I haven’t had a chance to get out on my own lately, so yesterday seemd like a good day until I showed up at the stream and the rain started to pour (not a good day to leave the rain coat at home!). Luckily, I fished a tributary to the Root that was heavily canopied in a valley, so the winds that came with the rains were not an issue.
As I walked down the field road to access the stream, I saw a doe bolt and her fawn laid down to conceal itself inthe filed grass. I got my camera ready and walked up to the newborn, took my picture, and kept walking. It’s encounters like this with nature that make trout fishing in general such a great sport.
I struggled a bit early on to figure out what was going on. There were actually TOO many bugs around if that makes sense. I had BWO’s, March Browns, Light Hendricksons, and a plethora of cream midges. Interestingly, there were few risers, and the water clarity changed literally before my eyes. When it rained hard, it got off colored, but when the sun popped through, the stream was very clear. I can’t say one fly was the ticket as I caught fish on about a half dozen different pattersns.
I made my way to the Root itself before I headed for home and decided that with the fast water and current, I’d be best suited to chuck streamers. I got a smallmouth right off the bat holding well below the riffle, and then nailed a nice 17″ fish that was stuck right at the head of the current flows.
A few casts later, I got a healthy 15 incher that actually lept out of the water to pick up my fly (very cool stuff).
It was a good day to be out even if the catch numbers weren’t real high, and I got drenched with the rain.
Take care all,
D.A.
Nice post and pictures Dave.
Our FFF chapter has an outing on the North Branch of the Pike River next Sunday. I’m FINALLY not working (Walleye Guiding) that day… and will get the 4 wt out and have some fun in the waders.
I’ll hopefully post my first FF report!
My neck of the woods still has some great Brook Trout…Here’s one that was later released. I didn’t have the heart to put her on the wall. She took a Muddler fished dry like a grasshopper.
Thanks for the report Dave. Nice fish. The pics sure show how beautiful nature is.
Thanks, Bill
As I was sitting in the sun room working on a computer set up for fishing maps, I looked up just in time to see a doe get hit by a car. Uf Da. Guy and car were ok, but I checked the doe and she was a goner and you could tell she had fawns. We saw two of them right near there that evening and today I almost ran one over hiding in the tall grass not a foot over as I mowed. The darn thing was so small it squeezed through one of the holes in the woven cattle fence we have up.
WarrenMN
Hey Tom,
Here’s one I got yesterday from southeast Minnesota. I love brookies – may have to take a trip someday to tie into some pigs like the one that you posted.
Take care,
D.A.
Beautiful Brookie Dave! I’m going to try to get out later today…hope to get a picture fish or two. Come on up sometime!