Changes

It is only mid September but already The subtle changes can be seen telling us that a season will end, and another will begin.
Autumn is a beautiful time to be out in woods, and yesterday proved it right. The air was cool and the signs were there. Leaves on the color, bees so very active, and tons of acorns, that crunch under foot. The stream even showed its colors, through its water that is crystal clear its rocks show there colors.

Yesterday was a special day on this small stream, and enjoyed by me..... enjoy it too.

A tiny tributary joins this stream. Small white wild flowers border it, along with a few colored leaves.

Lunch will always be good, when eaten out here.

Leaves lying on a stone, the stream rushing by. Where will these leaves meet their final resting place.

The brook trout starts to show their Autumn changes, making this wild little jewel even more beautiful. In days to come he will lie on the bottom of the stream and watch the colored leaves float over his head.

A simple grilled pizza...... what color.



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A Tale of Two Streams

This month we have had a considerable amount of rain, in some areas upwards of a foot. This has some streams to go into heavy flood. While small streams fair better than larger rivers, in that they recover quickly, returning to their banks usually with minimal damage.
I fished one of these small streams yesterday, and was surprised what I saw. This usually peaceful stream was turned into a wild, ripping torrent of water. Looking at it I said to myself this is not good. I don't fish these small streams with waders, fishing from the banks instead, but this was going to be difficult to present a fly.
I tied on a Mickey Finn streamer and cast it into the current. Within a blink of an eye it rose to the surface and was swept to the streams edge. With all the fish hugging the bottom I knew this was not going to work. Go to plan B. There are several smaller tribs to this stream, and I was going to check them out. As it turned out they were more tranquil. Tying on a Bomber and sending it out to do its work in the plunge pools and small runs. My plan paid off for I had several hours of fish taking, mostly brookies, but was surprised by a somewhat larger wild brown.

So what had started out to be a just possible walk along a small stream, turned out to be a wonderful fishing day.

This stream is usually 3 to 5 feet across. 

One of the small tribs to this stream. It has lots of plunge pools, and places to hide.

One of several brook trout that graced my hand this day.

Signs of Autumn, in the clear stream.

This was a gift I had not expected, a lovely spotted wild brown trout. A wonderful end to a great day.

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Old Text, Humpback Trout...and Streamers

While in Rangeley, Maine one year I saw this book in a small book store I was in. At first it didn't look like much of a book to read. As I browsed through it it got more interesting as each page was turned. I purchased the book, and it went in the stack of reading material we had a the camp we stayed at.

One rainy evening I sat down to read it, and I enjoyed it. It's full of history from the "old days" in the Rangeley region. The original book was published in 1876.

Some of it's pages

A few Rangeley Featherwing Streamers.

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Recovery........ and a Small Stream

I was fortunate to fish a small stream last Thursday for several hours. This was the first time fishing this stream since the heavy rains from tropical storm Irene pushed through.
The storm changed this stream scouring out new holes, silting others and putting trees in several locations. Upon looking at it you wonder how the trout could hang on, but hang on they did.

It took a lot work for me to present the flies to my quarry, but when it was right they responded with authority. Many of my hookups were just that on and then off. There were a few beautiful wild survivors that came to hand.

As I sit and write this post it is softly raining, listening to the rain I think of the sounds of the stream as it cascades on its never ending run..... all is well in Brook Trout Forest.

These stream side flowers, must have been covered with the heavy currents which were able to move trees, yet they held on to show their beauty.

Their fall colors are beginning to show.

Along this flat rock, the water was deep and clear. A brook trout of about 10 inches rose the the fly.....he was on, but not for long. He won the battle.

That pool produced several rises, and one to hand. So small and fragile.... yet strong enough to beat a tropical storm.

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