Lone Wulff
12-22-2011, 10:10 PM
I hiked into one of my favorite wild trout streams a day or two ago. The weather couldn’t have been better. It was 39 degrees at the trailhead at 9:00am, but the sun was shining and the wind was nonexistent making it feel much warmer. Only a couple of long sleeve shirts were all that were necessary.
The fishing wasn’t bad overall. I ended up with a dozen+1 and most came on the dry. Early on I used a brown para-variant, but after switching to an olive bodied elk hair caddis the takes became more frequent. In hind sight I should have made the switch sooner.
Although the fish weren’t large, they were colorful. The rainbows were vibrant while the browns sported their distinctively worn out, post spawn attire.
http://i665.photobucket.com/albums/vv19/kdurrett_photos/12-20-201113010.jpg
http://i665.photobucket.com/albums/vv19/kdurrett_photos/12-20-201113008.jpg
http://i665.photobucket.com/albums/vv19/kdurrett_photos/12-20-201113009.jpg
I have fished this stretch of water 25 or 30 times over the past few years but have only caught rainbows and browns. I had heard that there were brookies further up in the drainage, but had never caught any through here. Today, I caught my first one. It was 12 or 13 inches long. Based on its size, pale coloration, and condition of its tail, I assumed it was an invasive stocker pursuing survival – not a wild fish. This area is about five miles above Delayed Harvest water (a form of stocked water – catch and release during the colder months but catch and keep during the warmer months). Below that is Hatchery Supported water.
http://i665.photobucket.com/albums/vv19/kdurrett_photos/12-20-201113005.jpg
A mile further upstream I caught a second one. It was only about 7 inches long, but just as pale as the first. It surprises me that the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission stocks such small fish in Delayed Harvest or Hatchery Supported waters.
http://i665.photobucket.com/albums/vv19/kdurrett_photos/12-20-201113012.jpg
Either way, it was a great day to be out there. Merry Christmas everybody.
http://i665.photobucket.com/albums/vv19/kdurrett_photos/12-20-201113011.jpg
http://i665.photobucket.com/albums/vv19/kdurrett_photos/12-20-201113015.jpg
The fishing wasn’t bad overall. I ended up with a dozen+1 and most came on the dry. Early on I used a brown para-variant, but after switching to an olive bodied elk hair caddis the takes became more frequent. In hind sight I should have made the switch sooner.
Although the fish weren’t large, they were colorful. The rainbows were vibrant while the browns sported their distinctively worn out, post spawn attire.
http://i665.photobucket.com/albums/vv19/kdurrett_photos/12-20-201113010.jpg
http://i665.photobucket.com/albums/vv19/kdurrett_photos/12-20-201113008.jpg
http://i665.photobucket.com/albums/vv19/kdurrett_photos/12-20-201113009.jpg
I have fished this stretch of water 25 or 30 times over the past few years but have only caught rainbows and browns. I had heard that there were brookies further up in the drainage, but had never caught any through here. Today, I caught my first one. It was 12 or 13 inches long. Based on its size, pale coloration, and condition of its tail, I assumed it was an invasive stocker pursuing survival – not a wild fish. This area is about five miles above Delayed Harvest water (a form of stocked water – catch and release during the colder months but catch and keep during the warmer months). Below that is Hatchery Supported water.
http://i665.photobucket.com/albums/vv19/kdurrett_photos/12-20-201113005.jpg
A mile further upstream I caught a second one. It was only about 7 inches long, but just as pale as the first. It surprises me that the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission stocks such small fish in Delayed Harvest or Hatchery Supported waters.
http://i665.photobucket.com/albums/vv19/kdurrett_photos/12-20-201113012.jpg
Either way, it was a great day to be out there. Merry Christmas everybody.
http://i665.photobucket.com/albums/vv19/kdurrett_photos/12-20-201113011.jpg
http://i665.photobucket.com/albums/vv19/kdurrett_photos/12-20-201113015.jpg