Sunday, August 9, 2020

That Little Yellow Fly

Look at that raging off color stream. My little brookie hide-a-way that was overwhelmed by the tropical storm we had last week. Give it a day or two and things will be back in order. Some parts of the state got heavy winds and a few places got tropical downpours. Rain is rain and we'll take what we can get. As to the winds at one point 700 thousand customers were without power. Full restoration won't be until Tuesday.



Goldenrod is now blooming and the fields and woodlands are showing it's brilliant yellow colors. In the tradition of "Trout Flies and Flowers" a fly with yellow would be a good choice at this time. There are some really good flies that feature yellow but the one I chose was the Mr. Rapidan.


The Mr. Rapidan hair wing dry fly...the Mr. Rapidan parachute is another good choice but mine were home in another fly box.


The fly was the right choice for the brookies responded to it quickly. A high floater and seen easily by angler and fish.


Take a good look at this male. A hooked snout that will be quite the feature come fall spawning time. Also look at his teeth.


Obstacles, not for wild brookies.


Mr. Rapidan and the brookies belly, a perfect match.










20 comments:

  1. Nice post Alan, I was wondering how you were doing. That stream was still fish able. Here our monsoon season isn't happening and our streams are low and warm.

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    1. billp
      Thanks
      Bill once it cleared up it was OK. Most of the state is also quite dry. Stream temps have been at safe levels.
      August can be nasty.

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  2. Alan
    I didn't realize you guys got that kind of weather last week. Did you lose power? The yellow wing on this fly is a standout for those of us who have trouble seeing under a 16 size. Beautiful brook trout thank for sharing

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    1. Bill Trussell
      Thanks
      Bill I was fortunate we only lost power for three hours. Like most of those hair wing flies they tend to be good floaters and they're easily picked up on the water.

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  3. 700,000 without power? Sure you're not in California? That's pretty normal for us. Love the yellow parachute. Apparently the Brookies do as well.

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    1. Mark Kautz
      Thanks
      Mark I had to chuckle at your first few sentences. Good sight for both fish and angler. By the way the weather guessers were right on calling the tract.

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  4. Hi Alan

    That fly was certainly a good foil for the 'Goldenrod' flowers, and obviously those brookies thought so too.......

    I have heard about the Mr Rapidan from several sources, but it is not a fly we have over this side of the pond. Looking at the result you had on those streams, I think I should get a bit more familiar with it! We are making our family pilgrimage to Scotland later this week, I won't have time to knock some Mr Rapidans up, but I have got plenty of Bombers to take for those feisty Scottish Brownies on the Dye & the Whiteadder Waters. Who knows, I might even get a chance of going for some grilse on the Tweed as well if we have time?

    Thanks for sharing.

    Alistair

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    1. Alistair
      Thanks
      Alistair the Mr. Rapidan is quite popular with our southern trout. I like it because it floats well and I can see it.
      Hey good luck on your family vacation. Have fun and fish.

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  5. The Mr. Rapidan is a fly I need to tie more of, it would work well up here. This is the hottest driest summer on record. The weather station in Caribou reports 6.5" below normal, and it shows.Send rain...

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    1. mike
      Thanks
      Mike your brookies would eat them up. The deficit is state wide or just in northern Maine? That's a hefty amount. Hopefully the wet systems will move in and take a bite out of that deficit.

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    2. The County has it the worst, they tell us. Severe drought according to NOAA. I've never seen it so dry. Scary.

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    3. Mike plenty of concern about that. Hope some rain comes your way.

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  6. G'Day Alan,
    Glad to see that you can get out on the stream. Unlike us here in Victoria, OZ, where most outdoor activities-fishing, hunting, golf, surfing, to just name a few have been made illegal under our new state COVID19 lock down restrictions. This is when I really appreciate fishing with you on Small Stream Reflections. Hopefully, the restrictions might be eased come September.
    That first brook trout really had a decent set of choppers. I hooked a decent sized native blackfish from the Badger at the bottom of my garden and it too had impressive dental ware.
    I also like dry flies that float well and are easy to see. The Mr. Rapidan isn't a fly that I've seen here in OZ but I like dries like Royal Humpies or Royal Stimulators as the red stands out very well. I did buy some bright orange or red hopper indicator flies early this year but unfortunately didn't get a chance to try them. Next summer.
    Keep well and kindest regards,
    Steve.

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    1. Steve
      Thanks
      Those two flies you mention are working flies here to. The Stimulator will do just that when called into action. This year has been a tough one world wide. Glad for everyday that those I know and love are safe. Some cool and wet weather is in need here right now. Hope, hope, hope.

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  7. Its been like that this side of the Pond . We had summer in April and now we seem to be getting" April Showers In July and August. A local river went up my 4ft in lass than an hour the other day.

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    1. Becks and Brown Trout
      Thanks
      Wow my friend, 4 ft that's a lot of water. Been pretty much dry here with exception of thunderstorms. Hope things get a little better soon.

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  8. Good morning Alan- beautiful fly and fish! Currently here in central Mass most small streams at best are an ankle deep trickle with a "pool" being 24". Anyway in a post back at the beginning of the year you said you resolved to get your tying bench under control. How did you do? My desk has a wall in my wife's home office. It's on the 2nd floor with lots of natural light. She spends 8-10 hours a day in there working so keeping my tying desk neat and orderly is a requirement. When tying I place all the hooks I'm going to use for that session in a small magnetic parts holder. Insurance that they don't find their way to into the feet of my wife or dog, thus preserving a happy marriage!

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    1. Dean F
      Thanks
      Dean I did get things in order. And since then I can't seem to find things. Now it's time to get my books put back.
      Hooks can be a problem when they fall to the floor. Carpets are the worse when it comes to that. Your tip on magnetic holders is a good one. I have a fly box that features a magnetic bottom, I'll use that.
      Domestic tranquillity...a must.

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  9. Alan,
    Harry would be happy to see you putting Mr. Rapidan to such good use.
    JJ

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    1. Beaverdam
      Thanks
      Joe, Harry's Mr Rapidan and Fran's Bomber were designed for brookies.

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