Could spring be close? Seeing a lot of green sprouts and budding trees makes me say yes it is. On a recent outing I found some willing participants in a lovely stream that flows through areas of rock and laurel. In various places it is gentle with slow riffles and in others there are boulders and impressive pocket water. Anyone who has followed this blog for a time knows that my favorite areas of a stream are the riffles. I love fishing riffles in any season. They are almost always productive, and your mistakes are never detected and used against you. In small streams riffles are food factories. Most times when you lift stones from the bottom you'll find lots of little critters upon them. I'm no scientist but I also think that insects use the riffles to launch themselves to adults. Well anyway I love fishing them.
The fish taken this day all came from the riffles. This male took a soft-hackle drifted in the currents, and struck it mid-way through the drift.
A super stretch of this stream. I could fish here for an hour, well that may be an exaggeration but I'll say quite awhile.
I can find brookies like this in places pictured above.
On certain days I need only one fly. Some days that fly might be a dry a wet or a spider like this.
And if that fly finds it's way near a holding fish you can bet it will be taken. This lovely lady grabbed the Partridge and Orange and proceeded to show me what a fight was. She actually took line of the reel. It has been a long time since a small stream brookie did that. I slid my hand under her belly and said thank you. She allowed me the photo and then flipped her strong tail and was back in the stream.
Love the new greenery! I'm so jealous; we had whiteout conditions most of the day yesterday. That big brookie looks like a little tank. Lovely water, Alan. Thank you.
ReplyDeletemike
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Mike it does the soul good to see that green about. Whiteouts not so good. A nice fish and a awesome battle.
Alan,
ReplyDeleteThat stretch of water is just screaming brook trout. You certainly found some nice fish. I'm still chasing steelhead here but itching to do some small stream fishing.
JJ
Beaverdam
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Joe steelhead are a fish that takes no back seat. I wish I lived closer, I'd love to hook up with one again.
Good on you for pinching the barb down on that spider Alan. Lovely fish.
ReplyDeletebillp
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Bill I try to pinch them, but one slips by, then corrective action is taken.
Alan, I agree spring is on our doorstep with many signs of it now. No better place to enjoy its arrival than on that beautiful stream with its willing brook trout. That female in the last shot is a trophy for that water. What a brook trout! Conveniently hooked in the corner of the mouth too which makes for an efficient release.
ReplyDeleteBest, Sam
Sam
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Sam I hope you were able to get out today.
She was barely hooked but managed to stay on for the photo.
Alan, glad you had a good day fishing. Looks like the the hook-set on that sweet hen was on the run. I like seeing that. No doubt you'll revisit that stream.
ReplyDeleteMatt Harding
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Matt a brilliant day for certain. Those barbless hooks get it done. Hook fast and hold well.
Just when we thought Spring was close, the trees, what ever kind have the white flowers, are in bloom, trees and bushes have buds on them and we are getting hammered. Snow level down to 3000. In the passes as much as 6 feet of new snow. Rain started yesterday and is supposed to continue through Tuesday or so. March came in like a lamb and is going out like a lion.
ReplyDeleteMark Kautz
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Mark between you and Mike you guys seem to be in competition on who can get the most snow and hold on to it the longest. With us is was in like a lion and out, to be determined.
Hi Alan
ReplyDeleteLooks like spring is there in CT.....
We have some greenery over here too, the Hawthorn is coming into leaf and the buds on my maples are about to break (no frost please mother nature!). In the local hedgerows there is plenty of blossom from the blackthorn.
Glad to see that the brookies played ball, those are some really good looking fish, hopefully the trout over here will be similar in a weeks time, just 7 sleeps until we start in Yorkshire!
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Alistair
Alistair
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Alistair we here in New England are always on the look out for weather changes. It can change drastically in a short period of time. We'll take the good stuff though. You must be getting quite excited by now...good luck.
Alan
ReplyDeleteA nice brook trout for sure; I have two rock fountains in my back yard so I can experience riffles artificial style, a soothing experience for sure when one can't fish those fantastic streams you fish. Thank for sharing
Bill Trussell
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Bill that's a great solution to the "no riffle" issue. We here could use a bit of rain.
beautiful your story Alan, and surely it must be so, it seems that spring is coming trout are very hungry.
ReplyDeleteArmando Milosevic
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Armando that day they were so very hungry. Only one fly was needed. Spring is very close.
Alan,
ReplyDeleteBeautiful greenery, water, trout, and patterns! Especially, the patterns! They have been exceptional lately! We are enjoying every post, every entry! Thank you Alan for what you have done, are doing, and will do far into the future!
Doug in the Den!
Dougsden
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Doug I hope your home is in great shape. Watch that virus.
Having fun fishing and tying, and life in general.