A Toast.......December 1st, 2011

December is upon us. It is a month of filled with not enough time to do what needs to be done. It is a month with many celebrations, with both family and friends.

Yesterday, December 1st, we had our first celebration. We hit the forest in search of winter berries, princess pine, and spruce boughs. Equipped with cutting tools, heavy gloves, and a canvas bag. It did not take long to find some winter berries, there were clumps of them growing along the stream. Reaching in to cut the perfect bunch can be a challenge, nasty thorns. Several snips of the cutting shears and we had a nice colorful bunch.
Now that the hazardous part of the collection was complete, Jeanette set off along the woods trail in search of the other two items we needed, while took up the 3wt and Picket Pin in search of trout.
Over the next three hours our mission was accomplished. A bag full of princess pine and some hemlock boughs.
So as this first day of December closed, the first shopping day completed, in an unhurried fashion, taking place in a most beautiful shopping mall.

Jeanette taking in the beauty on this December day.

The suns warming rays as they reflect off the stream.

I was given the pleasure to say thank you to this brook trout. They seem to be family also.

The days wild harvest.

When we got home we toasted this wonderful day, Egg Nog with cinnamon.

In The Spirit Of The Season

As one who loves this season, the season of giving, I am going to give a pair of my streamers to one of my blog followers who can answer one question. I have done over 260 posts, and while they are special to me, and I hope you all have found some interest in and enjoyed them as I have enjoyed bringing them to you.
But of all the posts, I have one that is so special to me. It is a favorite.

For you to win the streamers, all you have to do is name that post. I have told Jeanette the particular post.

So give it a shot... Seasons Greetings.

A New Friend Made

A baby buggy, rusted away to only the frame. It sits along the stream, perhaps thrown away by the family that lived here so many years ago.


The last few days have found me walking small streams, some familiar some some not. The familiar ones are old friends saying glad to see you back, while the new ones say welcome, soon to be new friends I'm sure.
Fishing is the main reason for being there but the observations made along the stream add so much more to the outing.
As I finish this piece, I'm going to enjoy a breakfast with Jeanette, then head out for Pennsylvania for my annual stay in Penns Woods.

The new stream. One would think to have many brookies, but none were to come to hand this day.

This old factory. How many craftsmen worked here. I wonder if they fished the stream that flows by the shop.

There were no brookies taken this day. But the stream gave up one of its residents. A handsome wild brown. To wonderful and crafty a brown to have fallen for such an ugly fly.

A beautiful day drawing to a close. A promise of a better one tomorrow.

The "Supervisor"

Warden Supervisor Joe Stickney of Saco, Maine is the angler credited with the design of this streamer, "The Supervisor" in 1925. It is an exceptional streamer for brook trout and landlocked salmon. It is one of the best smelt imitations, as well as a general baitfish imitation.
Joe did not tie flies, but had others tie for him. He is also a designer of several other effective streamers.

I can tell you I have fished this streamer with good success in Maine, as well as Connecticut.
It produced a 18 inch wild brook trout for me in a small lake tributary. It also has been responsible for many trout in a certain Connecticut lake.

The "Supervisor"


This "Supervisor" has earned its retirement. You can see its battle scars. This fly tempted that 18 inch brook trout.