Yes, I've heard all of the same explanations as you regarding the reasons for our milder than usual winter weather and I am still left scratching my head. I would not have imagined a New England winter that would find numerous days where I could be waist deep in water wearing a fleece jacket, baseball hat and cut-off gloves. Whatever the reason, I'll take as much more of this as Ol' Man Winter will provide.
Lots of insanity, as of late, led me to spend 90 minutes swinging the stick. After 20 minutes and slowly numbing toes, my first strike led to a torpedo shaped brown that had other ideas than winding up in my net.
Shortly thereafter, another drift produced a brown that jumped twice and took more line than most lately.
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| Red elastomer behind the other eye on this guy |
Sadly, the bottom of mouth, on the opposite side, was really beaten up by something. I felt bad after having landed this fish as it appeared to have been caught sometime recently and the fish was mangled when someone tried to remove their hook. One more reason to crimp those barbs...
Yet, one more day where no one was to be seen on the river other than the immediate area of Church Pool. Which leads me to ask, is Church Pool that amazing that 10 guys can stand within 20 feet of one another? I've seen this phenomenon on plenty of occasions and have always wondered how well this area produces. I drove from Church to Pipeline and with the exception of the folks at Church, I saw no one else. Why bypass open areas for crowds? Maybe it's me? Maybe I still have a lot to learn.
I'm like you. I rather fish in open areas too. I'm out fishing because it's fun not to fight over the supposedly best producing places. It's nice to be out there in the middle of nowhere fly fishing and if I catch something it's like the icing on the cake.
ReplyDeleteHave fun playing beautiful brown trout,
M.O.
Agreed...always more fun fighting fish!
DeleteSteve
Nice outing.
ReplyDeleteI can't understand it. It's as if that's the only part of the river that has fish. I laugh every time I cross that bridge.
Thanks Alan...at this point, grateful for every snow free day.
DeleteNot all, but many of the anglers beating the water to a froth or patiently waiting for a rise in Church Pool are of the 'dry fly or bust' school of thought. All the more room for you and I...
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely, I don't mind bush-whacking to find some quiet and, most likely, less pressured water - the solitude is almost as good as landing some fish!
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