Tuesday, February 28, 2017

"Hemlock Brook"

Last week I ventured out to a new stream. The day was predicted to be very warm and with the snow melt I guessed the waters would be cold and off color, "wrong". They were indeed cold but the clarity was unreal. As I moved along the stream I saw places that just screamed brookies, but knowing full well of last summer and fall's hot and dry conditions I really did not know what I would find in the stream. I found a nice feeder stream and wanted to check that out as well but time was limited and I chose to fish the main brook and visit the little feeder next time.



Water rushing into a beautiful pool, what will it hold?


Well a dry fly fished along a seam told me what it held.


Why the stream in named "Hemlock Brook" some areas are so thick with them, they are old growth and appear to be doing fine.


Some of the deeper water gave up several brookies that viciously slammed a streamer. Can you identify the streamer?


The further up stream I worked the more fish I saw, but not necessarily caught.


Wild and strong....


That was my first visit here. I did go back yesterday to fish it again and I'll tell you about it in my next post.











31 comments:

  1. Lovely stream and even more lovely fish.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. William Shuck
      Thanks
      Bill both were outstanding that day.

      Delete
  2. Looks like you had an awesome outing! That certainly appears to be a beautiful new stream!! Congrats!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. TROUT1
      Thanks
      Pete it was a crap shoot attempting to fish new waters after last summer, but this one turned out to be a winner.

      Delete
  3. Excellent Blog again Alan......
    I love fishing new waters, the decision of what flies to try, the anticipation of what my take on each cast, the uncertainty of what is around the next bend and the elation when it all works out and you hook up is intoxicating. I got chance last season to fish a few new waters with mixed results - one excellent outing to a stream in Scotland, one ok visit to a river in the English 'Lake District' followed by disastrous trip to a hill lake (or Tarn), also in the Lake District (and the highest trout fishery in England!).
    Alistair

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous
      Thanks
      Alistair I feel comfortable fishing familiar waters, almost knowing where to place that fly and expecting a trout will respond. But I also like the feeling when I'm on new waters. The changing of flies and the anticipation of maybe a big trout taking. Sometimes it work out and sometimes it's a failure...but it's all pure enjoyment, as you well know.

      Delete
  4. Alan - looks like you found another beautiful stream with brook trout! I think you have a six sense about these things!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mark Wittman
      Thanks
      Mark this one was easy in the fact that I fished the stream at a lower point. It was just getting up and checking it out. PS that stream was almost dry last summer, nice rebound.

      Delete
  5. Gorgeous water there Alan! And the fish are pretty darn nice looking too. :)

    That's an Edson streamer correct? I feel like you posted the name recently and I dont remember it!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hibernation
      Thanks
      Will you have the right fly tyer but the fly is Old Family Recipe.

      Delete
  6. Always a good tour. The countryside is just beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mark Kautz
      Thanks
      Mark and the terrain was easy on my legs.

      Delete
  7. Fantastic report and photos, great looking honey hole.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh ..... also just wanted to say, thanks for the effort it takes to post these blogs .... they're great.

      Delete
    2. Doug Korn, Fly Tyer
      Thanks
      Doug it was a good trip, and so was the second one there.

      I appreciate your comment on the blog posts.

      Delete
  8. stunning fish as always Alan, well done mate

    ReplyDelete
  9. Beautiful place....I be green with envy....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Armando Milosevic
      Thanks
      Armando I also become envious every time out.

      Delete
  10. The variation in color of those fish is impressive, and the vividness of those spots... I might have to fish this new stream some time ;)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. RM Lytle
      Thanks
      Rowan I caught one brookie in that feeder stream that looked to be an albino, it was super light in color.
      Now I must check a few of my Mass. streams.

      Delete
  11. Also is the fly a Dragon..........Ethan's Dragon, maybe?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Doug Korn,Fly Tyer
      Thanks
      Doug it's Bill Edson's "Old Family Recipe"

      Delete
  12. Sounds and looks like another beautiful day on the water for this time of year. Your part of the country just amazes me with its number of small streams and epic solitude. I looked at the streamer pattern for identification, but, I am not sure if it one of the old time streamer patterns or not.....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mel-Fly Tyin Times
      Thanks
      Mel for a small state we are blessed with many small streams, and many of those hold wild trout.

      "Old Family Recipe"

      Delete
  13. Fantastic trout, sweet coloring! Those pics show one nice stream with what look like some mini-plunge pools...... great Brookie territory, and you are tuned into them. Thanks for the pics/story..

    Jim M

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous
      Thanks
      Jim those plunge pools seem to give up a nice surprise now and then. I never pass up one.

      Delete
  14. Simply beautiful, Alan. I am glad to see the brook trout still making their way after the tough conditions the last two years. Regards,Sam

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Parachute Adams
      Thanks
      Sam it appears they are doing OK in this stream. We fished 4 streams yesterday that did not fare very well.

      Delete
  15. Beautiful location and those fish can't be beat. Is the fly a Bloody Butcher?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Howard Levett
      Thanks
      Howard now there's an old pattern that is not mentioned much in these days. I have to look that up and see if I can tie it.

      The fly posted here is the "Old Family Recipe"

      Delete