That Season...That "Glorious Season"

This is the last day of September, the skies have opened up and gave us a much needed drink. I have not seen an actual rainfall number but from my not so sophisticated rain gauge I make it 2 inches. From radar views the state may have exceeded 3 inches. This influx of water will have an impact on the small streams and bring some movement in wild trout.

The scene above is the start of the "glorious season"...that magical time when nature paints the New England area. The colors that come forth this time of year are nothing shy of incomparable. The season refreshes both mind and soul and gives us thought to the fact that there is something greater and this is just one way of showing us.

 

Both the brown trout and the brook trout choose this time to start the process of renewing their  species.
 

The colors of these fish will increase as time arrives to spawn.
 

Scenes like this are fully underway in Connecticut.
 

Autumn's colors are represented in this simple box of flies. I believe that these will serve me well for he next couple of months.
 

 

An Autumn Mosaic

I spent about five hours on a small stream yesterday. It was a beautiful day once the clouds broke and it was one of those days where everything went right. The stream was running almost at capacity, clear crisp water, I mean it sparkled like diamonds. I spent more time taking in the scenery than I did fishing, now that may not be entirely true but it was close. Looking into the stream the colored leaves seem to jump right at you, and when placed against the cobble bottom it look like a mosaic...natures mosaic.

The trees are in various stages of color change, some gold some red, there is also that clump of green in there.

The brook trout are not to be outdone. Many colors present along the body of this one.

I wish I could capture to true colors of this leaf jam. They were so vibrant with the riffled water flowing over the top....a few inches below that jam a willing brookie took a dry fly.

The fly...it's colors are that of fall.

Could fishing get any better? This angler says no..

This fly did reasonably well in it's first outing.

days to come...

Year to Year, The Natives Survive

We have been in a moderate drought since mid-July. And I've been concerned that this is a trend that has started several years ago where our summers and early fall have had below normal rainfall. Now I don't know the reason for this, and do not want to go in that direction of climate change. I for one do not have the knowledge to put forth a good case for it and will leave that to experts on another forum to debate it. But what I will show you is that this low rainfall has been going on for some time and from where I look it doesn't seem to be having an effect on the small stream brook trout, that is where I fish.

The fact that these fish carry on, and in some cases proliferate small streams as they have in years past. This is one stream I'll highlight. Its located in northwest Connecticut. I have fished this stream for years and hve never seen it dry up, there's always water flowing into some deeper pools. The Vegetation is thick so there is ample cover, and some of the boulders are so large you could park your car under them. In years past the wild brookies here have been small and a 6 inch fish will be remembered. This is now and also the first time I cast a fly here.

The photos here are of the same pool only a few years apart. In the top photo brook trout were spawning, and this was late October I believe. This photo is the pool in September of this year. The brook trout were here and appeared to be getting ready to continue their life cycle.

There were four brook trout in this pool. One darted away, and the others stayed. Looking at them one does have that female look and the larger one may be a male. The smaller one looks to be a dace, I can't really tell. It's good to see our natives adapting to what nature gives them and carrying on.

I can wait....I hope.

It's 6 AM and I'm drinking my second cup of Nantucket. The weather, as I look out the window is much the same as it has been for some time. My mind has been wandering for cooler, crisper weather. A time for small stream Autumn fishing.

I'm not a guy who likes to rush things, especially time, but I am tired of this hot, humid stuff. It's like getting kicked in the stomach daily. I haven't fished a small stream in some time, and it's taking a toll. I may have to walk along one and check things out.

"Oh those days" when the air is clean and so clear. When a morning frost covers all that is in shade.

To be able to walk along a stream and see beauty everywhere. Let your eyes focus on anything....

When your dry fly is cast upon the water and finds an eddy behind a stone. Suddenly a brook trout rises and takes.

A wild Autumn Brook Trout

I can wait for this, for I know it will come.

"Among The Leaves"

As I sit by my desk typing this, looking out the window the rain is falling at a pretty good clip. This will be of great help in filling up some low spots in the streams. It will also speed up the leaf drop, something I will really miss. This year for some reason the foliage has been brilliant, and even wet as they are now they seem to still pop out and remain vibrant through the rain drops.

