New Streams and Old Haunts

Went searching yesterday. Somewhat aimlessly. Fortunately even relatively aimless searching can bring up good results. Noah and I fished some eastern CT streams, a few of which I haven't fished and one of which is a familiar place for me. My only sea run brown trout came from there, actually. But the first place that was really worth visiting was a small suburban stream that I suspected would have brookies and browns. It definitely had the former, of which I caught a half dozen, but I cannot yet confirm the latter yet.

On to familiar water. A cormorant was messing things up for use here, and it made the chances of catching a brown that had seen some salt much more difficult, but a strong stonefly hatch was on and a few fish were rising aggressively. I stopped fishing to take some photos. 

The frustrating part about this was where these trout had stationed... getting the right presentation from the only available casting positions was next to impossible. I missed two takes before we were frustrated and done and ready to go just beat up bluegills, pumpkinseeds, and hybrids in one of my favorite small ponds. 

Healthy, Feisty, and Well Fed

Today there was native trout fishing that needed done. I packed gear and hiked off to a small stream in the middle of nowhere. I found an area seemingly devoid of life. I thought for a minute, and realized that the bright sun was the culprit. I loitered on a rock and looked at bug while waiting for the action to pick up.

Then, suddenly, it was like someone flipped a switch. Bigger stone flies began to hatch an fish became active. I put on a wet fly, and dropped it in to rearrange the line. I looked up and a trout had dashed out to take my fly. He nipped at it a lot, but then turned off. I sat and tied on an Edson Tiger. That was all he needed. The first fish of the day was healthy and very well fed.

I tied the wet back on and was into fat, healthy, colorful natives for the rest of the day. Man, they were fighting.