Indulging

It was one of those days you just want to indulge yourself.  Just wanted to catch some trout so I decided to try one of my favorite creek because I know the creek never failed me before.  Once I arrived at the creek, routinely rigged my rod and started to fish.  The first 1/4 miles or so, I couldn't connect with any trout which is highly unusual. I see them hugging the bottom but no rise.  "Did they get smarter?"  while I was scratching my head, I see a huge shadow move across the creek.  When I looked up I see a huge vulture trying to perch on a tree branch with it's wing flapping.

 Immediately, I see three additional vultures moving tree to tree.  They were all looking right at me as though they were waiting for me to collapse so they can finish me off.  Never seen these birds in this neck of the woods.

 I'm not sure if they are capable of snatching trouts out of the water but the way they were moving around from branch to branch, I figure it will be spooky enough for trout to not feed so I hiked on hoping those massive flying turkey looking bastards will remain where they are.

 As soon as I felt as though there were enough distance from those birds, the creek started to yield some trout for me.

Came very personal with this rattlesnake as I almost stepped on it.  The distinct rattle with aggressive coiling posture made me leave the spot in a hurry.

It was a one of those days I indulged myself.

Got my fix

It feels like eternity since I've fished last.  Not only we had the heat wave recently but with kayak building and playing a role of board member of a deteriorating complex made it difficult to be out and doing what I enjoy most.  Today, I put aside everything and when out to a stream which was on the "to visit" list.

This stream is one of those streams you will drive by without much thought unless you like fishing small streams and did your due diligence to look for it.

The recent rain storm added decent water flow to the stream and the temperature felt cold enough for me to hassle the natives.

The stream contained many willing brookies and browns with incredible colors and patterns.

The ridge line shows how steep the terrain was...

The most of trouts caught were small but made up for it with their strength.  Feisty bastards...

So glad that I went out today as not only I had my fix but discovered a beautiful stream to enjoy years to come.

Good things come in package

Motivated by Long's last trip (click here to view), I pulled out my map collections and continue on exploring lesser known streams in the Catskills.  Wasn't sure if the recent storm would have any effect on the fishing condition so I've selected three streams (all within 15 miles radius) with steep terrain hoping such geographic condition will drain the water faster.

After two hours of driving with anticipation, I found a patch of grassed parcel along the gravel road, barely big enough to park my car.

Off the bat, I was feeling it. The stream seemed so fishy, well shaded and moving fast... Without any thoughts, I tied an ausable bomber to my 6' 1wt rod and hurried into the stream.  First cast and with a blink of an eye, a brookie greeted my awkward drifting bomber with an explosive strike.

It seemed like every pools or runs contained eager and hungry brookies.

The big tail of this fish gave my 1wt rod the workout

The bomber took so much abuse, it had to retire after countless attacks.

The eager trouts made me stop fishing this stream a lot shorter than I've planned. For them to be so easy simply took the  whole challenging aspect of fly fishing out of the equation. I've never thought that the stupid fishing can be boring... But wasn't complaining.  Figure I will visit my eager friends when I need my confidence boosted one day...

After a short ride, I've arrived to my next destination.  A tiny creek feeding another tiny creek.  It's entrance is a 10' road bridge with covered with the vegetation. If it wasn't planned, I would probably pass these types of water without thinking much of it.

The grade was very steep and contained many small waterfalls which filled with incredibly clear water.  I couldn't believe how beautiful the stream was and hoping there will be trout in it to complete the picture.  Went passed many waterfalls and runs without any takes.  Started to think this stream is one of many misses I've had, then I saw a spooked trout darting away in a distance I didn't think that the fish can see me.

The brookies in this stream were completely opposite of their neighboring brookies from the previous stream.  They required stealth approach, dead drift,  and patience which made it a lot more challenging.  After working the stream with every knowledge I've obtained to fish clear water trout, a beautiful brookie took my fly with a sip, not explosive strike.  It's funny how a same specie of fish will act completely different based on their surroundings.

I only caught only one other brookie after the first one but this stream provided me with another skill set to add to my experience. I wanted to press on upstream but I wanted to stick to the plan and finish off the day with the third stream which was located only a few miles. Definitely will have to come back to this stream to fully appreciate what it has to offer.

When I arrived to my car, I've opened my truck's hatch and unloaded all my gears  and closed the hatch only to realize that I locked myself out.  Dumass!!!  I couldn't make it to the third stream as planned but I couldn't stop smiling during my noisy ride back to my house.

New fishing companion

Meeting someone who is passionate about this sport is common.  However, meeting someone who is passionate about the sport and shares same values as you can be very exciting.  That is exactly how I felt at the end of the fishing trip with Long, who appreciates simpler things in life, such as renting a pickup truck and appreciates it's functionality with excitement.

After a few attempts to get together, we were finally able to get acquainted on a setting we both passionate about. A small stream.

We couldn't have asked for a better day to fish. The hemlocks provided shades to keep us cool and help trouts feel secured... for us to take advantage of...

I really enjoyed fishing with Long as I had a chance to see how others fish the small stream.  Long's cast was a pleasure and educational for me to observe as not only his casts were accurate but very well thought out with the condition of each and every pool we've encountered.

As we made our way up the stream, we've talked about many things and discovered that we have many things in common.  Particularly, the strong yearning to make our wives to be our life long fishing partner. 

This stream provide ample opportunity for an angler to achieve the grand slam of wild trout fishing which both of us was able achieve on this day.

Almost every trouts we've caught had a bulging stomach.  Maybe they developed a taste for the cicadas.

I truly enjoyed fishing with Long as it provided me with the time to appreciate the whole experience a bit more with slower pace rather than moving from pool to pool which I tend to do when I'm fishing alone. Thanks for the great experience and hope to see you soon on a stream somewhere.