A Winter Stream In Brook Trout Forest

Winter is here now and living with it has to be accepted. There are times when it can be downright nasty and unforgiving. There will be spells where it is relentless throwing every it can at us. This is why  most folks do not acquire a taste for the last season of the year. BUT.....there are times when winter outings can be wonderful. One such outing took place yesterday. We had a sizeable snow event last week and it left a lot of white fluffy snow on the ground along with a cap on most everything else.

As I walked through the woods to a spot where I could easily access the the stream I could not find a place within the forest that did not offer a beautiful sight. There were trees that were decorated in a natural topping of snow. Winter birds were about and actually stayed put for a few seconds to allow me to view them. The air was still, not really cold so I was able to enjoy what was around me.

 

 

I was armed with my "Tiny Ten" and a few flies. Among the soft hackles were a few nymphs. Just along the submerged log I had a brookie move to the surface for a soft hackle that I was about to lift out of the water. In winter fishing you take that little rise as an achievement of your day. That being said I continued to drift flies along that log. Eventually I had a brookie take. Although on only a short time I could see the beautiful color that little guy exhibited.
 

Busting through the brush was not as bad as it looks. The snow was soft and did not cling to my boots. One slight issue was the snow deposits that fell from the trees and found there way down my neck.
 

To this point I had not brought a single brookie to hand. Then along came this lovely spot. It is a place that is "classic" within "brook trout forest"...The fly was worked through the riffle and pool. On one drift the line moved and I set the hook. The trout headed for the bottom and cover that it knew was there. But the "Tiny Ten" held up and turned him to me.
 

A fine creature from the winter stream. He had looked like he recovered well form the spawn. Notice how long his fin is, that's where his strength comes from.
 

"Simple" is my friends....