Guest Post- "Crowningshield" "Barleywine and George"

A couple of months ago I sent some "Crowningshield" dry flies to Chuck in New Jersey. He and a friend George gave the flies a test on some Jersey wild trout streams. Here is his report as written to me.

I've now used your flies on two outings. The first test was on a quick hour and a half trip to the no name River, which is a fairly close wild brown trout stream where the fish are very difficult to catch. These fish get a lot of pressure since the river is in heavily populated Bergen County, and the stream is low gradient, so the trout can see you and spook easily. It generally fishes better with nymphs than dry flies. OK, you get the picture...it's a tough place to catch fish...I sometimes get skunked there...and a 3 or 4 fish day is doing pretty good. I didn't see any risers, but put an orange thread Crowningshield on a 5x tippet, and made a cast into the center of a slow pool. The fly pounded up a nice 9 inch wild brown that sucked it right down. I stayed with the fly over the next hour, and moved a good number of fish to the surface; hooking 5 and landing 3. For a tough stream like the no name River, I'd say that fly gave a good accounting of itself. The next day, I fished a small stream that has more of a classic drop and small stream character. The stream has wary wild browns in its lower end, and wild brookies in the upper section. I was fishing with my good friend and small stream guru, George. I gave an orange thread Crowningshield to George, and I put the same one I used the day before on my line. I quickly caught a nice 10 inch wild brown, and a few more smaller trout. George caught a beautiful brown of almost 14 inches at the foamy start of a deep hole using your fly. He's a fan of it. We both caught brook trout in the upper section using the fly, with me switching to a purple threaded version just for the variety.

I'm going to keep using the fly, so I'll give you an update. I want to try it on some wild rainbows (even though I'm sure that it will work) and also on some tougher selective rising fish. Overall, George and I both say that this if a very good fly! It's a little difficult to see in the shadows, but it floats well, has been durable, and seems to have the knack of bringing some shy fish to the surface. I've tyed a few copies to use so I can keep one of your originals in a safe place. If you send me your email address, then I can send you an attachment of pictures of trout caught with the fly. Thank you for sharing this pattern with me. Chuck

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.

Fulfilment "Simplified"

"we once drove a thousand miles to fish for tiny native brook trout along the Blue Ridge" Those are the words of Kathy Scott. They are taken from the book "Brook Trout Forest". I can say that I have come close to doing the same.

I know that it may be hard for some to understand why, and there is no way that I can tell you the feeling of accomplishment in doing so.

Perhaps looking at a tiny wild brook trout in his native stream will help.

The West Branch, an Assortment On Glass

In my last post I talked about fishing the lake above the Farmington River. Well Monday I paid a visit and fished Mickey Finn cove. When I started my walk in to the place I would toss some streamers and assorted other flies the sun was just starting to make its rays felt. The sky was brilliantly clear it seem to run competition with the clarity of the lake. The lake was very still and looking out from the rock I would cast from I saw a large brown trout launch itself straight up to a height of 3 feet and enter the water with a thump. I guessed it was chasing a nymph/emerger from the bottom and was determined to eat it.

I was armed with my Cabela's glass rod, the 5'9" 3wt. I cast the Mickey Finn out and stripped it in. The streamer was just under the surface. Within a few strips I had a few fish following. Several cast later and "wham" a take. After several strong runs and countless jumps I was able to bring to hand a nice small mouth bass.

I was able to take another on the Mickey Finn, and then the fly for some unknown reason died. I fished it for a good half hour with out a strike.

I tied on a Crowningshield dry and cast to a large boulder near the shore. There was a deep drop off and it just looked fishy. The fly hit the water and was stationary and motionless when suddenly a fish rose and was hooked. As I brought the fish in I could see it was a small brown trout, about 4 inches. Reaching down I placed my hand under it....gone. I did manage to catch several of these guys with there awesome red eyes.

This area produced a lot of fish. There were several fish that were very nice and several that were spectacular. What clarity.

The best producing dry fly was the Bomber. The smallies loved it.

West Branch smallmouth, a Bomber and a glass 3wt.

There were several other rising fish. One was to hit a fly I call the BA Caddis. This fly is tied on a #10 streamer hook. It was cast and allowed to float and drift with the breeze. I observed the fly and thought to myself something will hit that. Something did, can't say it was a brown for I never saw it. It took that fly to what seemed like the bottom, I have no backing on that little reel. I felt several strong tugs and the line went limp. The fish threw the fly. Man how I love that.

Lots of these on dry flies.

That's not pond scum, that's a reflection of the tree lined shore in a crystal clear lake.

The West Branch small mouths also loved the BA Caddis.