scouting mission

I had heard whispers about the stream - talk of plump browns, no fishing pressure - don't tell anyone I told you, ok? It isn't so far, but it is in an area not known for its trout streams. I was in the area today, and decided I had better check it out before the end of the season. The stream runs behind a small town. A system of trails provides access, but it didn't look as if the stretch I visited had seen many fishermen recently. It is small, fifteen feet wide in parts, but narrower in others, with plenty of overhanging bushes, and some deep holes and bomb shelters. It was like a smaller version of the Fox on the U.P. in Michigan.

I found the stream easily enough, below a mill pond, where it was clear and thin. I assumed I would have to access downstream, and wasted close to an hour driving around backroads looking for promising access. Downstream, the creek was slow and silty and did not seem to me to be trout water at all. I doubled back and started looking upstream. I saw one trout rise and had another splash after a parachute ant pattern, and that is all. There were no bugs at all on the water, save a few tiny white mayflies, which I took to be caenis.

This will be a nice stream to fish in summer, wet wading, fishing attractors and hoppers.