Memories Made Yesterday

Yesterday Ian and I did some fishing but this trip wasn't about the numbers of fish caught, it was about the journey.  It was about fishing and exploring a new trout stream, rocking the Eagle Claw Featherlight for those wild browns, smoking a fine cigar, and sharing the day with a good friend.

Ian and I had decided last week to go out again this week.  He was short on time so we couldn't stay out all day.  We decided to fish earlier rather than later.  I had Ian arrive at my house at 0900.  I know, I know.  Some of you out there are like what 0900?  That is early?  Yes dear readers it is for me.  I work nights and usually go to bed around 0400 or 0500 so getting up and going fishing at 0900 is early.  I am just not a morning guy.  It was a tough decision regarding where to go.  It had rained the previous day, shocker I know.  With the rain, the smallie fishing was blown out so we turned to trout.  I figured we could hit Beaver Creek first thing and then swing back for some brookies in the late afternoon when it was supposed to be in the 90s.  Ian agreed and we headed out.

I have never fished this stream before.  I know from my two recent trips to the fly shop there that it has a healthy population of wild browns.  It also is getting some rainbows as well.  There are 16 miles to this stream but we were only interested in fishing the fly fishing only section.  We wanted a crack at some of those browns.  Wild browns.  Here in Maryland?  I never would have guessed.  Beaver Creek is a limestone spring creek.  Who would have thought it.  Maybe I am showing my warm water side here by not even knowing this little gem was 25 minutes from my house.  Think of all those browns I could have been catching all those years.

As a side note, if you are in the area, check out the Beaver Creek Fly Shop.  It is well stocked with all kinds of goodies, the owner is friendly and knowledgeable, and truth be told I could spend all day in there.  I love it.  I wish I lived closer.  Well maybe not as I would spend all my money in there.  I know the owner loves seeing me since I have dropped a small fortune in there recently.  Anyways, check it out.  It is a great shop!  Maybe I can get a job there.

So we geared up after hitting the shop for some hoppers and leeches and moved down stream.  We had planned to walk down stream and fish up stream.  It appeared as those it was going to be some tight quarters.  We were trying to stay out of the water as much as possible.  As you can see it is beautiful water but really tight quarters.  I could only imagine how many flies we would lose to trees, bushes, fencing, etc.

While walking down stream we came to a beautiful hole.  I just couldn't resist.  I needed to give it a whirl.  We could see all the browns stacked up on the bottom of the stream just holding there and they wanted nothing to do with the hoppers, ants, leeches and cress bugs we were throwing.  I switched to a psycho nymph and still no interest.  Here I am fishing the hole.  Many thanks to my camera man Ian.

One brown was eating about 4 feet from where I was sitting.  How rude.  The ultimate screw you right?  I chucked the fly over there and he nailed it.  Perfect.  I stream bred brown on a Eagle Claw Featherlight.  A first for me.  I have caught one brown on the rod before but never a wild trout like that one.  In fact I am not sure if I have ever caught a wild brown before.  That guy may have been my first.  What an awesome feeling it was.  Sadly I forgot my T.F.M. shirt.  Oh well at least I was wearing my sun mask.

We moved on from this hole in our continued search of those wild browns.  Unfortunately for us, this was the only fish brought to hand that day.  As stated though, it wasn't really about the number of fish caught.  Ian and I were quite happy chasing those browns and throwing fly after fly at them.  There was just something magical about it.  We spent the rest of the day leap frogging holes.  Truth be told, I was done.  Content and happy.  I was still fishing but for me I didn't need to catch anymore fish.  I was happy with that one little brown on my Eagle Claw Featherlight rod.  We did manage to rise some more, hook a few and lost them all.  Oh well.  We were having a blast and didn't want to stop.  We didn't even leave to chase the brookies.  We decided to spend all of our time on this stream.  The browns were frustrating but that is part of fly fishing for trout.  This is not a numbers stream.  Some days, I bet just seeing them on this stream is a good day.  Till next time Mr. Brown.  We will be back!

Ian trying to sneak up on the fish

Ian again trying to sneak up and work a run 

The hole Ian was working in the above photos.  We could see an 18 incher in here but couldn't entice him to bite. 

Nice run.  I managed to hook a brown out of the top end of this one but lost it. 

Tools of the trade for the day 

Proof for Melissa that I do indeed wear my sun mask.