The "Nutmeg" State

There's a stream or two coming off those mountains. Connecticut is not a mountainous state, more like a hilly state. We do have a few biggies but they are along bordering states. The set of mountains in the first picture are places I've been poking around for the last three plus weeks. I have found a couple of streams that I've put a few steps into trying to figure out where the fish are. I have found that one of the streams has a healthy population of brook trout, and the other a somewhat good population of brook trout. Both of these streams start high up and flow to a larger source. Along the way they pickup volume from underground sources and become a nice flowing stream. These waters have been very cool with water temps in the high fifties, and that's great for the time of year. Still I'm perplexed....the reason will be forthcoming in a couple of weeks.

The average flow of a stream in the last couple of weeks. Lots of hiding places in that pool.

A brookie taken from a pool just downstream from the photo shown. Yes that's a "bomber" in his jaw.

I can't identify them, but they sure are pretty.

There are a couple of pools like this on this stream. The currents as well as the boulders seem to corral the sand as it's washed downstream. Looking into it one would not think brook trout would consider it to be ideal. I was able to bring two of them to hand and one spit the fly back at me. I'll let you figure out where the fish were taken.

Brook trout like this are what hold in these sandy pools.

Stream number two...later folks.

An Odd Day And A Bomber Brookie

There are those times when things just don't line up the way you planned it. The adult way to deal with is to accept it and move on. Such was the case last outing when I felt it was all going to be great. The weather was super, stream flows right where they should be and even a few bugs about. The only issue was the fish were not in the mood. I fished a long time, using different flies, fishing prime pools and runs, and nothing to show for it. I did have a mistake bump, which got the juice flowing again. That was short lived though and it was back to nothing again.

It was about 3 hours into the outing when I came about this pool. It had a nice riffle at the head and a long rather deep pool. It was at this time when I said I'm fishing dries only. My thought was "if I'm not catching fish I may as well not catch them on dries". I tied on a "Bomber" and sent it down the riffle and low and behold I had a brookie rise. There was no hook-up but there was finally interest. I sent the fly off again and I could see the brookie move on it, he took and soon was at hand, and just as soon he was gone. I moved through the pool and came upon a log jam with a large foam spot, you can see it in the photo. When on a small stream "foam is good" I flipped the bomber into the foam it sat there a second or two and then hell broke loose. The fish quickly put the bend into the rod. I could feel a heavy fish on the end and was trying to figure how I was going to lift him over the logs. That's when he made a move to his sanctuary of debris and was gone, with my bomber. I will be back to get it Mr. Brook Trout.

The hanging hemlock. These are places to never pass up. Just in front I observed a rising fish. I sent the bomber on a drift. The trout rose and was hooked. This time I able to bring him to hand.

It was an odd day for sure, but well worth it. A "Bomber" Brookie.

A Challenge, Bombers...........

The master, Fran Betters. Look at those materials..whats he tying?

Anyone who has read the posts on this blog, and various fly fishing forums knows my love for a fly known as "The Bomber". The fly is a creation of Fran Betters of Wilmington N.Y. I think the "Bomber" was created around 1964 I base this on the fact that Fran also created the Ausable Wulff in 1964, and the both flies are similar in that they use the same materials just tied differently.

Fran was a master fly tyer but I don't think he knew just what a "GREAT" wild trout fly the Bomber was to become. I know I've said this before, and most who have fished this fly would also agree it is the "Best" wild trout dry fly. I have taken trout on the Bomber in every month of the year. On day's when nothing else is working out comes the Bomber and "fish on". I gave myself a challenge...the next time out I will only carry and fish the "Bomber".

"Ausable Bombers"......the fly in the center is my tie, and the two that flank it are Frans.

I'm looking forward to this challenge.

A couple of "Bomber" results.

Firsts

This is a first. My usual cup of coffee is "Nantucket" blend by Green Mountain, but we had a coupon and the item was on sale so a box of "Eight o Clock" Colombian Blend was purchased. After trying several cups I found it to be quite good. The real test came this morning. I needed to see if it could get the job done, the job of bringing some life to this incoherent being. Well this is my second cup and it has worked fine. Perhaps I can continue this post now.

The William Joseph AMP pack. This is an item I picked up on sale. Its small size and light weight make it perfect for those nasty hikes into those thin blue lines. Its a chest pack, but I carry it as a sling pack. It has ample storage for all the necessities. I've only used this pack twice in actual combat but will test it much more often as the season progresses.

Anyone who follows this blog knows my fondness for the Ausable Bomber. I'll fish this fly at any time, place, weather condition, or season of the year. And while fishing this fly since January first of this year I have not brought a fish to hand yet. The fly did however bring several fish to the surface, something it does well. Yesterday it achieved success. My first fish to hand on the Bomber.

A handsome wild brown, on the "Bomber"

This is a first. I took some red and green peppers and onions, I seasoned them well and fried them 'til tender. I then took some venison, sliced it very thin then cut it into strips, seasoned and fried quickly. Placed the mixture into a soft taco and enjoyed.

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"Bombers" and December Brookies

Small stream angling can be difficult this time of year. The water levels, stream temps and weather play big roles on the success of the outing. Such was the case with my few hours Sunday. New England weather can change like no where else on earth, and this weekend was a good example. Saturday was a cold blustery day that featured little sun, gray clouds and snow flurries. Fifteen hours later on Sunday it was still cloudy, but no wind and warming temps.

I arrived at the woods parking area. I noticed some patches of snow on the ground, but the ground was soft. The air temp seemed to be about fifty. I started fishing a wet fly and noticed how quick the brookies were to follow the fly and eventually take the offering. This same fly did well on the runs and pools along the stream. The sun never did make itself visible but did brighten the sky a bit. Later in the day I noticed some insect activity, they were small flies, but the fish could detect them and began rising.

