Sometimes You Just Can't Shake A Chill... And Then........

Being an outdoor person I can usually take pretty much what nature can dish out. There are those extreme weather issues of which I think you are all aware of being the exceptions. Cold is something you deal with when angling in winter, most times it's more about ice in the guides than it is about hypothermia. Well this is about one such winter day on the stream where I got a chill that I could not break. This past Sunday I reached the stream and was engulfed in sunshine. The air temps were near 40 and a slight breeze was about. I started fishing tossing some familiar flies, and observing nature. It was probably a half-hour into the outing when I felt my feet getting cold, this is not usual for I have taken the needed prevention first with socks etc. I sort of passed it off until I started feeling "well just cold"..perhaps this was because to fishing was so very slow.

I said to myself this day is not good, I thought I was at the start of cold or maybe worse. It was then I made the decision to stop fishing and head home.

The stream had some shelf ice but that's not uncommon for the first week of February.

Near to where I parked my car the stream crosses the road through a large culvert. The lower end at the spot where the culvert stops a very good sized and deep pool is created. Looking into it I said there could be fish in there. I was still cold and was at the car door when I said to myself "you have to toss a fly in there"..well OK just a couple of casts. I tied on a streamer and went to work. I cast to the farthest point and let the fly sink a bit. Stripping the fly back I saw a fish move on it and suddenly back off. A few more casts and he came up from the bottom and took the streamer.

He knew his home pool well and pretty much took me to most of it before putting up the white flag. One fish so stunning in the cold water, the bright sun reflecting of him presented a natural picture that was so beautiful.......suddenly I was no longer cold.

I don't carry many streamers in my small stream box but this is one that is always in it.....Montreal "Lady"

A Blog Notice, Over The Years A.............Strong

It was April 10, 2010 that Small Stream Reflections posted it's first lines. They were few and as the years went by they sort of increased, using photography and a few short sentences to get my message to you. I started Small Stream Reflections as a forum so to speak where I could put forth my thoughts and ideas to a group of anglers, fly tyers, and just family folk to enjoy and take part in.

I had been posting a several fly fishing forums and these were fine at first but they did not share my message. That message is the sub title of my blog which is "For those who love small streams, wild trout and life...in their simplest form". I have tried to keep that message going forefront throughout. Well yesterday Small Stream Reflections reached a milestone I never would have thought possible....One "million" page views. This is an incredible and humbling achievement. This could not have happened without all of you supporting Small Stream Reflections. From my first post back on April 11, 2010, in which John, "Apache Trout" was my first comment, to my last post. I have enjoyed "All" of your comments, they have been educational, thought provoking, and inspiring not only to me but also to others who have read them. I truly appreciate all you have done to make Small Stream Reflections a wonderful place for those all who share its values.

To thank you I'm offering a few items of appreciation. All you have to do is comment on this post. Your name will go into a bowl and Jeanette will pick the winners. The drawing will be Friday 2-10-17 at 7AM. I will post the winners, and you can e-mail me your shipping info.

This is a signed print of a brook trout watercolor by David Scheirer. It was inspired by photos of Connecticut's dark brook trout. It is truly a beautiful art piece.

A fly box with several of my flies. They include soft-hackles, streamers, those brookie catchers, the Ausable Bomber" and a "skater".

"Madame" a Rangeley streamer. This streamer was tied by me and will come in a plastic display case.

And this Rangeley streamer also tied by me. It has no name but the winner selected will have his name used for this streamer.

Again "thank you all" for making Small Stream Reflections what it is.....Alan

February Woods And Water

February the month of my birth. So to start the month off right I chose to fish a lovely little stream located in the eastern hills of Connecticut. Now the term "hills" is kind of pushing it somewhat but it's not exactly flat land. We had received several inches of snow the day before and walking to the stream was beautiful. Snow had blanketed the trees and they looked like frosting on a cake. The air was so still not even the hint of a breeze. The sun was about but the clouds seemed to win. This stream is one that does not require you to wear waders, which is something I truly enjoy. So my pack, rod and a few flies and I was set to bring in the new month.

The stream was moving very well, but it seemed to not make a sound.

It did not take long before I found a friend willing to to play.

The brook trout this day were found in the running waters at the head of the pools.

It was here that I hooked a memorable fish. The fly stopped its drift and then the trout struck. I pulled back and he was on then off..a second later he grabbed the fly again and again he was hooked. This fish took to the air several times before he slowed and was at hand.

It was truly a great start to February.

Starling, you are a Darling

Of all the feathers one can use to tie soft-hackles and spiders I feel that the starling is one of the top 3. The starling has a variety of feathers that range in size allowing the tyer to tie flies from #12 to size 18 and 20. And a quality I really like is the iridescent highlight of the feathers. For the most part starling is not fragile, and winds beautifully on the hook.

I don't know if you can see the beautiful highlights in these feathers, but I think fish can.

The starling feather can be used as a substitute for Jungle Cock.

A simple fly....olive thread, a touch of dubbing, and a few turns of starling hackle.

The last few outings I have observed little black winter stoneflies about. They were seen on the snow, and along the stream edges. One of these flies has been so "very" effective on the trout I pursued.