After the recent rain

I had the opportunity to visit two streams this past weekend, hoping that the recent rain had both significantly raised the water levels and perked up their residents.  While neither proved to be the case, I was at least able to catch a number of nice little brookies.  The water temperature of both streams was low enough that I did not feel like I would harm the fish if I handled them with care (67 and 60 degrees F).  At both streams I was able to entice the fish to take flies on the surface (Ausable Bombers, parachute hopper, and Henryville Special), although at the second stream the majority of hits were from very small fish.  While my fishing partner, Alan, seems to have the knack for periodically catching one of our favorite brook's low abundance residents (i.e. wild brown and tiger trout), just after he did it yet again I was shocked to hook and land a nice wild brown trout myself.  All in all it was a nice visit to what he affectionately calls brook trout forest.

August sights

I went to a favorite brook today with Allen (BRK TRT) in search of wild brookies.  Before proceeding up the stream we checked the water temperature and, while it wasn't as cool as we'd like, it was not unreasonable (67 deg F).  The water level was still low, unaffected by the recent rain.  I am sure that the majority of streams in CT are in need of a substantial influx of cool water.  Like the rest of the country, we need rain.  That said, both of us had numerous strikes by the streams smaller residents.  Elk hair caddis, Bombers, Usuals and CDC-emergers all stimulated the little guys to rise to the surface and strike, invariably without getting hooked.  On a few occasions I was able to successfully hook and land one of the stream's gorgeous fish, as you can see below.  Sadly, I think it is time to allow the summer to pass, returning in the fall when the temperatures (air and water) have dropped and it is safer to fish for the brook's magnificent residents.