Brookies Report

[The Old Man]

First off, let it be known that I am a horriffic trout fisherman. I'm good with black bass, fair to middlin' at saltwater, but I just plain suck at trout fishing. No patience, I suppose, too steep a learning curve for my liking. But they live in pretty places, and I like the challenge once in a while, so I gave it a shot today.

Fished the upper part of Big Hunting Creek above the lake/falls area. Never saw any surface activity, although I saw a very sparse hatch in the afternoon. I hooked 7 brookies on some sort of buggy bead-head pheasant bunny hare's stimulator coachman nymph thing....over the course of about 4 hours today. All upstream dead-drift nymphing in tiny pools, lots of overhanging branches.

Only got one of those 7 fish to my hand, a pretty little 8.5 inch jewel. All the rest I was slow on the hook-set or maybe too aggressive, I dunno, but they all shook off. So for me, to hook 7 trout, was a helluva good day, and I was really happy. Small streams, tiny flies, light rod (#3), pretty water, very nice. [smile]

Those dang trout though...the biggest fish I saw all day (maybe 10") gave me a slashing splashy rise at my FREAKIN' STRIKE INDICATOR. Go figure...

[djones]

Sounds good to me too, Doug. I haven't been up to that section for a long time, but i remember it as quite bushy. Even this early in the year, you probably did a fair amount of roll casting. Maybe this positive experience will inspire you to more trout fishing.

[chesapeakeblend]

nice!! wish i was out there today. you definitely cannot beat hiking around where they live. no fish and a hike is a good day to me. 7 strikes and a good hike - doesn't get much better!

[Tailing Loop]

Congrats Doug!! All said that sounds like a good day. Beats the heck out the fishing I did today[wink]

[Flying Fish]

Sounds like fun, Doug. Next time, try a #16 Adams even if you're not seeing any surface activity; you might--probably will--be pleasantly surprised.

FF

[OneMoreCast]

I use bio strike indicators some of the time. I've had fish at bhc leave teeth marks in the stuff.
7 takes is a good day up there. Look at it this way. If you were fishing that little pocket water and getting takes....you already won the war. You know how to stalk a spooky fish in a small stream.

edit...you might have seen a little more insect life below Camp Peniel Bridge...dunno if you made it down that way.

[noke41]

Sounds like a great day. I am verrryy jealous!!! Those brookies are jewels and are a ball to catch. 7 hook ups is a great day by me!!
Jamie

[DF]

Nice going Doug....and on OMC's secret pattern, too !
BTW - any trout is a victory.
DF

[djamieson]

Nice work, Doug. Brookies are a great way to go when things are blown out. And I agree 100% with FF. Chuck an Adams parachute in those small streams even when nothing seems to be going on--they'll come up for it, and it's a helluva lot more fun than throwing nymphs at tiny fish.
Just the thought makes me wanna get out there this weekend.