Thanks, Connecticut Fly Fisherman's Association

I would like to thank the Connecticut Fly Fisherman's Association for having me as speaker last night. Hopefully the presentation on small streams went over well and those who attended were able to extract some of the of the charm of fly fishing "little waters".

A wonderful group of gentlemen.

Franklin Land Trust "wild brook trout forest"

Yesterday I was given the opportunity to fish a few wild trout streams in Northwest Massachusetts. The land in which these streams flow will now be a safe haven for wild brook trout. The effort to save the land as well as the brook trout and the wildlife that to call this forest home is the work of the Franklin Land Trust, Trout Unlimited, and Mass. Fish and Wildlife. These are lands that are now open to the public, and those that tread on these lands enjoy, and please respect all.

I met Josh Morse, who was my guide and teacher this day at the Land Trust office in Shelburne Falls, which is on the Deerfield River, at 7am. After a brief talk about the day ahead we placed the gear in the car and started for our first stream. It was about a 25 minute drive and while we drove Josh filled me in on some of the work the Trust and it's partners are doing. The drive was a pleasant one through the foothills and higher. Soon we were there at the once working farm, the base of the tract of land. It was a beautiful day and the forest as well as the fields. There were numerous birds flying here and there going about their daily business. Josh was there to point out and identify each one of them.

This is where we started our trek. In the valley of these mountains sits the streams we were to fish. There were two of them, one a feeder to the larger stream. The feeder is Burrington Brook, which flows into the West Branch North River.

The climb down is a steep one, and it has those little bumps and slippery spots that can send you into a tumble. It is hard to believe this was once a cow pasture. You talk about New England tenacity....

Burrington Brook. This is the stream that we first tossed a fly. We found many little plunge pools all of which were inviting.

The flies we chose to start were wet flies. After several retrieves of a Picket Pin I managed to raise a little brookie. Next Josh tried his hand, that's him in the picture. He had on a Dark Cahil wet and moved it through the pool. Suddenly from out of nowhere the brook trout slammed the fly. A moment later Josh had a Burrington Brook wild brookie at hand.

Wild Jewel

We made our way down to the North River and fished through the valley. There is so much more to fishing these small streams. One could fish the day and not catch a single fish and still have one of his best days.

We leap frogged down fishing pool and riffle. Fooling brookies, and loosing most.

A wild brook trout. This is an amazing creature. This fry was just of the redd. Born in an environment that is so very healthy and beautiful....and very hostile. Hopefully he will survive the harsh New England weather and be here for us next year. By the way there were hundreds of these little fry on this watershed.

A beautiful pool. This stream is healthy. There were a variety of insects hatching, caddis, stoneflies, Hendricksons, and probably some others I can't identify. But there were very few rising fish. That did not stop us from throwing a dry. We each took nice fish from this pool on dry flies.

Josh, and I hooked fish that jumped liked salmon. In fact we both thought they were. But at hand we saw yet another coloration of the brook trout.

This guy did not miss many meals. A true survivor.

We stopped for lunch streamside, and both tipped the restaurant.......

Headwaters, Franklin Land Trust

A few days before Christmas I received an email from a gentleman. Rather than put the email in my words I'll just copy part of it and post it in his words.

For the past three years, I've been working as a land steward at the Franklin Land Trust (FLT) in Western MA. In this time, I've discovered that much of the conservation work the land trust has done in its 25 year history has protected little wild trout streams of the kind that I grew up fishing. So far, this benefit has been quite by accident, but I'm hoping to help my organization make watershed conservation a priority moving forward. We're presently nearing the finish line on our first coldwater conservation project in partnership with Trout Unlimited, and our members and non-fishing staff are beginning to realize that we can intentionally pursue watershed conservation as a new way to advance our land conservation mission.

I'm writing you today with a question and an offer. This spring, I'm going to make a concentrated effort to identify and fish the most significant small streams that FLT has protected to date. I'd love to be able to put together a nice photo essay to really showcase how important land conservation can be to the health of our wild, native trout, and to quietly make the case that this is an area where FLT could do a lot of good moving forward. Would you be willing to lend your experience as a small stream fisherman and photographer to the effort? I'm not a bad hand with a 2 weight, but I would dearly love to experience the coldwater resources that FLT has protected through the eyes of a real master of the art of small stream fishing. If you'd be willing to join me in the field and advise on strategy and photography, I'd be very excited to show you around the headwaters of the Deerfield River Watershed.

I accepted Josh's invitation and tomorrow is the day. I am honored and thrilled to be a part of this new phase of land management. I hope I can do my part to showcase this wonderful piece of natural land. I'll do a post on this outing upon completion.

A New England "Spring" Outing

This is a great time of year to be outdoors. Wednesday was a classic spring outing. When I arrived at the stream a light shower had popped up, they were being called for as on and off for a few hours. Light rain in a budding, flowering early morning woodland is a joy to the senses. So many smells it's almost overwhelming. Moving up the stream the birds were on the lookout. They were looking for nest material and and sites. Busy in there quest I thought I would have a great chance to photograph one or two, but seems they would not pose long enough.

Walking along I was able to see a few lovely little mayflies along the stream, a few even set down on my hand. This is a good sign of a possible fine dry fly day.

I noticed this Trillium in a full flowering bud. It was close to exploding. I think it is a white Trillium, and I must get back there soon to see it in bloom.

I had on a Adams parachute and tossed it into a good looking pool. The fly drifted through the pool all the way to the back and nothing. At this time of year the brook trout will strike a fly any where in the pool. They will see it from any location. It was hard to believe that such a pool did not hold a fish. After several more casts with no result I was about to move on. As I drew the fly up through the broken riffles at the head the rise broke the surface. I had my first hookup of the day.

A fine brook trout on the dry.

I fished that Adams along the stream, in the riffles and pools. It did not give me another fish. Look at this stretch of water, man that's a hotspot if ever there was, but nothing. Tied on a Picket Pin and it was all that was needed for the day.

Picket Pin results.

As the morning moved on the sun broke out. With that the bugs began to appear. Lesson #1 do not go afield on a damp spring day with out bug spray.

I fished this day with the pleasure of a peaceful quiet woodland stream, and several of its willing inhabitants were to grace my eyes.