Winter break

Since the weather was warm today, I decided to forgo a full day of part-time work and go to a stream that I had walked recently in a relatively nearby state forest to see if any brookies happened to call it home.  Much of the ice that I had previously seen covering the stream had melted and I was able to drift a Picket Pin downstream and slowly retrieve it.  I carefully approached one section and noticed a fish holding upstream of a rock at the tail of the pool.  Three times the crazy fish struck at the Picket Pin, on the third strike successfully hooking itself so that it could be retrieved and photographed.  Although somewhat skinny, it was a beautiful brookie (first picture below).   Encouraged, I continued downstream and ended up catching one more and provoking two more strikes.  The stream had a good number of pockets and undercut banks for fish to lie in wait and I suspect it will be interesting to fish in the spring when all of it's residents come to life.