Those lands where our wild trout streams flow are treasures. They seem to hold those last bits of a wilderness that exists so close to multitudes of people. These sanctuaries which are so vital to the health of wild trout also provide health to us in the form of mental well being. A fallen tree we observe on a city street may cause concern, for there is a danger in it being where it fell. How ever in the woods it is just part of the natural landscape and for the most part is actually beneficial.
On a recent outing this week I took a few photos of the woods as I walked along the stream. The pictures had a special meaning for me of which I won't go into. I'm willing to bet that everyone of you can relate to each photo.
It was a damp-misty day but the sunshine was there where it mattered most.
Alan - The pictures remind me of a couple of my home waters that have lost some cover but the regeneration of the hemlocks is proceeding as fast as nature can work. Nice brown trout and the orange spots are typical of the wild browns I catch a couple of hundred miles from you!
ReplyDeleteNJpatbee
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Pat certain parts of CT have lost hemlocks, but most are still OK. I love those orange spots and the red adipose fin. One day I would like to fish the Ken Lockwood Gorge.
Not so many fallen trees and tree branches now that we live in town. Having lived upcountry for 11 years and I'm not dissing the beauty of the mountains, it only mean't work. Now I can enjoy the beauty much better.
ReplyDeleteMark Kautz
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Mark fallen trees can present problems, and clean up is one of them. I live in a small town and the public works dept. does well in keeping the dead trees cut and that is a blessing.
Alan,
ReplyDeleteThe photos above are beautiful (esp. the brownie! Really pretty!) and also very familiar! I believe you featured this little patch of woods a couple of years ago (I'm sorry, I did not go back thru the archives to check). The fifth photo from the top features a small hemlock tree just right of center that your grand kids hung a string of yarn or cotton that had things strung upon it that would benefit the birds and deer and other wildlife. Am I correct on this? The woods are so familiar to me! I can hardly remember what I had for breakfast this morning but I do remember many woodlots and streams in my past! Holy cow....am I early Alzheimers?
I was encouraged to see the young hemlock peeking thru the leaf litter! I am still enthralled with the relationship between brook trout and hemlocks that grown near the waters edge!
Dougsden
Dougsden
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Doug your memory is sharp. That is the area with the little evergreen that is decorated each year for the wildlife. One may be fuzzy about certain things but those outdoor experiences are always clear. Brookies and hemlocks are a relationship for the ages.
Beautiful photos, Alan. You capture the beauty of our Northeast open space better than anyone. Thank God such places still exist in our densely populated area. That wild brown reminds me of how we look now with many of the leaves down now, yet still some color to be had. The brookies colored up remind me how the trees look in full peak foliage, every color under the sun. Fishing in my future tomorrow. I need it. I might just sit on the bank for a while and take a rest. Best, Sam
ReplyDeleteSam
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Sam did you notice the white tipped fin on the brown?
A whole new world awaits us so close to humanity. Some of us take advantage of it while others just pass it by.
Enjoy you time on the river, and on the bank.