Small Streams, Columbus Day Weekend

Over the Columbus Day weekend I fished several streams at various times during the day. I find that fishing from that 9am to 3pm works best for me. At that time the sun is out and the fish seek shadows, which are easy to locate thus finding fish holding areas simpler.
This stream is a freestone that was running pretty good for this time of year, we've had ample rainfall this year and the streams are full. The large boulders in the stream always make me think when they were deposited there. Were they placed there by man, or did the glaciers of the last ice age deposit them there.

I started fishing a Bomber dry drifting it in likely areas that I knew might hold fish. It soon produced a rise, but the fish did not want to eat it. This has happened a lot these last few weeks with this pattern, it's as if they just want to play with it.

I tied on a Clown Shoe Caddis, still not tied to pattern, but I'll get it right soon. Well that fly worked for me for those few hours I fished. The fly was hit at the end of the drift, just as it stopped and was sucked under.
The brook trout that day looked like the foliage around the stream.

Large boulders make for some wonderful holding water.

Here's that not tied to pattern Caddis.

October Brook Trout

Glacial landscaping

Another survivor from the ice age.



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Images

Images in black and white.... old school photography. Images that appear to be made of steel. Images that are dark, and appear to be unreal. Images of objects that are so full of color, now are in a form of lifeless reality.

They are beautiful in there two tone color...Black and White color. They have a soft shine to them that no color can match.

I hope you can see the simple beauty in them, and enjoy.

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An October Morning

Saturday morning found me visiting a stream that I truly love. It winds over some rough land but has some smooth spots that are easily negotiated. The morning was crisp with frost all over, and the suns rays filtering through felt good. It's funny how the mind works. The suns warmth could not be felt, yet knowing it was coming through made your body feel warm. As I walked this little stream, looking into its pools, which were not very deep, I wondered has I have so many times, how can a trout with such vivid colors go unseen until they dart away.

I walked and fished this stream for a few hours and it was kind to me. Not once did my hiking boots feel the cold bite of the stream. I remained dry which is unusual for me. It also gave up some of its wild jewels to The Bomber and me, allowing a few to come to hand to admire their beauty.

A small stream. An October morning, the fresh smells of a mixed forest.... can it be better?

A woods road.

Bridges and the pools under them are favorite places for me. It seems that the pools under them almost always hold a trout or two. And though I'm aware of this possibility, I'm always shocked when the fly is taken, and most times loose the fish.

Gifts on this crisp October morning

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Dave Footer

Dave Footer is an artist, and taxidermist. He is a man who has guided fisherman into the wilds of Maine, and Quebec, in search of brook trout.
My first encounter with Dave was in the late 1970's, when while fishing Mooselookmeguntic Lake in Maine, my brother in law caught a landlocked salmon of generous proportions. We went back to camp, which was on Haine's Landing, and asked about having the salmon mounted. Almost everyone suggested Dave Footer.
The fish was taken to his studio in Lewiston, and was mounted. The salmon is in my brother in law, John's home, and looks as good as it did when taken back a long time ago.

About 25 years later, while fishing a tributary to Rangeley Lake, I was fortunate to catch my personal best brook trout. I knew what I wanted to have done, and who I wanted to do it.
I stopped in at the Footer home in Lewiston, and talked about my mount with Polly,

Dave's wife. She is a very knowledgeable and told me all about the process of a Footer mount. While taking the info from me on the fish she showed me around Dave's studio. There were beautiful paintings of brook trout all over. And oh so many fish.

Work that was being done for anglers from all over the world. Well one year later I received my mount from Maine and was impressed with the results.

The man is said to have mounted over 6000 fish, most of them brook trout. And many fish restorations, as well as fish paintings. An artist who was taught by "Herb Welch"

Dave Footer doing a brook trout painting.

Dave and his family, all of them involved with with the business of fish mounting and restoration.

A self portrait of Dave.

Two of Dave's fine mounts.

The "Footer Special" a streamer created by Dave. It is a very effective streamer for brook trout. This one from his studio and well used. It now sits in a plastic case, fully retired.

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