February's Ending 2012

Tuesday was going to be my last day to fish in February. A month that saw winter as we know it in New England fail to make an appearance. The summer of 2010, and the winter that followed were very harsh taking a toll on the wild trout living in these small streams. But nature was kind through the summer past, giving ample rainfall and cooler temps allowing a fine comeback. This winter has been just so kind. Mild temps have produced insect activity usually reserved for late April. No anchor ice to wreak havoc, and trout being able to move freely in the streams from riffles to pools.
As I fished this last time in February, the sun was friendly, making you feel warm. The trout were in a "lets feed on the surface, but don't get hooked mode", and that's all right by me. There were several times when I observed a brook trout rise to the fly, follow it and swim back to his position. Those that fish for brookies just know how non selective they are. I love it when they change the plan.

As I was starting my walk back to the car this day, I was going to fish a few last runs and pools. The sun was beginning to slip behind the hills that surround this little stream, creating dark shadows upon the waters. As I approached a deep undercut I let the little dry fly drift, it soon stopped its movement and disappeared. I lifted the 2wt and felt his tug, and a few seconds I held a beautiful healthy male brook trout. He was photographed and sent back to his dark lie.
As I placed the fly into the hook holder and turned to walk, I said "Thanks"

The suns rays coming off the riffles.

The deep dark lie of a wild brook trout.



Incredible wild beauty.

Don't Get Lost, and Discover

Delorme Atlas and Gazetteer.



I first saw this great store house of information when in Maine many years ago. I think at that time it was the only one they published. I picked one up and it's maps have guided me to some of the best fly fishing available. It's very detailed and very accurate. It's thin blue lines have led me to many wild trout, not to mention some beautiful country.
They print these for many states now and I have one for the states I fish in. Some of the pages of my maps have lines drawn everywhere. They have been of great value to me and I would suggest you pick up a copy for the state you live in.

The maps are clear and easy to read and follow.


I want to pass along some thoughts on a wonderful fly shop.
Elderdge Bros. on US Rt.1 in Cape Neddick Maine. And the first thing I would like to comment on is the first thing said to you when you walk in is a eye to eye sincere "Good Morning".
When you walk through the shop you'll notice how well stocked they are, both for fresh and salt water fly fishing. Tying materials are organized and labeled for ease of shopping. The fly bins are full, and flies are still tied by local tyers.
Have a question, time is taken to answer it so there's no doubt. They pride themselves in making your stop there helpful and rewarding.

A familiar beacon along US 1

Neat, clean and well stocked.

I wish I could post all the photos of this wonderful shop.

The gentleman holding the tablet of a Maine autumn wild brook trout taken on a "Bomber". He told me he has taken trout on that fly world wide. Patagonia to Europe. That's the "Bomber"

If your ever in the vicinity of Cape Neddick Maine, stop by and enjoy a Fly Shop.

Simple Ways

A small stream, flowing simple and free. This is a path I have taken, a path which means so much more today.



When I started this blog one of the main features was "The Simple Aspect To Fly Fishing". And I believe I've shown this type of fishing in the past posts.
Small streams are not complicated, nor are the wild trout that inhabit them. Food, shelter and cold clean waters are pretty much all that's required.
Over the past year I've come to enjoy this aspect of angling even more. Certain happenings in my life have taken place and they have made me look to the simple and important things in my life, for these I'm grateful beyond words.

So on your next outing instead of getting frustrated over what the trout are feeding on and being unable to pick the right fly from the hundreds in your fly boxes. Take a deep breath and look around,it's not complicated, just think of the simple wonders in your life.

Can it get any simpler, perhaps not. But it can get so much more complicated if we allow it to be.

Small Stream Rewards

Wednesday morning Kirk and I decided to fish a stream I had not fished in years. It's a nice stream with both stocked and wild fish. Are plan was to use the same flies that have been working for us the past few weeks. Cast after cast and not a bump. We worked downstream and each pool and run produced nothing. I trail walker came buy and told us of the destruction to the stream caused by the hurricane last year. A further comment made was the fishing has not been the same since.

Well with his comments and the lack of interest paid to our flies we made the decision to fish another stream. This one is somewhat smaller, but with good water flows and wild trout.
The first few pools we fished produced the same results, no interest, I was beginning to loose confidence in my number one fly "The Bomber" and in this case a "mini Bomber". It's a Bomber tied on a 18 hook. As the sun came out and the temps rose,a warm sun feels good on my 100,000 mile bones, the trout soon looked up and a good day began.
Both Kirk and I brought awesome colored little brookies to hand, and several I told you I Don't care for those hard bugs rejections.

We also took time to rebuild a few wonderful undercuts and deep holes. These were just full of stream debris making them useless to the fish. So with some tugging, and pulling we restored several sanctuaries.

This particular undercut gos quite away in. It has good flow and should keep a few brookies safe. You would not believe the amount of debris that came out of there.

I don't know what this is, I hope it's from this earth. It was in the leaf litter from the stream. Maybe I should tie a few?

A precious wild brook trout. I know the work we did today and will do in the future will make is habitat better.

It got to be a certain time and I had to leave, not good because the trout began to rise. Kirk was going to stay. We both said good day and I started walking out.
On the way out I was to fish a few of the areas we liberated. The first one I fished soon told me it worked. The swift current took the"mini Bomber" under the bank and caught a root. That was the only "mini" I had. So I tied on another fly and continued.
I came to this run where Kirk had commented such a great run and I have never had a hit in there. I let the fly drift and was surprised when on the second attempt the brown took the fly.