It's Hard To Tell...But I'll Try

Monday I was out doing what I love most, walking a small stream in the sunrise. The true object of the day was to see how the rain we received over the weekend had or had not filled the streams. Walking to the brook from the parking area I could hear water moving and that was indeed a good sign. When I came to the edge of the wood line where it meets the stream I was greeted to what you see in this first photo. At this point I could have left and my day would have been a success. A stream in the sunlight on a crisp early morning can be such a joy, one that is hard to put in words. I remained here for some time before I cast a fly, a solid memory of this year.

I moved down stream and made my first cast....there was a hookup, but it was a leaf. It was beautifully colored much like the brook trout.

As I walked along I spooked several brookies who were lying in the tail outs of the pools. I would cast and once I even had a trout take.

The day ended with several nice brook trout to hand along with a clear thought in my head.

Autumn in New England

Here are a few photos of New England in this "Glorious Season"...rural roads, maples, oaks, pine, birch..and a few apple. I hope you'll enjoy.

Shenandoah 2016 Part Two

This is my second post on our recent trip to SNP. This day featured rain, fog ,and some sun, elements that were not a deterrent to our full day of enjoyment in this pristine place. We walked familiar trails and a few new ones. The beauty of the woods when wet is hard to describe, hopefully what I can't find words for you'll see in the photos here.

Photo Jeanette Petrucci

These precious brook trout were a gift. Even in this photo it seems not to show just how beautiful these fish are. Jeanette commented on they almost had a pinkish tint to them. I can only say "wild jewels"......

The clarity of the water is beyond comprehension. Though so clear the brook trout blend in.

You see these springs flowing out of the rocks..cold water.

Photo Jeanette Petrucci

One of the pools that was very good to me.

I was able to get this one to take a streamer.

An enchanting place....we stopped here for a little lunch.

There were parts of this stream that could have been fished easier with waders. Access to the stream was tough in hiking boots, but where there is a will there will be rewards.

And this is the reward. This fellow was dressed in formal fall attire.

In this pool I observed several brook trout. They were holding in several locations. The fly was presented and the fish scattered, to where I don't know. I waited for several minutes and they did not reappear. I gave it some more time and soon I saw one, than two and three move back into there previous positions. I cast the fly and saw the trout move....hook set and fish on.

What was soon at hand was the most beautiful wild brook trout I have taken this year. His colors were magnificent. Look at his belly, that black line between the white and orange. Crisp markings on his fins..... red dots, blue halos, and that steel gray of his gill plate. What a gorgeous specimen created by nature.

As we walked out, thoughts of this day, and of this National Park, this wonder called Shenandoah began to take hold.

We now toast to Shenandoah...may it always  remain just as we last saw it.

Shenandoah National Park October 2016

Jeanette and I just finished a few very memorable days in Shenandoah National Park. This was our third time visiting the park and it was probably our best. We left home very early, 3am to be exact and drove to Virginia stopping only for gas, breakfast and a comfort break that included coffee refills. We arrived in Front Royal around 11. A visit to Walmart to purchase a license and then it was off to Skyline Drive and our first fishing destination. The mountains of Shenandoah are breathtaking, and the roads that wind and twist through them a are a pleasure to drive.

The first stream we were to fish is about 40 miles into the park. Along the drive we encountered several black bears which were a treat considering we were in the car. We finally arrived at the parking lot and found a few cars there, were they fishing or hiking that was never determined for we saw no one while we were there.

Rainfall must have been ample for even the tiny feeder streams were flowing. We observed brook trout in these creeks so they must hold water year round.

This is how you find your way about the park, a map though is highly recommended.

This is the first stream I fished. The access to the stream was not the best. A close eye on almost everything was necessary. The stream itself was a delight to fish. Look for a smooth pool or pocket and drop the fly. It was incredible that almost each time the fly was in the stream a brook trout hit. Now that doesn't mean every one came to hand but it was very nice to be kept busy.

My first SNP brook trout. A true wild jewel. These natives have a very distinct coloration that seems to be only theirs.

Shenandoah's fall colors were just starting to appear, and what was there was a nice highlight.

Have I ever told you how much I love these fish?

Well the afternoon was closing, and the evening was nearing. We still had a hike to get back to the car and chose not to do so in the dark. We knew we had a full day ahead to explore another stream and the thought of a hot dinner and a good nights sleep was in our sights.

The sun setting on the Blue Ridge.