Saturday it rained and quite hard I may say. They estimate 1-2" depending on where you lived. Lots of water flowing into the streams usually pushes the trout around and they will seek out food in most areas of the stream. I was there to see if I would find a willing participant who was hungry. The sun was out and the temperatures warmed nicely.
While walking the stream I observed these fellows moving around. Perhaps a dark soft-hackle fly should be put into use. It was and....
This brown wasted no time in taking it. A female that was in awesome condition.
This pool produced several strong hits and I knew I should stay here and continue fishing it. The pool was off color and the bottom full of wood. I continued to cast and move the fly all over the pool. At one time the current pushed the fly to the bottom. Not wanting to get snagged I lifted the rod and the fly moved to toward the surface. It was at that point the trout struck. A very strong fish with lots of stream savvy and I had my hands full trying to keep him on and out of the debris.
This time I was able to win and this handsome male was at hand. A gorgeous specimen from a small stream.
Two beautiful fish Alan. That's my favorite, off color water.
ReplyDeleteHad a nice day last Friday on stockers on one of my favorite streams.
billp
DeleteThanks
Bill off colored water covers a lot of sins. It's always good to hear of your time on the water.
Heavy midge hatches lately but they're too tiny for me to attach to the leader.
DeleteAnother nice day on the creek.
ReplyDeleteMark Kautz
DeleteThanks
Mark so happy for days like this in January.
Oh, how I envy you your weather. The little black stonefly has me thinking I need to tie up some more of Stewart's Black Spiders for May. There will be no fishing until then; April here is just another word for February.
ReplyDeletemike
DeleteThanks
Mike today I had to cut my outing short. The temps took a drop where I was and I developed a chill.
The Stewart Black Spider. Do you use the Davie McPhail method or the original?
I really like Davie's method, it made perfect sense to me when I tried it. I must have read Stewart's book a dozen times over the years.
DeleteMike I also use McPhails method. It's easy to tie. Oliver Edwards has a youtube vid. on tying it the Stewart way.
DeleteAlan
ReplyDeleteExcellent fly to attract some nice brookies---you was using the fly rod I would be casting on that particular stream. I assume the choice for the 7 ft. was that stream is a bit more open? Thanks for sharing
Bill Trussell
DeleteThanks
Bill that rod is perfect for smaller streams, and as you said it is more open which allows for a longer rod. The rod also roll casts so you can fish tight spots.
Alan, you know I love the native brookies, but the wild browns are not far behind. What red spots on that chunky one in the first photo! The soft hackle sure produces, doesn't it? You know how to fish those blue lines.
ReplyDeleteSam
DeleteThanks
Sam the brown is a naturalized trout, and has been with us for a long time. The wild version in the small stream is perfection. Soft-hackles produce most times when asked to, as you well know.
Alan,
ReplyDeleteYou are amazing and Sam said it so well above..."You know how to fish those blue lines." You really do know the brook (and brown) trout, it's character, it's needs, and above all, it's environments! You have proven to us over and over that these fish can be taken in every month of the year! I too love it when you take us along on these adventures! I know what murky or "off color" water can do for our local waters and fish! My good friend used to say these kinds of waters makes the big ones stupid! I think he is partially right! They seem to instinctively know that the dinner bell rings when the rain drops fall and the water goes dingy (or is that spelled dingey?)
Excellent post Alan as always!
Dougsden
Dougsden
DeleteThanks
Doug after chasing these small stream trout over the years I developed a sense of where, when and what fly to use. Like deer hunting you put the time in before, during and after the hunt. When high flows happen the bottom of a stream is turned into a washing machine. The turbulence forces lots of food to be put into the stream. They know and I know.
Hi Alan
ReplyDeleteThose are some well conditioned brownies considering the time of year....
I like the look of that stonefly soft hackle (and obviously so do the trout!), I might have tie some up ready for the trout season in March.
Thanks
Alistair
Anonymous
DeleteThanks
Alistair the fly I started out with succumbed to an submerged log but it replacement worked out just fine.
Well done Alan!
ReplyDeleteMarkW
DeleteThanks
Mark I know your familiar with that stream. At the top where we fished NYD a couple of years ago holds some very respectable fish.
Two beauties Alan! Just curious do you ever use traditional winged wets on wild brown waters? If so do you have any favorites?
ReplyDeleteDean F
DeleteThanks
Dean yes I do. I love the dark and light cahill... I also like the Tomah Joe and Royal Coachman. Wet flies that use the wood duck, and mallard feather are awesome on brown trout flies.