This is the scene as the nor'easter blew up New England on Saturday. Sixty five mile an hour winds, heavy snow falling at rates of 4 inches an hour. And to top it off the cold was intense. On the deck here I measured 13 inches and a few really big drifts. January 31...it is the end of a cold month, some moderating temps are forecast for the first week of February which is good news.
There was a time not long ago when I would be out enjoying snowy conditions like these but....
...not today. A stream like this on days like this can give you a few pages of writing in your journal. Over the years I can recall memorable surface activity on such streams.
It is a time for these "little winter stones"...they can cause a few splashes and subtle rises.
Cast your fly just off the bank, or perhaps near a large boulder. Twitch your rod tip and just wait a second...
Here are a couple of my favorite "winter stone" spiders. These are tied on 14 and 16 hooks. Some spikey black dubbing, silk thread and a couple of turns of Starling hackle.
Stay warm and safe my friends...
I noticed the hook eyes are turned up. Any reason for that?
ReplyDeleteEdge
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The hook is a Mustad R50 up turned eye. They are no longer in production but can be found on ebay. The hook was used by flymph tyers and was a favorite of Vernon Hidy.
Beautiful pictures, Alan. Seeing the little black stones always gives me hope, though I won't see them up here for a while yet. Enjoy the snow!
ReplyDeletemike
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Mike I find them amazing; they seem to thrive on the cold. I love the snow because I don't have to really deal with it.
that looks like our Tierra del Fuego in winter... patience and wrap yourself up in thick clothes...
ReplyDeleteArmando Milosevic
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Armando wind swept and cold..warm I am, flannel and fleece.
I really dislike Winter.
ReplyDeleteMark Kautz
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Mark I agree. Even as a younger guy I could find no enjoyment in the season.
G'Day Alan,
ReplyDeleteThe falling snow in that first photo gives it an almost impressionist quality. Photographic art!
Kindest Regards,
Steve
Steve
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Steve snow is a rare sight down under?
G'Day Alan,
DeleteIn winter we get snow in the the southern states of Australia--New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania. Enough to support ski shops and resorts but often the snow season can be very short if there is a warmish winter. We sometimes get snow in Healesville, where I live but never much and it does not stay around for very long.
There was one time, many, many moons ago when I hiked into an alpine area in the middle of summer. When I bedded down in my little hike tent, the temperature was dropping. When I woke up in the morning my tent was frozen solid and there had been a very heavy snow fall through the night. I remember bursting out laughing. "Snow ---middle of summer!"
Kindest Regards, Steve
PS I would have gone fishing a couple of hours ago but our sick cat came up and needed a hug--cant deny him that! He has toxoplasmosis and it has affected him in his brain, making him wander around aimlessly like a zombie, so different to the cheeky little squirt that he was up until quite recently. Spot still has quality of life-still wanting a hug being part of it. It's just started raining--maybe it's again' me for today?
Cheers,
Steve
We only got about 6" where I live, Alan, far enough west of the storm track to avoid the worst of it. The cold and wind were indeed intense though. I have not fished for close to a month now being January has been so cold. A warming trend at some point would be welcome.
ReplyDeleteBest, Sam
Sam
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Sam some areas along the coast got 2 feet...it's tough not being able to fish. We are now into February and hopefully things will change...let's go groundhog.
The bright sunshine on the perfect blanket of white snow was beautiful yesterday even if the cold made fishing impractical. Warmer days will be here soon. In the meantime, tying up some of those "winter stone" spiders seems like a good plan.
ReplyDeleteShawn
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Shawn ventured out to the Berkshires yesterday. The streams were completely frozen over. Tie on, winter stones, Stewart's black spiders etc.
Alan
ReplyDeleteBring on Spring and I don't even ive where all the snow is.
Bill Trussell
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Bill I'm with you. Winter grows old in a hurry.
Beautiful rod Alan! I have restored two left for dead bamboo rods. The first was a 9’ 3-piece 6 weight South Bend that was given to me by my father-in-law. The 2nd is a 7’ 6” 5 weight no name that I found in a Maine antique store for $20. Both went back to at least the 1950’s and were in really bad shape. I put about $130 dollars’ worth of new components as well as 60 hours of time into each. They came out reasonably well but are simply too heavy for most of my fishing. This past year I ordered a 7’ 6” 3 weight blank with components and I finished the rod this January. All in I spent less than $400 and ended up with a nice, functional tool that will suit the little rivers I mostly fish. If a person has the patience and the skills to tie flies It honestly isn’t difficult to finish a rod from a blank. All the information anyone needs is on youtube and the parts are available on the web. I will send you a few photos of my finished rod.
ReplyDeleteDean
Dean F
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Dean your restoration efforts sound awesome. Also the cane rod you crafted is gorgeous, saw the photos you sent me. I'm still not in that category of accomplished rod maker but I do like your encouragement.