A Small Stream.....12-11-12

"Good Morning".

Yesterday I teamed up with Kirk to fish a stream. We decided to meet at nine thirty, no sense in going earlier because the fish on this stream sleep in. As it turned out I was a few minutes early and thought why not cast a fly into that deep pool so close to where we park. I tied on a Picket Pin wet and took a few casts. It was not long when I saw Kirk pull up. As he got out of the truck a trout hit the fly. A short time later I held a handsome brown.

Post spawn wild brown trout. Now looking for a deep hole to ride out the winter.

We continued fishing, both of us taking some beautifully colored brookies. This one rising to a dry fly...Elk Hair Caddis.

There's a short window of opportunity to get these guys when they feed. So when the top water activity ceased I put on a Orange Head wet fly. It worked.

I never took an actual stream temp but I'll bet it was in the thirties.

The Orange Head, and a Connecticut small stream wild brookie.

Along the way we were greeted by these wonderful Springer pups. We stopped for a spell to chat with their owner and heap a lot of petting on the two.

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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My 200th, Thanks

When I started this blog a little over a year ago I never thought it would be this rewarding. This will be my 200th post.
I have written about everything from fishing, fly tying, food, and about family. Small streams and wild trout, the beautiful places I have found them, from mountain freestone to slow meandering streams.
I am not a gifted writer who can say a lot of what I feel into words, so I try to put those feelings into photos instead.
I have enjoyed telling you of my times on the waters, and along the waters. I hope you have enjoyed reading of these. I will continue to try to provide you with my best.
Thank you.

Below are some photos of a few past posts.

A pristine natural environment...... where wild trout live.

Beautiful wild trout

Jeanette, a wife, mother, and a friend. She has accompanied me on so many of my adventures. She has bushwhacked, camped, got rained on, snowed on, chased away black bears, black flies, and so much more. I have enjoyed her company.
She is also a staunch supporter of wild trout.

I have been tying flies for a few years. These two streamers are from the starting point.
They are named for my two grandchildren, to commemorate their birth.
The fly on the right is my first streamer, "Morgans Fancy" it was tied about 10 years ago. The streamer on the left is "Ethans Special" tied 8 years ago.

These are what I consider the best dry fly for wild trout. "The Ausable Bomber".
This fly has accounted for more wild trout than any other fly I fish.

A wild brook trout, a native to my state of Connecticut. He will always be my number 1.

As my granddaughter Morgan once said when asked what do you like better.... big trout, or little trout. She quickly replied...... lil trout.



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