Yesterday was a spectacular October day, and after some necessary home duties I had a chance to go out and enjoy the afternoon among Autumns leaves.

A few shades of green mixed in with fallen hardwood covers.

Sparkling waters bring out the flames of fire.

Along the way a friend comes close to the leaves of fire. The name "Squaretail" is fitting.

A pause to allow all that is around to sink in.

These Autumn days are numbered, and I'm happy to have spent this one in such fashion, "Among the Leaves".

CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE

A Perfect Autumn Day

One of the blessings of living in New England is having the ability to pick a perfect day in Autumn to be out enjoying the countryside. Another blessing is to be able to fly fish on such a day. Angling on one, or two or in my case three of the many small streams in Connecticut that hold wild trout is surely a blessing. Such was a day yesterday. I met Kirk about 9 at the first stream. A wonderful little waterway that has given up its treasures in times past. The air was crisp with a good breeze causing the leaf hatch to accelerate, this is also part of the Autumn  angling. The sun was brilliant, making me wonder why my sun glasses were in the car. We fished this stream and although we had a bump or two there were no hookups.

Perhaps the residents of this stream had other thoughts on their minds.

Is this something educated grown men do? Fishing in such conditions, as Kirk likes to say "obnoxious". None the less that's him in that tangle.

Kirk had taken several beautiful brook trout, and I had a few on but none to hand. My day was still one of those that stays with you for a long time. The time to leave was at hand, but I said I was going to stop on my drive home and fish one more stream.

This stream was first fished by me about the time my daughter was five, I won't tell her age but will say I have a grandaughter that's twelve. We used to come here for picnics and to wet a line. I have fished this stream since those days.

This stream has always given up wild brookies. Its waters run cool in the hot summers and it has those deep pools required for winter survival.

I tossed the fly into one of the deep pools, a short drift later and the trout hit. Heading to the bank I turned the fish around and put my hand into the water and under a beautiful wild brown. It's not what I had expected, but was welcomed. Look at the size of its dorsal.

Fishing further down the stream I was given the pleasure to take a brookie or two.

A great day of angling in Autumn, in New England. 

CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE

A Friend.......Some Thoughts, part 2

I find pleasure pursuing the brook trout in all seasons. Each one has its attributes, and drawbacks. I find that Autumn is the finest season in which to seek him out.
The streams and the landscapes are beautiful at this time of year. The waters have cooled from the crisp nights, and the days can be spectacular. It is also the time of year when the brook trout begin their quest to bring forth a new generation. They begin this anytime from late September through perhaps early December. I have seen this spawning activity in many of the streams I've fished.
The male brook trout at this time of year can be quite stunning. His colors seem to take on the same colors of the landscapes, only more vibrant.

I have been fortunate to fish for these fall classics in many places, from large rivers, to lakes and ponds, and in my favorite of places, "the small stream". I believe when a brook trout is taken from a small stream, his colors are more vibrant, perhaps this is because of his small size, sort of like a concentration of flavors. Just my view of it.

Some say that Autumn is a time when nature brings death to the woodlands, and this may be true.... but she also starts the life cycle of the brook trout.

One of the tools needed. Fly selection need be simple.

The colors of this brook trout rival natures finest paintings.

The Rangeley River in late September. Several beautiful brook trout have come from this river.

Even the streamers take on the colors of Autumn.

Autumn's beauty at its best. A wild brook trout, in a small Connecticut stream.

Thorns, Briars, and Weeds

At this ime of the year nature puts on a color show that few worldly artists could duplicate. It's also a time when much of the flora dies, and reverts to seed. But for some strange reason the briars and thorns seem to grow and become sharper.

Yesterday while walking into a stream I crossed a field full of weeds, and when I got home 2/3rds of the seeds were in my clothes and lungs. As for the other problem, the thorns proceeded to play tic tac toe on my exposed skin, and perforating my jeans, causing damage. Most of the small streams I fish I don't wade in, so its a constant fight with the thorns.

As for the cuts, the ones that are visable by the blood are nothing compared to the ones you can't see. Just take a shower, and the hot water will tell you where the others are.

The green briars.

The stream was low and clear, not easy to fool a wild trout

This guy could'nt resist.