Tuesday, March 17, 2020

Do You Stop By Here?

Good morning to all of us Irish. Today we are all Irish, and may St. Patrick shine on us all. We had corned beef and cabbage last night and so this morning I enjoyed a delicious corned beef hash. Boy the second and third day of this tasty meat just seems to be better and better.

Small Stream Reflections has become a favorite place to stop by those from New England and beyond. A great deal of readers from all over the US as well as worldwide readers. I get emails from the UK, Czech Republic, Argentina, Australia, Canada, and Scandinavia. Many of these folks fish small streams in their countries. What a great group of people. Many of these readers send me photos as well as flies and stories. I'd like to share a couple of them with you.


This beaming young man is Hans. He hails from Montana. Hans is a senior in high school and is a fine fly fisher as well as a fine fly tyer. Pretty nice wild cutthroat there.


Hans and his friend in a very high place. If I remember right that is the lake where the cutthroat was taken. It's great to see so much enthusiasm in these young men...more of this is needed. Thanks guys.


A few flies from a gentleman in Oregon were in the mail. Lou is a Fran Betters fan and it shows in the construction of this fly. This fly is sure to cause a little havoc in the local brookie pool. I love the tapered thread body.


Some "brown and whites"...spare time put to good use.


All brook trout are gorgeous. But the small ones are just a little bit more so. This is one I caught recently that was outstanding.









28 comments:

  1. No celebrations this year for St. Patrick's Day. Everybody is in a panic. That said, my roots go back to my, wait, I have to look at the family tree, OK 3rd Great-Grandfather Neil Duffin and 3rd Great-Grandmother Mary Connolly from Glenarm, Antrim County, Northern Ireland circa 1788. Our youth will carry on the fly fishing tradition.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mark Kautz
      Thanks
      Mark Irish in the family. Now you'll be asked some day to explain why no corned beef on St Patrick's day 2020.

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    2. You misunderstood. Murphy's (town in Calaveras County) has an Irish days celebration that was cancelled. The corned beef, gone before I ever wrote the reply. It lasted long enough for one meal and corned beef hash.

      Delete
  2. Thank you for the shout out to diversity, Alan! Like Mark, my ancestors came from County Antrim in Northern Ireland. Breakfast looks mighty tasty...

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    Replies
    1. mike
      Thanks
      Mike I love it when I hear from others, both distant and local.
      That breakfast held me through lunch.

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  3. Alan, although my heritage is mostly Scandi-Scot. My mother's side of the family is German-Irish. She had a (multi)great grandmother that was born on an Irish ship sailing to the "new world". Very cool to see you getting international attention. I feel fortunate to have elders that did well to document their lineage.

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    Replies
    1. Matt Harding
      Thanks
      Matt my family can be traced back a few years, but as far as the times in Italy and Poland it's kind of foggy.
      It's good to know your roots.

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  4. Replies
    1. Bureboyblog
      Thanks
      I'm hoping you mean the hash and eggs, and not the brook trout. Lots of pepper, a favorite of yours I recall.

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    2. The only brookies I have eaten were reservoir stockies from many moons ago. But yes hash, eggs and pepper and Maldon sea salt flakes. Strong coffee and oj. Yum yum.

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  5. Youth will carry the fly fishing torch onward, but none will ever forget our teachers and mentors. Happy St. Patrick's Day!

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    Replies
    1. Hans
      Thanks
      Hans it's great that the youth of today are finding fly fishing rewarding and in so many ways. Carry on.

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  6. Alan, it is no wonder to me why you have follower from all over the world. What you do here is a real gift to all of us who love trout and fishing for them. Thank you for what I see posted on your site on a regular basis. Corned beef and cabbage is always a treat in our household. I just love it.

    Best, Sam

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    Replies
    1. Sam
      Thanks
      Sam what I like about the emails and posts I get from far off places is the fact that so many share the love of small streams.
      The left-over CB on some crusty rye bread with your favorite condiment is better then the dinner.

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  7. A beautiful looking brookie and extra delicious looking breakfast Alan..I hope you and Janet and the family are healthy and enduring this corona madness..all is well here on the coast of Maine..

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    Replies
    1. penbayman
      Thanks
      We are doing just fine. It's good to hear from you.

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  8. Happy St. Patrick's Day my friend! Though, after the day I had yesterday, I might have to call it Tarpon Day for the rest of my life!

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    Replies
    1. RM Lytle
      Thanks
      Rowan just what were you chasing yesterday?

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    2. The silver princes, youngsters of the silver king.

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  9. It is very good to see when the young people are learning the trade of fishing, I caught my ten year old grandson and this season he caught his first fish, it was a spectacular moment .... beautiful specimen of trout you have caught Alan, beautiful colors.

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    Replies
    1. Armando Milosevic
      Thanks
      Armando isn't that a wonderful feeling when someone so close to you catches their first fish. Tell him good job for me.

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  10. I mean when young people learn to fish....

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  11. Is Hans using a Tenkara rod? That is a nice fish for a mountain lake.

    Bill Love
    Sandpoint, Idaho

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    1. Anonymous
      Thanks
      Bill it is a Tenkara rod. He was thrilled when he took that beautiful trout.

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  12. Hi Alan,

    Great to see some youngsters catching the fishing bug (as well as a fantastic looking Cuttie!).

    My two boys have no interest in angling at all! However, my club on the little river Leven holds 'introduction to fishing' activities every summer with the kids from the local area and we get one or two sign up to the club each year.

    Hoping for some 'Social Isolation' on Sunday when the season opens!

    Take care

    Alistair

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    Replies
    1. Alistair
      Thanks
      Alistair my son loves to fish, but mostly salt-water, but that's OK.
      Young blood is vital to fly fishing. Good luck mate Sunday.

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