Early Winter Brookies

Earlier this winter, I got to spend the day with my dad, and decided to take him to a nearby stream which has been enhanced with structure for brook trout over the past few years. Ended up having a great day and caught close to 15 fish. No monsters, but plenty of action. It was a beautiful stream and I will definitely be heading back soon.The fish were aggressive and plentiful, and I missed quite a few more than I caught.

Yellow Creek

Flashback to Fall in the Fly Fishing only section of Yellow Creek. This area contains a plentiful population of wild trout, and in fact just recently was added to the class A reproduction list. The stream also received stocked trout at the time I fished it.

It was a warm day among a could week, and we got there to fish after the rain stopped around noon. Sadly, the parking lot was nearly full when we got there. We got on the water and started fishing, but it seemed like a slow day. I began fishing sections of stream that I thought would hold fish, but wouldn't have been pressured by much by the other fishermen. I was rewarded with two nice brown trout.  

Earlier in the year, I had fished this same spot, and had almost no luck all day until near the end of the C&R section, where I was able to catch two nice sized rainbow trout that put up a good fight. This stream certainly produces and should get even better with time as the C&R and Class A regulations take hold.

Hunting Wild Browns

This past fall, I set out on a trip to fish a smaller wilderness headwater section of a specific stream which I knew held both large browns and brook trout. I was target large brown trout on this trip, and fishing mostly larger wooly buggers as streamers. 

It was a warm, early winter day, which allowed me to dress lighter which in return allowed me to move slowly, more quietly, and approach the stream sections holding larger wild trout with ease. 

I would perform a full half circle, skirting the tail of the pool, coming up about midway, in a crouch, and then a crawl. I shot the fly into the pool bow and arrow style from behind the cover of a tree, and within moments of hitting the water, a large brown trout took my fly and swam back towards his lie. I quickly set the hook and the startled fish shot off down streamer, dragging out my spool of fly line nearly to the backing. I found him for several minutes until I finally got a look at him, and was able to land him near the bank. This trout was both the largest wild brown and most interestingly colored brown I have caught. Not huge by many standards, but a real monster for this small stream. 

I shot a few pictures, then let him out into the current for a few moments, and then released him for another day.

I stopped at a headwater stream on the way out that I had wanted to explore and fish for sometime, and on the first cast had a nice brookie hit, but lost him. Casting in again, he attacked my fly and I was able to land him this time around. With that I headed home for the day, feeling successful. 

Little Juniata, Big Browns

This weekend, a friend and I took off to try out the Class A section of the Little Juniata River, and see if we could get after some nicer browns. 

We parked in about mid way on the Class A section, and fished up stream. It was a cold day, and the fish were slow. The view of the stream and mountain scenery were beautiful however. I was able to product a beautiful brown trout around noon after a few hours of fishing.

I later produced another strike but was unable to set the hook. The rest of the day went fairly slow. I will definitely be back to fish the Little J again. 

Small Freestoner in the Fall

To start off this blog, I will be writing about some of the streams I have fished in the past. I will also be blogging in real time as well. 

Autumn 2014

I got a free afternoon during my hectic weekday schedule of classes and work, and decided to head out to explore a Class A trout stream I had located. I packed up my gear and hopped in my jeep. Half of the fun of fishing is the excitement of exploring a new place, and all the surprises that come along with that. From the drive to the stream head to the hike in and along the stream, everything is fresh, new, and beautiful. 

Before I knew it, I was at my destination, and began the walk in. I scouted a few sections of the stream out and tried a few holes. I didn't have much action until I made my way further upstream, where this small freestoner really came to life. 

Large rock structures and small water flow formed the many pools along the path of the stream. Wary Brook trout occupied these waters, and would spook at the slightest movement or shadow. I had to approach the stream sections with caution, slowing my movements far below the norm. A quick flick of my fly rod placed a small wet fly into the pool, and before I knew it, an aggressive brookie was tearing off with my fly. I set the hook, and as often times happens, the fly flew back towards me. I repeat this process, as the same fish will often take the fly over and over again, as long as it is not spooked. This time I hook him. I bring the trout in, and wet my hands before handling and releasing the trout. The vibrant colors of the brook trout are astounding, and no one fish looks like same. Much like a human finger print, the pattern of a brook trout is so similar yet so different between each fish. This stream proves to be healthy and teaming with a solid population of native brook trout. I will return to this stream later in the year and catch 17 trout in an afternoon on my most productive day.