Before the blog, favorite stories from the past… 6/12/13

Since getting into fly fishing in ernest last summer I've never had a greater time than I did the other day.  Often times I've read reports from people on here describing those 30-50+ fish days and dreamed of when maybe I'd be fortunate to have a similar experience myself.   I kinda wished the real world didn't exist to call me back the other day....

I arrived on location sometime in the early afternoon and after a walk through the woods I made my way down to the stream.  I could tell this rain had helped things out as the water was making plenty of noise, the bugs where everywhere and I'd hope the trout would be too.  After spooking a large number of trout right off the bat I knew that at least they were there.  Dark shadows were darting in every direction at my looming shadow.  Stealth and keeping a low profile would be needed today for sure.

I decided to start at this pool and work my way up from here.

As soon as my fly hit the water It was gone!  Good way to start things out.

I continued to work my way upstream from here taking fish from every pool varying in size from 4-7 inches.

Just as I was coming upon a large rock in the middle of the stream to hide behind to cast I saw this on the rock!  I was like what the heck, did someone lose their pet millipede!!!  I have never seen one this large ever before.

As much as I wanted to touch this thing I was kinda nervous I'd end up paralyzed stream side and become bear bait so for once I stayed my hand and kept moving upstream.

I then came upon this nice little pool and as soon my fly got to the rock I saw a orange flash under the water and the most beautiful fish I have caught this year came to hand.

Moving on up!

Looking back down...

Oh man by this time I did NOT want to leave but that thing called the real world came calling so I left this most special place wearing big smiles all the way home :)

The October Caddis

October in New England is special.   I mean everyplace has october, but as Patricia Watson says not everyplace has our october.   The leaves seem to come alive, a riot of colors brought on by a looming change of season.   How nice it must be, to be at your very best at the very end of things.   What a joyous time to be on the water with what little time we have left, fish now or forever hold your peace my friends.  Winter is coming.....

The other day on my way out the door I was greeted by another lover of the month October.  The October Caddis.  I often seen them fluttering about this time of year near my house.

A very large and vibrant fellow he is, I think a size 14 bushy dry will do.

The day I chose to end my season was a nice one, sunny and in the mid 70's.   I walked among the forest up into the hills eating an apple picked the day before.   Taking my time, no rush, enjoying the feel of the sun on my back.....glorious.   Hopefully the fish would feel the same.   The leaves were not quite at peak but they are close, a peek up into the canopy of the forest reveals much.  Another week or so till the apex of color arrives.

Before long I hear the song, my favorite tune.  Its pull is irresistible, the siren of the small stream calls, can you hear it?

On the second drift I am fortunate, a mighty splash erupts around my caddis, my offering is deemed acceptable.

As I step into the water to release the fish, I feel the shock on my now wet feet.  Its cold, it feels good.

This indeed is a very good start to things, what would follow would turn out to be one of my very best trips of the year.

Pool after pool I am greeted by natures best.

Something in the deep catches my eye.  I can't help but reach, is this all part of the sirens trap?  To lull me deeper?

I succumb, the prize is mine.

The light is dimming, this season is coming to an end.  On my walk out in the twilight I can hear the siren still calling.  I resist...for now.  The next time you find yourself in the wild, take a moment, slow down and listen.   If your lucky enough you'll hear it......every moving body of water sings a unique song, here amongst the hills where the cold water flows it is sweet and it is LOUD.

On the water, dawn till dusk

Its 6:30 in the morning, the air is a cool 55 degrees and a light drizzle is falling.  The forecast called for morning showers with sun in the afternoon, hopefully the second half will come true.   I'm on the road with jfflyfisher on the way up north to a couple new locations.  He has received a tip from a biologist that both locations contained wild browns, rainbows, and brookies.   Spirits were high, much to talk about on our long trip north.  Although this was our first time meeting up kindred spirits often mesh well and the ride was made to seem much shorter.


