and bass.