Friday, January 14, 2022

An Hour Or So......


 Yesterday was a day that was to be probably the best weather wise in the next week. It also was the best day in a string of brutal cold days we experienced in a week. So given that i managed to get some time to fish a stream that has given me success in the past. With only an hour or so to fish I chose a place that would give me the best chance of bringing a trout to hand. The stream was in a almost perfect condition with exception to the snow. But this old guy found a place or two where I was comfortable to cast my offerings, which today would be a Mickey Finn streamer and a February Red soft hackle.

The Mickey Finn produced nothing which i thought odd, but these are wild brookies I'm fishing for and contrary to what you may have heard they can be "selective" as hell. The February Red was next and even though it's only January I still like the fly at this time of year. On the third cast I had a brookie come of the bottom and strike at the fly and miss, but he did take a second swipe at it a moment later and was hooked. The brookies was only 7 inches but man did he fight. As he came close to hand he managed to free himself and swim off. I continued to fish for a short time after and had one more strike but no more hookups. What the day did accomplish was I fished, I caught, and I was able to enjoy the peaceful solitude of a wild brook trout stream in winter.

 

The February Red
 

Baked flounder....what a great way to celebrate the day.
 

 

29 comments:

  1. Great to get some time on the stream. Recipe please for the flounder!

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    1. NJpatbee
      Thanks
      Preheat oven to 375, melt 6 tbl spoons butter. Place flounder in baking pan, and spoon about 3 tbls of butter over the fillets. Place in oven and bake about 10 min. Crush some Ritz crackers and add the remaining melted butter and mix. Place the crackers over the fillets and bake another 10-15 mins.

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    2. Ritz crackers, never would have guessed. The wife and I thought bread crumbs.

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    3. Thanks! I will have to try it.

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  2. It is not always about amount landed but about the anticipation, the doing and a grand warming meal after a cold day upon the bank.

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    1. John
      Thanks
      John it's that anticipation that's the key. And the welcome supper is the cake topper.

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  3. Replies
    1. Mark Kautz
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      Mark it's tasty and easy. And if you want you can also use cod or other mild fish.

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  4. That sounds like an hour well spent.

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    1. Shawn
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      Shawn to see that brookie come off the bottom and whack that fly made the day. Nasty weather ahead.

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  5. We haven't seen that rod out in a while; glad you had a good day with it. The flounder looks fantastic.

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    1. mike
      Thanks
      Mike it has been tough, but I really did enjoy that hour. We have some northern Maine weather in the offing.

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  6. Alan
    Glad you was able to make it out---according to the weather forecast from here------is bitter cold and heavy snow for your area this week. Delicious looking meal---thanks for sharing

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    1. Bill Trussell
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      Bill the snow is not bad, but the bitter cold and strong winds are something I don't like. Power outages in winter can be a disaster. Looks like some soup times ahead.

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  7. What a great outing! One fish connected this time of year is a gift. I sometimes wake myself up thinking I am connected to a trout.

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    1. Sam
      Thanks
      Sam a single hookup is truly a gift, as you well know. If you catch the sun in the right position and the warmth takes over you sure can feel like dozing.

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  8. Brk Trt, nice post all around, and I should keep that red soft hackle in mind when I'm tying. I was down in your neck of the woods this past week over at upcountry. As you probably know, they have a bargain bin that usually has some real bargains for us tiers. I needed rubber legs for stoneflies which I knew upcountry has everything. Hmmm, soup? Good idea....Phil

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    1. DRYFLYGUY
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      Phil I love Upcountry. It's about 35 minutes from my home and I usually pop in about once a month. He is well stocked and the folks working there are knowledgeable. I have found several items in that bin and wondered why they were there. Did you take Rt. 8 down?

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    2. Yes, Rt 8 to Rt 44 is the easiest and most direct. My most favorite approach to their bargain bin is have no pattern in mind when going through it. And you can find tying items and supplies like no other. I then put them away, and eventually they make their way into a pattern I'm tying or one in mind.

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    3. Phil that's a scenic ride. There is some beautiful state forest lands along the way.

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  9. Thanks again for the post Alan. Would you ever consider doing a series on the contents of your fly box? Alan's essentials so to speak. Thanks again, John

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    1. jturick388@gmail.com
      Thanks
      John that's a great idea. I know over the years I have posted a lot of flies, but to have my top choices all together in one post would be helpful to those who would like to see them.
      I think I'll do it...

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    2. A great idea! Contents probably depend very much on time of year. Thanks for taking us out in the cold!

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    3. Kevin McLaughlin
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      Kevin time of year is important in fly selection. My choices have proven over the years to work most anytime of year. Case in point is the "bomber".

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  10. It must be very good fishing on streams in winter, here we do not practice it since fishing is prohibited in winter...the streams look so peaceful

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    Replies
    1. Armando Milosevic
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      Armando our streams are open but with special regulations. Winter fishing for me means I take care in how I handle the trout.

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  11. Alan,
    It's Monday and I have gone three days without checking in! Your post above is wonderful as usual! There have been a few outings to the ponds down below that yielded absolutely nothing! I am blessed however just like you! I have enjoyed many more positives than negatives! Winter trips are not out of the question here in the Ohio Valley! Ice is the problem!
    The flounder you showed looks delicious! This must one of the many benefits of living in Connecticut and relatively close to the coast!
    Your recipe is too simple! I hope to try it this evening for supper!
    February Red and Mickey Finn! Wow!
    From the Den snug and warm,
    Dougsden

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    1. Dougsden
      Thanks
      Doug shelf ice can be a big issue and I try to avoid it. The time spent fishing can be so stabilizing in a whacky world, and a tug on the line is a plus. The flounder is a nice break from a burgers. Good flies good eating friendly discussion and a warm den....

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