Close Encounters

Occasionally fish are introduced into waters far from there native home, and they don't manage to spread as well as others. Snake head and sunfish are invasive, and therefore don't fi this category. In a small quantity of CT ponds an alien lurks: the rudd, a European species. The are invasive in some areas, but fail to spread from place to place around here. In fact, they are rarely seen or caught. I caught my first in a small pond near where I live, and I had no clue what it was. I remember my father catching a similar fish in Day Pond years ago. They are rare and interesting. I like that! I was lucky to find some schools in the same pond described above. I managed to get one to eat a little hair's ear nymph.

Little Brook

Today I fished a very small stream, using wet flies as yesterday. It was a little freestone that I had never fished before. Unfortunately, I didn't get so much as a tap. I only saw fingerling size trout, maybe there are some scattered 4-6 inchers, but my fly didn't find them. I enjoyed the tiny river though, as it was very peaceful and rich with color.

Fishing Adventures: Nighttime Super Bluegills

In June of this year I spent a couple days cabin camping in the Woodstock area, on a big crystal clear lake. I only had a chance to toss a fly at night, so I went out with a muddler minnow. The moon was full, and barred owls called from the lush pine groves on the other side of the lake. The only light was from the moon and in the homes around the lake. I let the fly sink, and was greeted with a screaming take. It turned out to be a big bluegill, and many more came to hand with the same technique. Midnight panfish were quite fun, and I even landed a little bullhead, but he didn't permit a photo-op as he flopped into the lake.

Thanksgiving Brookies

(1/30/2018- This post contains examples of very poor fish handling. Use them as an example of what not to do. Thank you, 
R.M. Lytle)

As today was Thanksgiving, I was at some of my extended family's home for an early meal. I can't say enough about the turkey and gravy that was eaten. It was just perfect. After eating I felt the need to go for a hike in the woods. I wanted to look at a little river nearby that was said to have some trout. When I reached it, I discovered heaven. It was a perfect mountain freestone with big boulders and deep ravines.

As I ventured further, and saw some fish rising in a calm pool. I snuck up on them and realized that they were sizable brookies. In times like this, there is one option: go home to get the fly rod and flies! That is just what I did. Upon returning I tied on a yellow humpy but had no luck, so I switched to a Kate McLaren Cinamon. In one pool, I hooked 8 brookies, all healthy. They took the big fly as it skated on the surface with violent slashes. Only two were willing to come to this anglers frozen hands, as the others came of within inches. 

A Native Jewel in His Natural Habitat.

All said, regardless of the lost fish, ice clogged guides, and painfully frozen fingers, this little blue line gave me a lot to be thankful for.

Flood

I biked to the salmon yesterday to see how the rain had effected what had amounted to a trickle last week. It was high and brown, with small trees boating the rapids.