A Hidden Gem

Yesterday my dog and I went out to a secret spot out in the woods. There, a massive ridge overlooks two swamps and a potentially rich native trout stream. We pushed through what seemed to be impenetrable thicket and climbed to the top of the ridge. On the way we traversed the partially frozen creek, and watched a very big red fox scamper away (Buddy has never been a calm, quiet dog). The turkey, deer, and coyote tracks led us to an incredible view. The last time I explored this paradise I found a flock of turkeys at least 50 strong! The next time, I may be landing chunky native brook trout on dry flies midst the cool green of spring.

Was that a rise?

Buddy

Rabbit Strip Streamer

Red dumbbell eyes, purple rabbit strip, and white synthetic. 

Ice, Ice, Ice

Yesterday was warm, by comparison at least, and I headed to a little native brook trout creek. I wanted to break in my new reel. I had fallen and bashed the previous on a rock and bent the frame. When I arrived, I found it to be more iced over than I thought. Unfortunately snow melt and temperatures in the upper thirties didn't put much of a dent in the apparently frozen solid stream. I did get a few light taps on a pink worm fly in a plunge pool. I left slightly disappointing for not catching a fish, but glad to have spent some time observing wildlife in a cold, snowy, little valley.

Echo Ion 2/3 Weight

Wild Gold

(3/27/2019- This post contains examples of very poor fish handling. Use it as an example of what not to do. Thank you, 
R.M. Lytle)

I am not one to be very jealous, even over fish. One day two summers ago stands out though. Dalton and I went out to catch big brook trout where a feeder creek dumped oxygenated water into a big pool. I got a bunch of absolute honker brook trout, holdovers up to 18 inches. Then Dalton decided he would go up the little tributary and throw a rooster tail under a cut bank. He came out of the laurels holding, of all things, a wild tiger trout. I was pretty jealous, but was still happy that he had the luck to find such an elusive fish.

Chasing Shadows

Today I went to fish a small stream for wild trout with Dalton. I started in a deep old bridge pool with a woolly bugger when he arrived on his quad. He had decided to bring a spinning rod and some small panther martins. We worked over a mile of stream, and I only got one slash from a brookie on the Pinkie. We saw a pod of wild browns, but they were unwilling to eat our offerings.

Wish we could fish from the other side, but it is posted.