"outback creek"

This is a stream I fish quite often, but not in this area. I call this section "outback". Access to the stream is somewhat of an adventure. It is quite overgrown with just about any nasty thing that grows. It is a master at snatching flies from you, and can put holes in your waders, and skin. Its waters tend to run smooth, glassy and very clear. I have fished this "outback" through out the year, but it's best fished now through early April. The main reason is that the foliage is easier to deal with.

While fishing some very interesting items can be seen. I can only guess how many stories were told here while drinking coffee or.

Within these long pools are some beautiful wild browns. The browns dominate this section of stream but many a brookie has come to hand also.

One of "outbacks" wild browns. When I fish this section I generally fish wets and streamers, but there are those times when a dry is called on.

I love this spot. Not only does it fish well, it's also a beautiful place to sit and observe.

Sit and have lunch also.

And occasionally I'll tangle with one of these. Tiger trout also inhabit this "outback" section. I have taken them on streamers, but they hit wets too. When these tigers hit it's like nothing else, and they fight like crazy.

Mark over at "Fishing small streams" can attest to these tigers, he has taken one back here also.

Well it's January, and perhaps a slight warm up just might put me in "outback creek"

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"Psychedelic Smelt" and Schnitzel

Having first hand knowledge of the wonders of the sixties I sat down at the desk and put together some feathers of various colors and created a smelt pattern. While this streamer may look gaudy, outlandish, and to some, maybe even ridiculous.  I say hold on.

The shape is a very good likeness to that of a smelt, and with the vibrant colors it's a damn good attractor. But to be honest it's the result of the wrong coffee, and my abundance of free time.

The "Psychedelic Smelt"

One of lifes true pleasures. Schnitzel. This is made with pork, but other meats can be used. Veal, rabbit, and venison. It can be served with potato, rice, egg noodles, or whatever you like. If there's a chance you have leftovers, it makes a great sandwich.

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A Tradition...2013

A tradition that was started three years ago continued on New Years day with a group of us fishing a small stream together. What started out with three of us has now become five. Myself, John,aka Apache Trout, Pete,aka TROUT1,also known as the BH soft hackled trout taker, Mark,aka Petes supplier of those BH soft hackle trout takers, and Kirk, aka Trout Quest Redux.

The day was somewhat cold, and the skies never cleared making it feel worse. After gearing up, and enjoying a "Box of Joe" a cup at a time, we split up and agreed to meet back at the lot for lunch. This would give us about 2 hours to fish.

The stream was on the low side but was nice to fish. I tossed flies in the riffled sections at the head of long pools, something this stream is known for. After some time I was rewarded with my first trout of 2013. A beautiful wild brook trout.

My first of 2013

We arrived back at the lot, and the stories kicked in on the mornings outing. John had also taken a brook trout, on a dry fly. The photos can be seen on Marks blog "Fishing Small Streams". There were also reports of hits, and misses.

Lunch was hot venison chili, mini franks, soda, coffee, and dessert of pastry, coffee and egg nog. After lunch it was back at it for an hour or so.

John working a pool with a streamer. That streamer produced a follow by a 16 inch brook trout, unfortunately he did not take.

As the day closed on this beautiful stream, we five small stream junkies said so long. And hope to continue this tradition for many years.

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The Last Brook Trout of 2012

With only hours left in 2012 and of those few hours I had but maybe two to fish. So I decided to fish a stream I had not fished since perhaps May. I found a place where I could park, lots of snow in the way made that some what of an adventure. I grabbed the 2wt and started treking through the snow to the stream. The sun was shinning brightly and it felt good. The stream had a bright blue color to it as most streams do when it's cold.

As I stepped close to the stream, what I thought was hard ground turned out to leaves covered with snow. Soon I was calf deep in the stream and there was that sensation of cold wet water filling my boot. I pulled my foot out, stepped back on firm ground and continued to fish. The activity was very slow, most pools and runs brought one excuse me strike to the wet fly. By now my foot was feeling very cold and I knew my time here was limited. A few more pools and home I must head.

I had noticed a few of these guys on the snow, and even one on my ear. I never actually seen them coming of the water but they were there.

So I was about to tie on a black caddis, it was the closest I had to a stone fly. But the box with those was on the back seat of my car. So I tied on a tan one and sent it drifting into this pool. As the fly drifted to the right of the stick there was a rise. A few jumps and pulls later a brook trout lay at my hand.

A couple of photos of this beautiful gentleman and off he went.

I was about finished at this point, the cold had taken control of my foot. Now as I walk through the snowy field back to my car a good feeling was there. I had taken a wild brook trout on a dry fly this last day of 2012.

An anglers foot prints.

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