Sunday, January 31, 2016

Two Beautiful New Streams

I'd heard Alan and Kirk talk about a stream I had never heard of before. Conveniently it isn't far from another wild trout stream I had not fished before. Today Kirk and Alan were kind enough to show me around these two waters. The first is a terrific little brook trout stream, although it was clearly hurting and needs more water. The clarity was remarkable and there is still a thriving population of wild brookies, some browns, and rainbows that wander in from a stocked pond. There were tons of bugs around: caddis, stoneflies, and midges; and there were plenty of fish willing to eat. I even got a few to eat a big yellow Humpy. The best flies were the Ausable Ugly and the Crazy Shrimp. That first little brook gave me quite a few fish, but no big ones. Not that I didn't have my shots....








The second stream is bigger and holds more browns than brookies. It is a WTMA, and though the fish are legally protected they definitely get some pressure. There was a deep pool right above the road that held some big wild browns, and when we crossed it there was a rise. But I just couldn't get them to commit to a fly. In a nice pool upstream I did get a fish to go for one of my flies. A big brown slammed my Ugly in a beautiful pool. I missed it but it was there long enough for me to see and feel it. It was no small fish. In fact it was pretty big. I even missed it again on the way back downstream.

Kirk lands a wild brown
 I got a few more chances on a stretch near what Alan calls "The Outback". In some of the deep pools there I could see schools I eventually identified as fallfish. Interestingly, there were trout hiding in those schools. Working those deep pools got me a beautiful brown.


First Fallfish or the Year


Mixed in with a different school of fallfish were brookies. I was totally surprised that I was able to catch them, they were only about five feet away from me in slow, clear water in the sunlight. I saw the three that I caught come up off the bottom and grab my fly.



Once again I greatly enjoyed a great day of wild trout, beautiful streams, good food made by Alan, and just a terrific day with two other small stream junkies.

9 comments:

  1. We small stream addicts are fortunate to have winter fly fishing that's enjoyable and productive. Nice job. A lot of the area streams are low and clear, and could benefit from snow.

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    1. Thanks,
      It is special to have year round action.

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  2. You had great weather, good company, fine dining, and caught a few fish along the way. What else could you ask for on a January day? Nice going!!

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    1. Oh it was stellar... it doesn't get much better, unless one of us had caught a great big wild trout!

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  3. Glad you guys had a nice day. I've fished those streams a few times, both very nice.

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    1. Thanks,
      They are both terrific streams, and there are no better people to guide me on them than Alan and Kirk.

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  4. That second stream is a real classic. Good job on those beautiful brookies. A great day with fish buds and fish.
    Tie, fish, write and photo on...

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  5. I'm sure enjoying the great fishing in Conn. Rowan.

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    Replies
    1. You should come over some time, I'm sure you'd enjoy it more in person! ;)

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