A Victory For Consevation And Brook Trout

It was one of the best days of the season. Autumn at it's peak. On a mountain top in Northwest Massachusetts a group of people got together to celebrate and dedicate a portion of land that will be forever as it is today. The conserved property is the Crowningshield Farm. It comprises about 100 acres of beautiful woods, fields, and a wild brook trout stream. A mile of the west branch of the North River is now protected.

The achievement was the hard work of many like minded people and groups. This partnership worked together to preserve this area for future generations to enjoy. I would like to thank these groups along with all their staffs who put a lot of effort so this could happen. The Franklin Land Trust, MA/RI Council Of Trout Unlimited and MA. Div Of Fish and Wildlife. I see this as a "Big" victory for the brook trout, but it's really a victory for all who love the outdoors in it's natural state.

I hope in the photo's below I can do justice to what is now all of ours to enjoy. I'm a fisherman who's passion is the brook trout, but the hiker, hunter, naturalist and the person who just enjoys solitude has gained from Crowningshield.

New England...in that valley lies a pristine stream for our beloved brook trout.

Simple elegance...I wish I could enjoy a break like this everyday.

Rich Hubbard, executive director of The Franklin Land Trust

"Partners"...Rich Hubbard,FLT, Matt Beaton, George Peterson, MA Fish and Wildlife, and Gary Crago and Kevin Parsons, Trout Unlimited.

People who have helped in this achievement....thank you.

The WB North River

Thanks "Josh"

I have been blessed with another place to fish. But the real winner here is the brook trout, for in these waters and within the protection of the surrounding woodlands will thrive for generations to come.

The Daddy "Log" Pool Adventure

Fly fishing is a contemplative endeavor, and small stream wild brook trout fishing takes that to another level. When one walks to the stream and takes in views as this they can be put into a sort of trance. This trance will be there until the first trout is taken. A mid-autumn day, and it found me walking and searching for  brookies. They seem to found in the most difficult of places and can take a mad dash for cover at the least little sound they hear. I have tried various ways to sneak up on a pool and sometimes I'm lucky in not spooking the fish.

This pool at the stream bend has always intrigued me. There has to be fish holding there. The problem is putting the fly in there without telling the fish your there. Well after many attempts over the months of fishing it I finally got a good result.

First cast, as the fly began to sink this brookie hit.

This pool takes on the look of black oil flowing instead of water. The water is so very clear it's just the stream bottom is so dark.

I love places as this. I could sit here and listen to the stream talk.

Just downstream from that beautiful riffle I found this wild jewel.

This spot I've mentioned before in a previous post, I call it Daddy "Log" Pool because of the large log that has fallen and lies across the pool. There are some beautiful trout that hold in there but presenting the fly has been a challenge. This outing I was going to try to fish the pool from above the log. As I waded to the right side of the log, lifting my leg in an attempt to get over the log. My planted foot slipped and I found myself sitting in silt and leaf debris. Not panicked I got myself out of the mess and sat on the log trying to get back in order. That's when I looked to the far side of the pool and saw this. I was a perfect position for fishing the pool. I was low, and had a clear cast to cover the pool.

Several quiet casts into the pool and the line stopped. I pulled tight and the fish ran. I could tell it was a big fish by the bend in the rod. The fish ran upstream under the log, and I tried my best to stop him without him getting off. That mission was accomplished and I found this wild brook trout at my hand. He was so black he would have looked like a log sitting under water.

Just a word about this fine rod....Cane and Silk 5' 2/3 wt. glass rod. This rod gets it done. I just put a new line on it, Cortland 444 DT 3wt, and for me it's the best line to use with the rod.

A Dedication Franklin Land Trust Crowningshield

I'll be traveling to NW MA on Wed. for the dedication of the Crowningshield Conserved Property.

http://www.franklinlandtrust.org/news/crowningshield_dedication

You might remember a post I did about fishing this beautiful area last May.

Since then a great deal of work has been done to the property and I will highlight that in the post I'll do when I return.

I would like you to visit this site and check out all the good that is being done to protect that most beautiful of trout...the eastern brook trout.

http://www.masswoodlands.org/

http://www.masswoodlands.org/projects/fisheries-management

An October Outing

One day last week I had an incredible outing. It was made so not by the number of fish caught but by how. The day was one of those picture perfect mid October days. Bright blue sky with a little breeze, and cool enough for a flannel shirt. I started fishing in a familiar spot and as usual I was recognized and the brookies were scattering. I waited the appropriate amount of time to allow things to settle down and soon I saw the fish return. I tied on a small soft-hackle and cast to some holding fish. I must have cast to those fish for what seemed like an hour and all I had to show for it was a faint move to the fly once. I guess this was going to be one of those days.

A slow day is not that bad especially when your spending the time in a place as this.

There are a few deep holes on this stream that hold some beautiful trout. Most of these are tough to put a fly... here is one of them. Several styles and sizes of flies were drifted here and finally I had a strike.

The brook trout was a female with a beautiful dark coloration. Look at the dots and halos on this fish. A big dry fly fooled this lady.

The stream almost seems to blend in with the surrounding land.

Ever make a bad cast...a twisted leader and a bunch of line that just heaped up at you feet. It happened here but this brookie did not care.

This deep little pocket, right under that fallen log holds some nice size brook trout. Sneaking up on them is the easy part, it's the presentation that gets a little tricky. I'm usually cautious at this for a few casts and them once the trout are spooked or one takes the fly and scatters the rest, then the pressure is off and I let the flies do there thing.

And sometimes they do just that.