Last week when we had a day or two with some wonderful weather I decided to fish a stream that I've not fished in over a year. When you first see the stream it's flowing through some thick laurel, a pain to fish in such places. But a fifty or so yards upstream it opens up and is an absolute joy to fish. The stream is a series of riffles and pools, some of which are quite deep.
As you can see certain areas have some high banks. Along with being high they are also quite deep and have those lovely undercuts.
A typical brook trout from this stream. They are in prime condition.
There were quite a few of these guys about. How they manage to get on my neck is a mystery.
There was one hell of a root ball near the bank. A drift of the fly drew a flash of orange, which quickly vanished. Several more drifts and a connection was made. The fish was strong and almost took me into that root bank. Finally I persuaded it to come to me.
As I lifted him I could tell he was the boss of the area.
Now could you list the reasons why I don't fish here more often?
That's a beautiful piece of water, Alan. I love the big brookie, he looks like a boss trout. I like your weather better than mine...
ReplyDeletemike
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Lovely stream Mike. Lots of rain today, a bit cool but nothing like you have in northern Maine.
Oh that photo of the root ball bank makes my hands twitch Alan. Beautiful water and those fish are gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteGoing to be in the high 20's and low 30's here this week at my fishing spots. Don't know if I'm that hardy anymore.
billp
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Bill those root tangles are trout magnets. I have my cold limitations to. The 20's and I'll go but not for long. Guide icing is the main problem.
I'm a wimp I now guess. Used to stand crotch deep in 33 degree steelhead streams when I was younger.
DeleteDon't have to worry about guide icing with Tenkara though. :-)
Bill those added years have a way of taking the fun out of 33 degree water.
DeleteYou have a great point about ice free Tenkara.
I would say that with so many other great places to fish in your area, they each have to take a turn. I'd take this one a bit more often.
ReplyDeleteMark Kautz
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Mark proper stream rotation, like with tires will make them go a lot further. I'll spend a few more hours on this one because it's so easy to walk along.
What a beautiful stream, Alan, with healthy looking brook trout living in it. That last one is a dandy. What a blessing to have so many good places that hold trout.
ReplyDeleteSam
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Sam we have the streams, and as long as we have ample water through the summer they will do fine.
Alan
ReplyDeleteFantastic stream, I would have to make another trip before the year is out. Thanks for sharing
Bill Trussell
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Bill another trip there is a promise. Maybe Thanksgiving morning.
"Now could you list the reasons why I don't fish here more often?"
ReplyDeleteI'll take a wild guess Alan:
The place is enchanted and overrun with mean leprechauns?
John Dornik
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John the place is deserted. Once I saw a fellow walking his dog there.
Now as for leprechauns never saw any, but wood ferries there are.
I just finished watching a town resident of your making clam fritters..Jacques Pepin...
Jacques asked us to save a skate for him, should we catch one, as he was going to feature cleaning/dressing/cooking a skate on one of his tv shows. We called him (he gave us his cell phone number) but unfortunately, he was out of town when we landed the skate (fairly large caught in mid sound).
DeleteJohn, that is so cool. He has cooked some foods that most of us would not try, but they do look delicious.
DeleteMy brother Tom who is a pastry chef used to help Jacques at his house preparing food for his videos when our family lived in Madison back in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Very nice guy.
ReplyDeleteJacques has an easy sauce recipe that you put over pan seared scallops that my wife and I love. Goes great over any type of fish in my opinion. I’ll dig out the recipe and post it for you guys.
Apache Trout
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John that is so cool. I love watching Jacques shows on PBS.
I'm sure the readers would love that recipe.