The Farmington River, and a Old Glass Friend

It's been hot and dry the past few weeks and the small streams have been hit pretty hard. While most are holding a cool temp, the lack of water is becoming a problem. Most wild fish have experienced this in summers past and can deal with it if left alone for a time, but rain is sorely needed. Here in Connecticut we are very fortunate to have a river that is fed cold water releases, and this creates a fine tail water fishery. The Farmington River is now the place to seek salmonids, and this is where I fished this week. I had also agreed to take with me an old time friend, I introduce you to him. He's a 1975 vintage Cortland fly rod...my first fly rod. He's a 7ft 5wt and has caught a fair share of trout in those years when that is all I had to fish with. Somewhere along in time I bought a graphite rod and the glass Cortland retired to the rod rack. Several times a year I would take it out and wipe it down, remember a fish or place we were and put it in the case and back it went.

Well this day he was outfitted with a Battenkill reel, a new 5wt line, and an attitude that old can be "good" too. We were off to fish the river where he started.

The Cortland FR 2000 7ft 5wt. The cork shows the time spent on the rivers.

The Farmington was in almost perfect shape. The weather was how I like it, some sun some clouds and a breeze.

The flies used this day would be what is shown here. They are soft hackles with various body dressings. They are all size 14 and have partridge feather wings.

The action was slow for a spell, and soon heated up. The first fish was a wild brook trout. The fish could not resist the tempting pulse of the spider.

The best action took place on the seams of fast water, like places as such.

A beautiful rainbow, looks like it was in the river for some time. The fish was strong and had gorgeous markings.

Lots of flora stream side. I had to use the rod to steady the plant in the breeze.

I had a couple of browns but they were to have no part of picture taking. The Cortland performed beautifully, like the day I bought it.

I think this was the last fish of the day. A sweetheart of a female brook trout. This may be the first year of a spawn for her. I hope it's successful and her offspring will continue to enhance this fishery with wild fish.

A Wild Natural Place

Saturday morning Jeanette and I took a walk in the woods and along the waters that are the domain of the wild brook trout. The forest road that brought us to the trails that gave us access to the streams. We spent several hours walking and observing the new season coming to life. In the stream I saw several brook trout, and heard the wild turkey gobble. A fly rod was not in hand this time, only a camera and the mind, both taking notes of the day. I will return to these woods again and walk and fish for the brook trout. To take time to see all that beauty that is the woods and streams.

"Mossy Pool"

I am not very good at identifying wild flowers, but do enjoy them so very much. It seems as though I see a different type every time I visit a stream. I guess it doesn't matter what they are just that they are there.

"Mossy Pool" is located on a wild brook trout stream I frequent. Having fished it many times over the years and in every season of the year I have learned much. It's a deep pool with a nice steady flow and undercut banks. The banks on both sides are lined with a beautiful green moss. A carpet of felt. The head of the pool has a faster flow with two good sized rocks on either side. It then flows into a slower pace to its end. Wild brook trout can be taken at various points throughout the pool. At times it's almost easy to bring one in and at other times it's an impossible task.

On this day brook trout could be seen rising. I believe they were taking ants or a caddis emerger for there were a few caddis in the air. I had no ant patterns so on went a EH caddis. The fly went through the pool several times and brought one small response. The brookies kept rising so my assessment of what they were feeding on was right...ants. Looking in my fly box I saw a hopper. It was tied on and pressed into service. As the hopper cleared the large rocks at the head of the pool a brookie rose and took the hopper. He was the first of several to come from "Mossy Pool" this day.

There is someone watching the goings on at the head of "Mossy Pool"

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Waters of Color

There are many small streams in Connecticut that hold wild brook trout. This one is a special one, I shouldn't say that because all of them are. What I should say is that its surroundings are special. Its located in northwest Connecticut and its a freestone stream. I don't know its origin but can give a guess, some spring fed swamp, with help along the way. The true beauty of this stream is the hemlock forest it flows through. The smell of a hemlock forest is hard to describe, it can be so sweet with that evergreeen fragrance, and also have that boggy, peat odor almost like an old ash tray.

The stream was flowing nicely over stones, logs and various other obstacles. A check of the water temp gave a reading of 58 degrees. I tied on a Bomber and started prospecting. The fly was hit repeatedly but by small fish who could not be hooked. After thinking a bit I changed to a wet fly, a Picket Pin, and sent it through a pool. The fly was met with the same result of hits from small fish.

I continued to fish under a canopy of large hemlocks, which at times made the area as dark as night. I came to a pool, the water flowing over a boulder and several sunken logs. The water color seemed to look like iced tea. That swift run is where I found the bigger brook trout. They were holding in the fast water behind any boulder or tree that gave cover.

The tannin waters of this stream, cold and clean.

Wild brook trout. Most of the fish taken were this size, but I'm confident there are a few larger.

Again I am so appreciative of such places, and of the special rewards they give.

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A Thin Blue Lined...Shared

Most trout streams are pretty much known to all anglers. They are listed in most of the pamphlets that each state fish department issues with their fishing license. The special sections of these listed streams are well known to anglers, info that is usually handed down from family or friends.
Small streams, Thin Blue Lines, that hold wild trout and especially those that hold wild brook trout are closely guarded secrets that few share with others. These streams are kept secret not because the angler is selfish, but because they are fragile habitats that need protection. Heavy fishing pressure, and catch and keep cannot be practiced on the wild streams.
Yesterday I was given the opportunity to fish one of these thin blue lines by an angler who researched this stream and did the leg work which comes with sore muscles, wet feet and sometimes more to document the streams wild fish.

Kirk, at "Trout Quest Redux" and I met up at 10 am or so and fished this wild trout stream he had found. A beautiful gem located in the forests of eastern Connecticut. Kirk had fished this stream several times and spoke of its brook trout. Brook trout that were feisty and colorful and willing to take your offering.

As the hours passed Kirk did well with these brookies, while I was unable to bring a single fish to hand. About 1:30 Kirk had to leave, and I decided to stay for another hour or so. Moving along and down stream, fishing as I walked with the hope of bringing one this streams wild ones to hand. As I fished a long slow pool, almost at the tail end a brookie took my offering and gave the chance to admire its beauty. A quick photo and back to his clean home. I then cast into the pool and instantly the line went in a funny direction. Pulling the line tight I realized I had a second trout on. It to graced my hand and allowed a photo before its release.

I continued to fish that stream and never once did I have even a bump. It was a fine day on this small blue line, a blue line that was shared with me so graciously.

The stream, lots of pools, runs, and beautiful riffles.

Kirk, stalking wild brook trout.

A true reward... a wild friend to hand.

This pool was good to me as I was walking out. I can't remember if I fished while walking up.

Two brook trout...the same pool, on consecutive casts. Thanks guys.