Beaver Pond Scouting

I have been hunting endlessly for a local beaver pond that contains wild brookies. I have found a couple but they were so small that the term pond wouldn't really fit. So on Sunday I did some map examination and found a possibility. It looked dark and deep on the map and I know the stream feeding it holds fish. So off we went. However the forest road that is the best way to get to the spot had not been plowed and it was only a short time before the car was stuck. Not to worry, reinforcements were called and with some chains and a jeep the Subaru was free! Thanks Taylor! And I was now free to do my scouting. I busted trail through some thick brush in an area that sees little if any foot traffic of the human kind, particularly this time of year, and eventually my keen sense of direction aided me in locating the pond without any map or GPS help. Unfortunately that massive effort was all for none and I was greeted by shallow water in which the only sizable living things were frogs, turtles and a pair of ducks. Of course the laws of the state dictate that all streams not listed apply to the normal season rules while unlisted ponds are open year round, so I was pretty much swamped. I hiked around and eventually reached an area where something odd was occurring. The topography and lack of animal noise created a small bowl in which there was essentially no noise. Not even that ever present drone of traffic or aircraft. This silence lasted only a minute, but it was stunning. The woods are such an amazing place.