The Rising Trout...but to what?

These past few days we have been entertaining Parker. Yesterday morning I was given permission by Parker to take a few hours and visit the river and I did not waste any time in  taking him up on his kind gesture.

I was on the water by 7 and was into my first fish by 7:15. The river was alive with fish rising...to what I don't know. I looked for flies in the air, spinners on the water, and nothing was there, still the trout kept rising. I fished a variety of dry flies, wets and even a streamer and they did not take anything. It was a bit frustrating, seeing how brookies are not fussy but on this river that idea is out the window.

I moved upstream and found some willing fish. These guys took soft-hackles.

Riffles...those magical places where nice things happen.

Look what came from those riffles. This was a strong brook trout and I'll add a beautiful brook trout.

This attractor got hit very hard in the riffles.

This was a good few hours....and as Mark suggested the trout may have been feeding on "Tricos" those little flies....I tied up a couple of them in size 20 and will try them if I ever run into fish rising to nothing I can see.

The Dog Days And Valsesiana Flies

The dog days of summer are upon us.....we have our grand-dog Parker with us for a few days and when he's with us all the world revolves around him. Every morning I ask him what he wants for breakfast and his choices keep me busy, he also gives me his dinner menu too. Fishing has been put on hold and walking in the woods is highlight of the day. While walking with Parker I have checked out a few small streams I fish. They are looking quite nice. The flows are OK and the temps cool, perhaps there is an outing on the horizon.

I have been tying a few flies, "North Country Flies" "Valsesiana" style flies that is. Theses soft-hackle flies date back to the 9th century. They are a pleasure to tie and a pleasure to fish.

These are obviously not 9th century patterns, but 21st century soft-hackle nymphs. Well I hope you are all dealing with summers heat and perhaps wetting a line to.

"A Year On One Fly"

For those long time followers of this blog know of my fondness for simplicity, as a matter of fact it's my sub-title. In this day of complexity and the "more is better" style of life simplicity has taken a back seat. I'm not against the "new way" but I prefer the alternative.

In the latest issue of Fly Fisherman magazine is an excellent article written by Yvon Chouinard. I have never met the man but I know I would get along just fine with him on a stream or in front of a vise. The article go's on to tell of his use of a fly "the pheasant tail soft-hackle". Yvon used this fly entirely for one year, and was so very successful with it. He used it in both fresh and salt water. In his article he speaks of the simple ways of fly fishing, both conventional and tenkara, which he was fishing before it was popular. I wish all of you would pick up a copy of Fly Fisherman and read the article in it's entirety.

While I tie the Pheasant tail soft-hackle, I don't fish it enough. The reason is "I don't know what the reason is"....well maybe I do.

This is the reason....Pete, aka TROUTI, is the master of this fly. He can take trout at will when he is fishing it. The group of anglers that is known as "The Crew" can attest to that. Here Pete is working a shady spot along the bank on the Farmington. I watched him nail two trout from that little run one July day several years ago. If there is anyone besides Yvon Chouinard who could fish the PTSH for a year and be successful it would be Pete.

Let's all simplify...it can be done.

Farmington River Trifecta And A big Brown

As I drove along the river on this early morning looking for the pull off where I was to park. I was thinking about how this day would be. To myself I said as long as I don't fall in and I don't break a bone, or maybe break the rod, I would be OK, and a few fish would be some icing on an already good day. Stepping out of the car the woodland smells filled my head. Damp morning air is something all should experience.

I got geared up and was soon at the river edge. Gazing at the surface for a feeding fish I saw nothing. So a probing soft-hackle was tied on and the first cast of the day was made. I fished the nice run and into the start of a riffle. About the second or third cast the line slowed and the hook went into the lip of a fish. Soon a feisty brook trout was at hand.

I continued to fish the riffle and was graced with another brookie.

I moved back upstream to a deep run. It was full of the necessary structure that would hold a trout or two. Looking to the bank I saw some movement and spotted this little critter looking for his breakfast. I watched him for a spell and he did not mind the company. That changed as I lifted the rod to cast...like a lighting bolt he was gone.

Just past the wood jam I saw a fish rising. He was feeding on moths that were being blown into the river. I promptly tied on a big, size 12 elk hair caddis. I floated that fly several times and it was refused. Not wanting to put the fish down I decided to tie on something bigger. Into the box I gazed and a yellow Hornberg smiled at me. The fly was a size 10 with lots of brown hackle. Tied on and ginked up I made my cast as the fly floated perfectly right over the fish the rise came and the hook set. The first run that fish made sent a message to my brain..."big fish on ,your in trouble"....

Well I was prepared to do battle, but would the small glass 3wt, and click and pawl reel be able to do their part. The fish ran and the fish went down, he went left and right and broke the surface many times. Just as I felt I had the best of him he ran again and it seemed he got stronger as the battle went on. I finally managed to bring him into shallow water and got my first look at him. I don't carry a net so I said you better take a picture of this fish now because you'll never land him. I did however bring him in. As I reached for him he bolted like I just hooked him. I had a tough time turning him and gaining the upper hand. Luckily the hook held and he was at my feet again.

The next few pictures are of him in the water. The male had an impressive head with a hook to the jaw. The shoulders were wide and strong.

This photo shows the size of his head. It it bigger than the size of the reel.

That's a size 10 Hornberg in his lip.....I'm not good at measuring but I estimate 20".

The CGR 5'9" rod held, the reel did it's job, and the hook held....the angler had frayed nerves and a big smile.

To complete the trifecta a nice rainbow was taken also on the Hornberg.