Where they live...

Some concerns but no worries...because. I fished a stream yesterday for several hours and observed brook trout doing what was necessary to continue life. These fish are so unbelievable in what they are capable of doing under some not so kind conditions. The photo above is a bunch of stream debris that collected where a bunch of stones caused a shallow run. The collection had branches of various sizes as well as leaves this collection caused the stream to flow at a pretty good clip. In the minutes I fished below this woody constriction I observed two brook trout shoot right through this mess. Now you might say well that's life for the wild brook trout and you would be right. Now I may add that this is but one issue they must encounter in the course of their life in not the best of conditions, and they not only handle this issue they exceed. Their tenacity for life is such that I can't find the words to describe it.

So although I have concerns about the wellness of brook trout I'm not worried about their future. For what I have witnessed  in my short time around these creatures they will not be denied life by anything or anybody. But what we can do is make their life easier.....

This pool was right above the first photo. Now experience has led me to believe that brook trout will use a leaf jam like this for a hideout. If the fly come near it usually a strike will happen and it did. Question what type of fly is needed?

 

 

Deerfield Headwaters...Tiny Tenkara And Brook Trout

Saturday Jeanette an I took a drive up north to visit some streams that feed the Deerfield river. The morning featured some heavy fog in some areas but the promise of sparkling fall weather helped clear the fog in mind and eventually the skies cleared and set forth the start of a very memorable day. The foliage was sort of dull probably the cause of dry conditions of late summer. Still there were pockets of brilliant colors. The water conditions were fairly good with flows that were adequate.

We turned off the main road and drove up along a larger tributary. A few miles on that small road we came upon a bridge that crossed the stream. I sopped the car and got out to check things out when I heard two very large dogs bark. Looking about I saw a large fenced field, a small barn and a house. That is when I saw a man with the dogs coming towards me. The man introduced himself and said he was the owner of the farm. We talked for awhile and he spoke of the changes that have taken place over the  many years. He asked if we were here to view the foliage and I said yes but also we were here to fish. He said he was not a fisherman but gave me some advice on where to fish. As it turned out his advice put me onto a beautiful stream.

 

 

He told me where to drive and said not to be concerned about the conditions on the road. He assured me I would have no issues. He was right.
 

The stream was gorgeous. The access was near the road and did not present any problems with access. The stream was full of little plunges and pockets which were perfect for fishing with my Tiny Tenkara rod. I used an elk hair caddis to start the day, and would have stayed with it all day if I had not lost it to a stream bed rock.
 

My first brookie to hand. The sections of this stream I fished were full of these precious little guys.
 

This is pretty much how the stream looked. In those little pools were waiting brookies.
 

So very dark, and so very pretty.
 

 Lunch...these taste like steak when your hungry.
 

Another jewel, this is where the caddis bit the dust and the real action started.

This section of stream produced a great deal of action. In a 20 yard span I must have hooked a dozen brookies. One fish in particular to the fly and danced about like a small salmon. I thought it may have been just that.

When it came to hand it turned out to be a light colored brookie, that was easily the largest fish of the day.

The Tiny Tenkara rod got quite the workout that day and handled it well.

This is the fly that worked very well that day. The style this Tenkra fly has a name but it has slipped my mind right now. I will post the recipe in my next blog.

 

A Day In The Life..Winter Fishing

Good morning folks. It's finally starting to dry out around here after another soaker. I heard some places got nearly 2"...I wonder what the streams look like now, maybe I'll check a few out today. Well Friday was a beautiful day, seasonable weather with lots of sun and a simple wind that could be handled easily. I selected a nice woodland stream to visit one that would give me pleasure even if the fish would not bite. I love seeing new growth in the forest, especially health hemlocks. There were lots of these little trees. A nice touch of color to offset the winter "browns".....

The stream looks a bit skinny here, but it tends to get deeper in spots. It has like all of out CT. streams changed with the high water events we've had in 2018. The brookies are there though and when your close to one with a fly they will strike.

A little jewel. The fish to have taken on their winter colors. Still pretty my friends.

With the heavy rains washing debris into the stream bottlenecks like this will occur. Places like this are fish magnets and if there are any sizeable fish in the stream they will find such places and keep them to themselves. Places like this are also fly takers. The branches you see are only half of what you can't see, but your fly will. I cast a fly into the area just beyond the red circled piece of wood. It floated a short distance and the trout rose, took and was hooked. A hefty fish was felt, the glass rod bent and I worked to get the fish away from that woody mess that I knew he was headed into. I managed to keep him away for awhile but my line snagged the red circled branch. I tried to free the line but couldn't so I took a few steps that would enable me to free it with my hand. Watch that second stem. The debris jam broke and I found my self up to my thighs in water. I managed to free myself only getting a little wet and I found that the fish was still on.

When I finally got it together I lifted this beautiful male brook trout. I took his picture and let him go into the cold water...a big smile came next.

