A slight change over the last week or so brought me to a couple of different streams in search of a few naturalized species of trout. The brown has been here for over a century and has proven itself to be quite a challenge for the fly angler. I love them for the variations and downright toughness when hooked. I chose to tackle them for the first time with my Tiny Tenkara, a real experience for sure. It has been a dry and hot spell of late, the exceptions being some pretty impressive thunderstorms that dumped between 2-4" of rain each time they set up. This has kept the streams in decent condition. Water temps have been good with readings in the high 50's to low 60's. Mornings have bee crazy with fog and clouds that break into sunshine, the latter brings the heat and a quick departure from me.
Brown trout at this time of year like moving water. Those quiet slow moving pools don't seem to hold them. Any way ant and bomber patterns will really draw strikes in those riffled areas. Tailouts and the heads of pools will also produce action.
Diverse...this is an example of what I like in brown trout...a lack of spots, almost salmon looking.
Company on the stream.
You see that log in the water, a likely holding spot. It has the capability of snagging a few lies too. But when all things come together rewards and a first take place.
This hooked snout male wild brown crushed a small "carot" fly as it neared the log. The fish was strong and really tested the Tiny Tenkara...eventually it realized that I was going to win this battle and settled in at my hand.
Sweet pics Alan. I always enjoy your posts.
ReplyDeleteHow long of a line and tippet are you using on your Tiny Ten?
billp
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Bill I use a 6ft. piece of fly line, and a 2-3ft tippet.
I have a 6ft furled leader that I'm going to use as a line and see how that works.
It's certainly brown season with Natty and I as well, some real lookers on the fourth!
ReplyDeleteWas your carrot a P&O or was it the laid down sakasa Kebari?
Nathan Camp
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Great to hear of your and Natty's success.
I use a partridge feather on the darker side, hen pheasant will also work. I tie them as a conventional soft-hackle.
Excellent!
DeletePretty good sized brown for that small stream. Orange is always good.
ReplyDeleteMark Kautz
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Mark there are some brutes in that stream, I just have not found them. Orange is good...
Hi Alan,
ReplyDeleteSneaking close enough to those browns to present the fly with your 5-foot tenkara without spooking them - well done!
Best wishes,
John
John Strucker
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John one other thing working for me along with being kind of stealthy, is the shade on that stream is awesome, actually dark in places.
Good job & nice fish Alan. I'll take a guess and say you were throwing a sz.12.
ReplyDeleteMatt Harding
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Matt the hook is a Saber 7017 Hopper & Terrestrial and yes it's a size 12.
Looks like a fun outing on that stream Alan!
ReplyDeleteHibernation
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Will a better time then I was expecting. A couple of nice brook trout also caught.
Alan
ReplyDeleteBeautiful brown trout; from the few I have landed on the Caney and Elk; I would say they outfight the rainbow and the brook trout.
Just curious do ever encounter any snakes on those streams you fished? Thanks for sharing
Bill Trussell
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Bill they can give you a battle. Rainbows like to jump which I like. Brookies well you don't really know what to expect.
Yes lots of snakes. Mostly they are water snakes, aggressive but not poisonous. I took a photo of one from a few weeks ago. He had just eaten and did not care about me.
You catch the real trout in our region, Alan. I hope they are always around.
ReplyDeleteBest, Sam
Sam
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Sam, "real" that's exactly what small stream wild trout are. For any trout living in such places to reach a 10" size is a testament to the tenacity for life these fish have. I do hope for their long term survival.