A plan for no trout fishing.....

Well I don't really care for the hottest day of the year coming on September eighth, but that's what happened. I was up and out early to check a few streams and see if I might be able to coax a brookie or two to the fly. I Checked the flows which were pretty good and then the thermometer came out and that's when I knew there would be no trout fishing today. The reading was 66 degrees, that's my cutoff. Normally the Farmington River would be next but the DEEP is doing a survey of the stream and has cut the flows way back so they can achieve the results they have planned.

We have been in a rain deficit for some time and the last two weeks have been 100% sunshine along with hot temperatures and a bit of nasty humidity thrown in. There is some relief in the forecast for the end of the week with T-storms, and back to normal temps for September..

With the cold water action on hold I paid a visit to Hogback for some warm water fishing. The lake was very calm and from time to time I could see a fish break the surface. I could not determine what was rising but I could not pursue for I was land based. I was rigged already with my trout setup, a Spikey and a soft-hackle. Around a dozen casts and a solid strike.

After several "earth shattering" leaps and runs I brought to hand a nice little smallmouth.

I was to fish this lake for an hour or so and brought to hand about a dozen of these little scrappers. All of them a blast on the Eagleclaw 6'6" 4wt. A funny side note, they were all taken on the "Spikey"

The Soft Pocket

Yesterday Mark and I fished the Farmington River. This will not be an angling report but some of my thoughts on what took place in a very beautiful river. To some this river is the most hostile place in the world, and to survive in it is a challenge that I cannot even imagine.

I was fishing a very fast and heavy current. The water was so badly broken up that if a fish were there I would be shocked. Just to the left of that water roller coaster was a soft pocket about 8 feet long and 5 feet wide. The water was flowing towards a bush and a small undercut. This would be an ideal place for a large trout who had negotiated the heavy current to pull into and just sit and rest before continuing his move upstream. I had rigged my line with a small bead head soft hackle with a wet fly tied to the hook bend of the bead head. I made several casts into this soft spot and let the flies tumble down easily through the pocket. As I worked the flies back and was in the process of lifting them out of the water to make another cast, I noticed a very subtle movement behind the last fly. I again cast the flies out and again they found the soft spot. I let the flies sit, I believe they were on the bottom. A moment later I started my retrieve, suddenly I felt the pull of a fish. Seconds later I was looking in the water at a most precious sight.

What lay there was a very youthful wild brown trout. I was amazed at such beauty, and such tenacity to exist in such a hostile river. Fish this size are on most browns in this river what's for dinner saying. I took a quick photo and let it back into the river. Later in the day while enjoying a cup of coffee on the deck, the image of that brown popped into my head. I said quietly to myself the natural world is wonderful, "I hope you make it little friend"

Another Gem Of A Stream

Yesterday we took a drive in search of a small stream I had been given a heads up about by a fellow brook trout fancier. After twisting and turning among several bridge closed signs I finally found what I was seeking. At first I was somewhat discouraged at some the signs posted but soon what was a good stretch of open waters. Part of the stream was a very popular place for the locals to cool off, even there I spotted a few flying shadows in the stream.

We continued to explore this beautiful stream. I don't think there has been another angler here since well I can't tell if there ever was another angler here. But what was here was a very clear gravel bottomed tree lined and cool stream with wild brook trout darting about.

It is so hard to put into words what I saw. I take photos in hopes of showing what beauty there is in these little waters.

I had a fly rod with me and tried my luck at some of the stream residents. To say they were cautious in some of the clear water that was present, is an understatement. I know I spooked more than I saw, but I managed to prick a few and had the absolute pleasure of bringing one to hand.

New England wild jewel. These char are not selective, and when the fly is floated through a shady pool it's taken. I also found something interesting. A little trickle of running water that was flowing through some beautiful deep green grass. I felt it might be a spring that flow like it was throughout the year. I took out the thermometer and dropped it into the 3 inch depth of the spring. The reading read 50 degrees. I checked it further up and the same 50 degrees registered. This spring feeds the little brook I fished.

We saw several apple trees lining the stream. As usual the best looking ones were high up and not within our reach. I managed to pick some and took a bite. Man it was "Tart". I took a few home and had planned on baking them.

Streamside fresh picked wild apples. Some brown sugar, cinnamon, and walnuts baked for 30 minutes and just as sweet and delicious as can be.

September, Coming Into That Season

Here it is September 2nd, we have turned the page and are entering the meteorological autumn. There have been subtle changes going on like various leaves in color transition, trees are dropping nuts and acorns can be hazardous when they fall on an unsuspecting angler along a small stream. I've noticed pumpkins for sale in the local farm stands and the first fairs of the season will take place this weekend. Sunset is 7:25 today and by the end of the month it will be 6:35.

These next few months will be lovely times to be outdoors, with those wonderful cool mornings when a flannel shirt will be very comforting. The streams will be active with spawning brook trout, and the dry fly will be the fly of choice. I hope you will have the time to enjoy theses days of transition.

A little competition between two of the best small stream dry flies will be taking place this fall on the streams I fish. The Ausable Wulff and the Ausable Bomber will be getting equal time on the water over the next few months and I will keep a tally and post my results on which one performed best. I think I'll check out a new thin blue line today.