Beyond Parr Markings....Not For Me.

There are those who find the call to big fish and those great rivers with storied pasts. Large brook trout seem to be an obsession that makes anglers cast all other fish to be placed second. I can't find fault with this for it's human nature. But I will share with you my thoughts.

I have taken my fair share of big brook trout, mostly in Maine but also a few locally. These fish while beautiful lacked that charm and beauty that is only found in small brook trout. If you take side by side photos, one of a large 16" or better brook trout and another one 6" you will surely see the latter is so much more beautiful. When you take into account where the 6" trout lives it makes it even more beautiful.

Close working in small intimate waters.

Wild brook trout, colored like no other fish that swims. Its parr markings in view. This is what I consider to be natures finest.

A Christmas Gift

In this season of giving I and Small Stream Reflections would like to offer you this gift of 23 soft-hackle flies. You only need to comment to be in the drawing. When you comment your name will be put into a bag and the name will be drawn by Jeanette. The drawing will be on Dec. 15th.

A frosty morning, and a couple of flymphs.

Yesterday I started to feel that scratch in the throat, the first sign of a cold. Last night after some real hot tea I went to bed and slept pretty sound. I awoke to the gentle prodding of Parker, we're dog watching this weekend,and he had some business to attend to. While getting dressed I noticed that the scratchy throat was gone and I felt pretty good. Out the door we went and while walking Parker I took a few photos of this frosty Connecticut morning.

I tied a few soft hackles-flymphs if you prefer and was hoping to give them a try today, I may just do that if I still feel OK a little later.

The Ausable Flymph.

A pretty simple fly. Tail is woodchuck, only 3 fibers are necessary..body is Australian opossum dubbed sparse so orange thread can show through..fine silver wire for a rib..and brown hen hackle mottled.

"Pats Nymph"

I found this pattern on Neil Normans blog http://softhacklepatternbook.blogspot.com/ This fly has that simplicity I love.

Rangeley, Eastern, New England...what's in a name?

New England, the birthplace of the streamer fly. That statement can be debated. What I know of it is that a Connecticut native, Charles "Shang" Wheeler and a Maine native Carrie Stevens were probably the two in the fore front of streamer fly creation. Another side note here is the name of the featherwing streamer fly..Rangeley style, eastern style, New England style and a few more names perhaps. Noted writer and streamer fly historian Graydon Hilyard states in is book  "Carrie Stevens Maker of Rangeley Favorite Trout and Salmon Flies" Carrie referred to the style as "eastern". My self I'll make this claim now "I'm no expert on this name" but I have always referred to the streamer type as "Rangeley". There are more knowledgeable people out there who can shed more info on this subject.

Well back to the reason for this post. I fish a stream in Massachusetts called Avery Brook, a beautiful stream with wild brook trout. To commemorate the beauty of this stream I created this streamer fly. I guess it can be called a "New England-Rangeley style feather wing streamer.

"Avery Brook"

A sleek and sparsely tied group of feathers.

At the bottom of this post is a link to the wonderful world of "Streamers"....the streamer list is a fantastic resource. Check it out.