Pocket to Pocket Brookies with the Nissin Pocket Mini - Superbowl Sunday Fun in the Garden State

There are many beautiful wild trout streams in New Jersey. I have not given this state its fair share of fishing time, and this year I intend to change that. With this in mind, I headed out to a spot that I had been sent to by another skilled and seasoned Tenkara angler for a warm winter's day of fishing.

Upon arrival I discovered that this stream was everything it had been promised to be, and maybe more. A somewhat remote location, I drove on winding roads to arrive at a small pull-off and an old concrete bridge crossing the water.

Right away I knew this would be a challenging day of fishing - bright sun casting shadows, short and steep plunge pools with obstacles leading to challenging drifts... but I was ready.

Working my way up the stream I struggled to keep my footing on the icy rock surfaces and to keep out of view of the fish. I had a few nice follows and a missed take early on, but worked a decent section before switching to a downstream style of fishing and landing two in a row.

I knew I needed to move quickly as I had a lot of water to cover and not all that much time... but it was hard not to cast to each deep pocket. I had new polarized glasses that gave me more insight into which holes were deeper than they looked without this added feature.

As the water warmed up and some clouds moved in, my success rate increased. Getting good drifts more than a few seconds was really hard if not impossible in most places. Adapting to the conditions, I did my best to use the rod and the currents to my advantage.

A fallfish? Seems odd above all that plunging water...

The Nissin Pocket Mini proved to be a great rod for this stream. Enough backbone to pull a bead head fly in strong current, as well as the strength to control a fish and hold it away from snags and waterfalls.

I used a fly that Robb from Creekside Kebari had sent my way, as well as my own standard home-made pattern.

His fly looked a lot more appealing to the human eye than mine, but they all worked just the same.

Here a few deep pockets formed to the side of the main current that was being forced between the rocks.

Inevitably, it got to be late afternoon way too quickly and the sun began to dip. I figured I'd save the rest of the stream for another day and walked back to the car. 

At this point on this trip there was the somewhat bittersweet added bonus of it being 4:50PM on Superbowl Sunday. I experienced my (possibly first ever) traffic-free ride back into and through downtown Manhattan from New Jersey. What I wouldn't give for the drive to go that easily every time... a man can dream, can't he?

Dodging Dogs, Sinkholes and Snags - winter on the Mianus River

The Mianus River is a well known, highly pressured and yet extremely beautiful small river in Southwestern CT. Its no secret - there's a TU chapter bearing its name, and the parks that protect the river from encroaching development are favorite places for dog walkers and hikers out for a quick jaunt in the woods.

During the warmer months the trails are extremely busy. Most dog walkers pay no attention to the leash laws, often allowing their dogs to jump right in, ruining your chances at any fish.

However, in the winter, the number of dog walkers is reduced to a tolerable level, and the slight increase in solitude is a welcome reward and makes a visit not completely out of the question. This last month I've visited twice. 

Different days, same fish?

There are some deceptively deep pockets that can swallow a fly or give up a fish.

Little black stone flies were hatching and crawling around in the snow.

My #13 small stream special makes a great look alike and is the right kind of winter fly for this water.

Even in some wonderful looking spots and with the right flies on the end of the line, fish were nowhere to be found in some parts.

But back in the trout management section the action was once again good...

A few more twilight trout for a snowy winter's day.

The sun dips, the light is low; reflecting off the water in a deep glimmering glow, I am once again reminded that it is time to leave this forest and head home...

But a run-in with a fellow Tenkara Angler only reaffirms my commitment to this run and I take one more small one before calling it a day. Its the second time I've run into this guy on a random day of fishing... who would have thought? Tenkara gets around.

Winter Tying & The Small Stream Special

The arrival of colder weather and piles of snow means more time is usually spent at the vice... And, reflecting on a year of success - countless days on the river in different locations around the world - it comes to mind that one trusty little creation is always at hand...

It all starts with a bead and a hook, whichever one deems best. Pearsall's silk or Danville's waxed, wrapped back then forward, dubbed then hackled - tagged and double whip-finished behind the bead.

Hen or pheasant adorns the body - wrap it as you please.

Places like this are where you'll drift, toss, and twitch this fly.

And wild ones that lurk beneath shall strike and pull and tug and leap!

Try it in white with pink, orange or red... see translucent effects with hair/yarn/thread.

Its called my little "small stream special" and here it is in many different shades!

But what about those warmer days? Or times when shallow water reflects the sun's bright rays?  Fear not... a dry or soft hackle is easily a short reach away.

But alas, back to thoughts of snow and ice and cold! And a few of my recent favorite patterns I'm tying, below:

The Rust Bucket

Grizzly-Bear Kebari

The Ron Burgundy

NJ Wild Brown Trout

See you at Somerset!

Tenkara on the Salmon River, CT

The Salmon river is one that's been on my radar for a little while, but until this fall, I had never taken the drive over that way. Much like the Farmington, but smaller, and with some higher gradient sections, it provides a great habitat for Trout as well as Salmon.

On my first visit, I fished the sections closest to the road. Although I missed one nice fish that I saw grab my fly and then spit it out, I didn't run into any of the stream's beautiful brook trout or any of the holdovers I had been hoping might take my fly.

I figured there would be some Salmon Parr in the runs, so I switched to a soft hackle fly and picked up a few Parr on the swing and the retrieve. 

There were plenty of water features like the ones below, but I didn't get any fish from the spots that looked like prime lies.

More Salmon Parr were to be had from the runs and the small deep pockets in the flatter water.

This is the kind of water that I find easiest to fish on the swing for these small fish.

They do look a lot like baby browns in some ways, but the forked tail and jaw/eye alignment give it away.

In case you aren't sure, signs are all around to help you, as well as to remind you that these fish are in need of protection and care.

Walking up a small tributary I discovered some pretty water that yielded no fish.

But along the walk I saw my favorite fall/winter fungus in its full form.

Driving back I knew I'd return...

And when I did return, it was a different scene altogether.

A week of sub-freezing temps and some snow had left much of the river obscured, and lots of ice shelves making the bank difficult and possibly dangerous to navigate.

Knowing that fishing would be tough, I spent most of the short winter afternoon scouting future locations to fish in the warmer months...

The beauty was unmatched even if the fishing wasn't great.

I was able to find an open stretch in the early evening as the sun began to dip. But melting remnants of the ice shelves up stream were floating down... some more threatening than others. I knew I didn't want to get knocked down by a floating sheet of ice if a larger one came my way.

But there was no real danger and I steered clear of the obstacles in my way.

This beautiful and wild forest calls me back once again, and I look forward to returning, hoping that I have a day when the crowds are not too thick and the fish are more willing to take my fly.

And in the meanwhile, I'll be whipping up more of these heavy winter nymphs that sink like a rock for the colder, faster water of deep winter.

Hook: Daiichi #2571 #8

Bead: 1/8th inch wide-holed tungsten, black nickel

Underbody: Danville's 6/0 flymaster waxed in Light Olive

Body: Mixed Dubbing - Muskrat back fur, Raccoon Tail, Hare's Mask

Hackle: Grizzly Hen Saddle