 After traveling through the north country for a bit we began to near the first site.  The point at which it crossed the road looked good, but the signs posted all the about the wood in the surrounding area did not.  These were not your normal posted signs but much more serious signs that promised to make your good day go very sour quickly.....oh well....time to move on the second location.


 Fortunately the second site held no such signs that promised awful things.  The water looked pretty good, time to get rigged up and on the water.  


 Soon after we were both trudging up the stream.  I had my standard dry/dropper rig on and proceeded to catch nothing.   After a bit jfflyfisher passed me and informed me he had picked up a few small fish already and one decent one out from under a large fallen tree on a small purple bugger.   I wasn't about to give up on my favorite combo yet so I trudged on.   I soon came upon a nice looking pool with a large root ball located against the far side that looked very fishy.  On my first cast something attempted to hit the dropper right of the bat, on the second he hit it again after a few moments, on the third attempt the dry was dragged back a few inches as he snagged the nymph again but again no hookup.


 By now jfflyfisher was waiting patiently behind me noticing I was on to something.  I motioned for him to come up and take my place before I put the fish down for good.  After a few cast his 2wt came alive in his hand and the battle was on!  It looked to be quite a decent fish.

 And it was, a quick shot and off he went, a true small stream trophy.

 


 This would end up being the best part about this place, after a lot more walking upstream all that was encountered was a lot of wheeler tracks in the sand and more beer cans than I have seen in a long time.   A few more small brookies came to hand and we took some time to flip some rocks looking for bugs.  We found a lot of large golden stoneflies after searching under less than half a dozen rocks.  We continued upstream for awhile longer hoping things would improve but the stream appeared to be much more well traveled than thought and wormed out.


 After this we headed back the truck and ate some lunch and to discuss where to head for the rest of the afternoon.  It was decided to hit another stream back farther south on the way home, a favorite of mine and one he had never fished.  


 After getting turned around once on the way there we finally arrived and rigged up again.  I got out my 3wt lamiglas and proceeded to bend the tip down to touch the butt of the rod.  I think jfflyfisher's eye's bugged out a little at that, its a fun little rod for sure.  


 It was time to do some rock hopping upstream.

Soon after we were into trout, lots of them. We were blessed with a few that were fully dressed up for fall that were kind enough to stay still for a few photo's.  

I have no tail...

 We continued upstream till about dark.  As I was sitting on a rock untangling yet another mess jfflyfisher appeared and informed me that a bear had just crossed in front of him.  That was our hint to head on out.  A short time later we were breaking down the gear at the truck in the dark and headed out to get some food.   Although we caught no wild browns or bows it was a good long day on the water enjoyed with fellow wild trout nut, doesn't get much better than that.

VIntage reel shakedown run

After getting my new to me vintage reel up and working again I just had to take it out for a little shakedown run.  I paired it up with my little 6'2" 3wt boo last night and it balanced quite nicely.  This afternoon I took a little run up into the mountains but was turned away from my intended location because of a huge cell of thunder boomers.  So back across the pass I came(where it was still bright and sunny) and decided to hit up another small stream thats been on my "yet to fish" list awhile.

After a short walk thru the woods I followed my ear to the river.  I came out just below this pool.

No fish here at this pool, but I will be coming back this weekend with my 5 year old for some swimming fun.

Up over the pool and around the bend.  Oh…….this looks inviting…..

Bingo!

Not long after another large pool, and no fish.  There is no structure in these massive pools so I wasn't really surprised at that.

All the places in between where good for fish though.

All the while I could hear massive thunder boomers echoing off the mountain sides, it was only a matter of time.  I also encountered a lot of bear scat so shortly after I was on my way out.  A few quick hours was good enough.  As soon as I got back to the truck it started to rain, then it was pouring buckets 10 minutes after that.

Up there things can turn around fast, down in the valley it was nice and sunny and 20 degrees warmer.

Also encountered an indicator of whats to come soon enough.