Why Do I Fly Fish?

Why do I fly fish? Here are a few answers.

A Small Stream, and A Wonderful Day

With the closing of some of the streams I frequent, choices now are limited. I chose to fish this section, one that has not been favorable to me in some years. With the last few years, summers have been dry and I think it's had an effect on the trout. Well this day this section was going to get a through going over to find out what's in there.

As I crossed the field to access the stream I saw something quite out of place, "a rabbit flying". A hawk had the struggling rabbit clutched tight in its talons. I followed the hawks flight to the point where it landed in a tree. There was a second or two of activity and my thought was the rabbit had been dispatched. I took a few steps over to the tree and the hawk did not want company and took flight with the rabbit with him to a sanctuary where I could no longer see.

The stream was as I remembered, changes were in a few of the runs and the heavy wood jams that occur in winter. The one constant was the fact that the briars were as thick as ever. You know the thorns hurt like heck. I selected several flies I would fish this day, dries, wets, and a bugger or two.

Yes the blood is worth giving for the wild trout who live here.

I had taken a few brook trout over the few hours of fishing. I had a good feeling about the streams recovery, for that was more then I had caught in the last two years combined. This pool is a favorite. Over the years it has given up some beautiful brook trout in all times of the year. I cast the fly, the Bomber to be exact. As the fly drifted to the half-way point a good size fish rose and missed. I could feel that the steel had poked him so my hopes of him repeating were not good. Several more casts and the thought was realized. I changed flies and again cast to the fish I believed was still there. As the white marabou did its seductive dance the fish struck and struck hard. I knew it was a good fish for he took me into every possible wood jam he could. The glass rod worked him out of his plan so his next trick was to shoot upstream and he did that with impressive speed.

Finally the brook trout which had fought so hard was at streams edge. As I reached in the water to slide my hand under his belly I soon realized he was not done. That fellow ran up and down several more times before I calmed him down.

I could not pick him up and decided to just photograph him in the stream. It was a great day and to see that the stream had rebounded was the frosting on the cake.

"Haystacks" and Appalachian Brook Trout

Good morning folks. Two day old bagels, hard, crusty, and dry...what to do? Some beaten eggs and butter, with maple syrup and suddenly all's well. With a smile on my face and hopefully on yours we will begin the day with the hope it is a good one.

Fran Betters was a fly tyer and a fly master in terms of design. I have posted many of his patterns here and have fished them as well. Most times when on the stream and the day seems lost as far as catching trout I'll tie on a Betters pattern and the day is saved....trout respond to his patterns.

This is one of Fran's innovative patterns. The "Haystack"...this is a fly that will catch trout. A simple pattern, a mix of deer hair, dubbing and thread, can it be any simpler.

The "Haystack" is the forerunner of the "Comparadun"...Fran's book calls for various colors and that is accomplished by different color dubbing.

Here is a lighter colored "Haystack". I used this fly the other day and had success with it on a stream I have not fished in quite some time.

Love the fish eye view, and the fish love it to. The next time your in a slump on the stream tie one on and see a "Betters" result.

Brook trout fanciers, southern brook trout fanciers, and outdoor lovers everywhere. I would like to tell you about a wonderful book, "Downstream", by David O'Hara and Matthew Dickerson. A very easy and delightful read.

Wild Brook Trout, Bombers and Buggers

Today the Connecticut trout season closes for a few weeks, and most of the small streams will be off line for about six weeks. Trout fishing will be available at the Class 1 wild trout streams as well as the TMA's.

Sunday was the final outing on a small brook trout stream for Kirk and I. The stream was in top form as was the weather. With such conditions at the end of February the thought was "who needs to catch fish on such a beautiful day" and that held for sometime. To say the trout were not playing along would be understating a bit. It was slow and the first bump took sometime. The brookie that did that was about the size of the fly I was using

Fortunately that did not remain the case. And soon I was able to get a fish to chase a mini-bugger, and not once but twice before he withdrew to the confines of some pretty big rocks.

The third chase of said mini-bugger was the charm. A fine friend was at hand. Impressive tail......

Kirk trying to get a fish on the line. A beautiful bright day which makes for poor camo.

Later in the morning the brookies were looking up and I managed to take a few on "Bombers".

Signs of Spring were about.

This has got to be the most beautiful brook trout of the year. A true "wild jewel".......thanks.