Sunday, January 2, 2022

The last day of 2021

December 31st, the morning broke with a cold dampness in the air. I shuffled to the kitchen and made a cup of French roast coffee. Dark hot was the brew and just perfect for such a morning. It had rained the day before and the low hanging fog and drizzle persisted. As I sat drinking coffee I was in thought as to how I was going to bring myself to fish today. In years past I always did my best to fish both New Years Eve day as well as New Years Day. This year it seemed like that was probably not going to happen because of reasons that had made it to difficult....nonsense man! I was going to give it a shot and fish this last day of the year.
 

 

I chose a stream that I was familiar with. A stream where most sections were easy to cast and work a fly. The water levels were perfect, and the walk was manageable. Caution was place as the wet leaves and rocks made for "walking on marbles" take effect. The woods were quiet and a nice feeling of peaceful solitude took over. It felt good after so long to be casting flies in a stream again. It took a spell before I had my first bite. It came as the fly stopped at the end of the drift and sort of sank slowly towards the bottom. The slight movement as the rod tip came up brought the strike.
 

My first brookie on the last day of 2021.
 

Even on a damp cool day in the winter one can find some beauty along the stream.
 

I continued to fish those slow pockets and managed a hookup or two but failed to bring another to hand. With the thought in mind that this was going to be a one to hand day I prepared to head for the car. That old saying came to mind "how about one more cast" well that one more lead to many more.
 

And as it turns out it was worth it. As the fly dragged on the surface the brookie rose and grabbed it. This my friends was the last wild jewel of 2021....
 

As I headed to the car and to a nice hot cup of coffee waiting for me I saw this mallard drake heading off. Good bye 21 and hello 22.....
 

 

15 comments:

  1. I wish I could have gotten out on the 1st but below 0 scotched that. It's supposed to be near 30 degrees by Tuesday so I'm planning on meeting a friend in Wisconsin. Thanks for your great blog in 2021.

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    Replies
    1. dpnoll
      Thanks
      Don below 0 that's cold. Fish are real sluggish in that temperature. 30 now that's workable. I hope you get out. Do you fish tenkara rods when it's that cold?

      Delete
  2. That's a beautiful piece of water, Alan; glad you were able to get out. Thank you for a wonderful year of SSR.

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    Replies
    1. mike
      Thanks
      Mike I have written about that stream many times. So beautiful and so productive. When it all comes together winter angling can be enjoyable. Unfrozen in CT.

      Delete
  3. Hi Alan,

    Thank you for another year of SSR. Love that mallard drake by the way. Ah yes, "one more cast". I can't even remember anymore how many times those three words have gotten me in trouble.

    Stay safe!

    John V.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. John V
      Thanks
      John the mallard seemed not to be bothered by my being there. And "one more cast" has probably gotten a few of us in trouble. It's all part of this passion we have.

      Delete
  4. For some reason one can never ignore that "one more cast". That's the one that brings the biggie or nothing, but you have to do it. Happy NY Alan.

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    Replies
    1. Mark Kautz
      Thanks
      Mark most times your right and the biggest fish of the day comes from that last cast. The best to you in 2022....

      Delete
  5. Hi Alan

    That looks just like my kind of "thin blue line"......
    Glad you managed the first part of your New Year's tradition and I am looking forward to hearing about the 2nd part shortly!
    I managed a trip out on the 27th for some winter grayling (bringing a few small uns' to hand) and although the weather has been great the last few days it was my eldest 18th birthday on New Year's day so fishing was off the agenda 🎉🎊🥂🎂🎁. However it is back on again tomorrow with a trip to the little River Leven.
    Take care and stay safe
    Alistair

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    Replies
    1. Alistair
      Thanks
      Alistair wish a Happy Birthday to your son. And now off to the river Levin...have a super day on the water.

      Delete
  6. That’s a beautiful stream. It’s great that you got out to enjoy it. Is that a road kone kebari? I took advantage of the warm weather today a caught my first two brookies of the year on a dry fly. Deer hair sedge from Morgan Lyle’s book. Such a simple and effective fly.

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    Replies
    1. Shawn
      Thanks
      Shawn road cone it is. Up near 60 today and it's great you were able to catch a few on dries. It was a perfect start for you in 2022.
      That book is awesome. Try the deer hair emerger...

      Delete
  7. Alan,
    Great looking stream.
    Good to see you got out one more time before putting 2021 in the rear view mirror and found some willing dance partners.

    JJ

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    Replies
    1. Beaverdam
      Thanks
      Joe the stream was just about perfect. The day was comfortable and a few friends to bring it all together. Now on to 2022.

      Delete
  8. Alan
    The years seem to come around now so fast----thanks for the read, hope 2022 is as good or even better for you and the family as 2021 was!

    ReplyDelete