"Frosty Mornings"

Frosty mornings where the air temp is hovering around 30 and the sun is starting to make itself a factor in the day is a time for some incredible photos. These winter berries with a hint of frost upon them make such a lovely sight as I walk to the stream. These days can be very erratic in the trouts feeding time. It also makes for a hit or miss decision on what they will eat. A rule of thumb is that winter food sources are scarce and usually small, perhaps a small nymph is the best choice. Over the years I have come to realize that small is not always the way to go, and bottom bouncing is not always the best method. I have been fooling around with spey type flies for trout and have had some success with them. These flies are tied on #8 salmon hooks and are on the large side. Wow you say, that's big, and that's true but so is a Mickey Finn tied on a #8 streamer hook and that is pretty common for a trout fishing fly.

Well on this day I fished one of these spey flies and it did it's magic. While fishing these flies so many trout came up from the bottom to wildly swipe at the fly. It surprised me how they liked the presentation. As the fly was swinging across they would hit it, and as the fly straightened out the trout would not touch it. I have seen this before, I just don't quite know why they do it.

 I have a few of these fly patterns to share with you and will do so on my next post.

These brookies were not shy about crushing the large fly.

Not exactly a fly for framing, but a worker for sure. Simple construction, with a minimum of materials.

Last week we made some homemade sausage. Fried it and put it together with mashed potatoes, gravy and peas....so good.

Well this one worked out.....

Over the course of a year I'll find about a dozen or so new streams. Of that dozen I'll maybe explore eight, and of that eight perhaps four or five will hold trout. The trout may be browns or brookies and some may be there in numbers and some of the streams will have but a few. Exploring these streams is enjoyable in the cooler months of April and May and again in September, October and November. One of these streams I had the pleasure of fishing was located in the hills of eastern Connecticut. The stream was flowing with clear cold water and it tumbled down the hill through a nice mix of hardwoods.

A series of pools and riffles provided the necessary habitat for a few willing fish. I would guess this stream holds fish all year long and may have a few added to it's roles come October from an adjacent larger stream.

Here is one the beautiful residents of this stream.

Pretty sights abound. A variety of soft-hackle flies came into play..and a dry or two.

You never know what might be in a place like this. Most times you just see it as it explodes swimming away form you. But sometimes you have the first shot and a drifted fly gets attention.

A special moment when your able to lift the jewel from the stream. Photograph it and release it, suddenly it's gone, vanishing into the thin water.

At the end as you walk to the car your at peace. All is well my friends.

Foliage above and below, Thanks Mr. Betters

The fall foliage here in Connecticut has been a bit late. I estimate it to be about a week or so behind. There are some single trees that are just gorgeous but the fully dressed views are a few days away. The streams continue to be almost peak, and for this time of year they are exceptional. Clarity is awesome and there are times when you can see a trout strike a fly.

The stream here is about as clear as it can get. Leaves can be seen all along the bottom as well as floating in the current. Casting dry flies can be problematic in that they tend to snag the floating leaves, this is called the "leaf hatch". In the photo I cast a dry fly and let it drift. As it passed the branch I saw movement from the side of the stream. A second later one of the colored leaves made a run for the fly. It turned out to be a brookie.

One of the most beautiful leaves I'll catch this October.

The fly I used, it has several fall colors. It also has a lot of Fran Betters influence it it.

So with that fly, along with the natural leaf camo I was able to catch a few that day. Have a great day folks.

The "Family Secret"......

Several months ago a good friend and fishing companion left this earth to fish heavenly streams. "Pete" aka "TROUT1" was a fly fisherman beyond compare. His knowledge was so vast that I think he never realized he had. A guy that was willing to share this knowledge with anybody. He also had more stories and most of them required a follow up, I think that was by design. He was a master at fishing soft-hackle flies, his favorite was the soft-hackle pheasant tail. Back in October of 2015 Pete and I fished a beautiful stream together. It's a stream he gave the name "Family Secret"...that day we fished various flies but the soft-hackles won out. I did a post on that outing, and I'll get it to you. "Small Stream Fishing" 10-20-15.....

Yesterday I fished the "Family Secret", with a good feeling. I selected the same runs and pools Pete and I fished that day in October of 2015.

The flies used then were not used by me yesterday. I had a streamer tied on that I used on my last outing to the Cape. Pete must have been OK with the selection for the brook trout responded quite well.

The "Family Secret" was running with more water then that day Pete and I did back in 2015.

These fish were not shy at hitting a streamer. Their color seemed a bit dark.

This run is slightly downstream from a place where Pete was fishing. I cast the streamer and worked it through some deep holes along the bank. In one of those holes I connected with a solid fish.

An outstanding trout anywhere, and a true trophy here in the "Family Secret"

This is the place Pete fished that day in October 2015. I did not fish it but instead looked upon it and said...I would but I don't have Pheasant-tail soft-hackle....

Here is Pete fishing that spot back in October 2015.....by the way Pete hooked an awesome fish that day just a few yards from where he was kneeling.