Thanksgiving brookies

I couldn't let Thanksgiving go by without a quick fishing trip.  I caught these three fish in the pool at the bridge, as well as one more downstream.  All rose for a small Ausable Bomber.  It's a very small stream. difficult to fish in some sections, but holds a number of beautiful wild brookies.

I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving, and with any luck gets to see some beautiful fish.

You never know

As Alan discussed on Small Stream Reflections, yesterday we went exploring at a stream that he had become aware of.  Unbeknownst to him, I had already visited it last year and found it lacking in trout activity.  In spite of this, we worked a good looking stretch that runs right next to a highway.  Expecting nothing, I was stunned to catch two brookies on a Picket Pin in one of the pools.  One of the fish, pictured below, was actually surprising large and in great shape.  It goes to show, you just never know (and I guess never conclude something is devoid of fish until you're absolutely certain).

Rain please

Our small streams are quite low and in need of fluid replenishment.  Although rain is in the forecast today, I'll believe it when I see it.  This small brook has some beautiful wild brookies in residence.  I got a number of strikes, but only the one pictured below was hooked, falling for a Picket Pin.

 

Fall fish

I was recently reminded by BRK TRT that an upstream stretch of a stream that we fish had become open to the public due to its presence in some land trust property.  Alan had fished the stretch and caught some very nice wild brookies.  A few weeks ago he and I went there and again caught some of its beautiful residents.  However, the water was very low and it seemed that mostly the smaller residents were willing to show themselves (my observation).  I returned yesterday, after a day of rain, and found that the water level had risen and the stream was in much better shape.  Using wet flies I was able to fool a few of the seemingly standard size small fish, but with a Picket Pin I was able to catch the beautiful brookie below (second picture).  I hope that this stream has many more residents this size (or even bigger).  Time will tell.