It was in this long clear pool that I observed two brook trout rising. They were coming up every so often and taking the emerging flies, one even came up the pool to where I was standing and took a fly. So into the box I went and pulled out a "Bomber" and tied it on. I reached for the Gink and there was none, it was sitting at home in the garage. Luckily the Bomber is one of those dry flies that floats pretty well on its own. The Bomber was cast into the pool and allowed to drift to its likely target. Soon a beautiful brookie was at hand.

It was this quiet, clear pool that proved to be a hot spot. Along the bank where the three trees are to the woody debris in the stream, the trout were rising. They took the Bomber both floating and half sunk. Even as one was hooked and really disrupted the pool, it did not matter, and it did not put the others down.

A couple of brook trout that took the Bomber this day in December.

Beautifully colored and marked healthy wild brook trout. December in New England, on a small stream.

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An Evening of Wonderful Surprises

I teamed up with Kirk yesterday to fish the Farmington. We got to the river about 4 pm. Sunny and bright, water that was cold and so very clear. Kirk moved to the shady side of the river and I was going to work the faster riffles a bit up stream. We both started fishing dries, and soon realized it was going to be a tough outing. There were fish rising about but we could not determine what was on the menu. It was about an hour later, and many different flies that I got my first hookup. A small brown who was very energetic. The fly he chose to take was a partridge and orange soft hackle. A cast or two later and the soft hackle put another brown in the net.

We continued to fish this section for awhile. Kirk had fish rise to his flies but kept missing. I never had another hit after the last brown. This river has a way of humbling an angler for sure.

These two browns found the soft hackle to there liking. Perhaps they were the only two fish in the pool....NOT.

We continued fishing the upper part of the pool. Are plan was to take a few more casts and move to another part of the river. Kirk tossed a Bomber to the spot near the fallen tree. That's when a brown rose and took the fly.

Kirk and his first fish of the evening.

We hopped into the truck, grabbed a cereal bar and some water and moved to a place downstream. When we arrived Kirk moved upstream and I went south. In the run that's pictured there were several trout rising. Try to get them to eat a whole different game. I left that side and moved to the other side. It's a slow moving pool, almost like a pond. I could see fish rising right along the bank. There was high grass falling into the water and casting was going to be tough.

I tied on a Bomber and worked the fly as best I could, trying to place it close to the rising fish. Several casts later and the trout rose and missed. Keep on casting I said to myself. Finally it paid off and this wild char came to hand. My excitement level went through the top.

You might say to yourself what's the big deal about a 3 inch brookie. Well this just reaffirms my thoughts on natural reproduction.\' "wild brook trout" in the Farmy.

Well many more casts of the Bomber brought up several more fish but none to hand. Until.

On a drift of the Bomber into the center of the pool, like I mentioned earlier it's almost like a pond. The fly almost stopped drifting when this fellow hit. I'm really liking what's going on in this river.

On this evening the hatches the Farmy is noted for never came off, at least while we were there. At times this river can put the best of anglers in their place.

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Small Stream Pleasure, in a Large River

As summer takes hold in Connecticut with temperatures in the nineties and little rainfall except for a stray thundershower, I have pretty much left the small streams be. Choosing to fish a larger and cooler river I have enjoyed the ability to take much larger trout. These trout are stocked and holdover fish that have grown big on the abundant food found in the river. In recent years there have been catches of wild browns in this river. Documented tales of spawning trout. In years past I have fished this river in the fall. In those areas where small tribs have entered I have taken some wild brookies, most of which have been small. The last two years have brought a few 12 inch brook trout to hand. Somethings happening here, and it's all good.

Monday late afternoon and evening I visited this river, choosing to fish its upper most reaches. The sun was hot when I entered the water. As I dropped the thermometer into the stream to find out what I suspected. The temp read 56 degrees. The air temp was around 90, but a foot above the water I'll bet was 60. The first half hour produced nothing. I worked a good piece of water before moving down stream. While fishing a fast run I got my first rise, hookup, and LDR.

This was going to be one of those outings that I write about in my journal.

As the sun started to set it produced shadows on the stream. Within the shadows were these pockets of flowing water near the sides of the river. As I cast the Bomber into these pockets I was to given the chance to catch wild beauty that is generally found in the small streams I fish.

"Bombers" they will catch fish where ever they're fished.

This is of natural making. It's dark green back was beautiful. It battled with such tenacity. And a second after this photo was taken he was in the water leaving the Bomber in my finger. Several of these were taken this evening.

As I fished I noticed a shadow moving in the woods along the far side. Another angler was ruled out because the woods would have been difficult to navigate. As I watched, trying to see what was moving I still could not determine what it was. It was starting to get dark and I was going to leave shortly, perhaps because of unknown movement in the woods, but I choose to stay a while longer.

The decision to stay was a good one for I was rewarded with this wild handsome brown. His red highlights as he lay in the water were gorgeous. He took the Bomber along side of a fallen tree. I hope I have the chance to see what this brown looks like in a few years.

A little celebration for this outing. To wild trout in The Farmington.

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"Rain"

Sunday in the New England area we received a substantial rainfall. Most places received two and a half to three plus inches of rain. With the rise in water levels the trout were able to move freely up and down stream. The heavy rains also washed in a considerable amount of food, plus moved plenty of in stream food. This combination brought about a selective feeding pattern.

I was able to bring a few brookies to hand by using a variety of flies from dries to wets and I had few chase a streamer. This was a welcomed rain.

The Bomber worked at times.

Every time out I see more Spring time beauty. Brook Trout Forest is starting to shape up.

This little jewel took a Picket Pin.

Now if Mother Nature can provide an inch or so of rain each week, it will be appreciated by all.