The memory of the first fish I caught on a fly in Maine is a vivid one. A Maine fall Brookie! These fire engine red beauties are abundant in Maine and highly sought after. Myself, “Boz” and Jeremy went in search of a few of these gems yesterday and found a couple. The day was bright and Sunny when I jumped into the truck to meet Boz and Jeremy. The sun disappeared just south of Topsham, Maine. Overcast was the rest of the day which I always figure improves the fishing or maybe I just tell myself that to stay motivated. I picked up Jeremy and Boz and off we went. We started the day trying our luck casting to a few Salmon. Boz quietly said, “cast to that one, drop the fly right on his nose.” I missed the Salmon’s nose but he took the fly, I didn’t feel it and did not set the hook! At this point I was seeing cruising fish and casting to them but could not get them to take my flies. I amused myself by comparing this to bonefishing, another great species for sight casting. The salmon bite appeared to be dying off in this spot albeit not for lack of fish! We moved on to another spot. A short ride and some heckling over my missed Salmon, we arrived at our next fishy destination. Along a trail of bowling ball sized rocks and rod busting bushes we walked while Jeremy and Boz looked into the water along the way. Jeremy waved me over saying,”hey Greg stand on this rock.” He and Boz took turns instructing me how to cast to a fish they saw and then I’d hear a chuckle and they would say “no more to the left.” Another chuckle from the peanut gallery and the fish kept coming up but I think he was in on the joke too. Again from upstream I hear,”Greg come up hear!” I thought to myself, “he just wants to run me around and make me nuts!” I walked through knee deep mud, tripped on logs and finally got up on the rock and took a look, the bottom of the river was red with beautifully colored brook trout! Boz, using his skills from guiding on the West Branch of the Penobscot, said I had to get down more and tied on a stone fly and a dropper fly off the stone. Then he and Jeremy took turns showing me how to nymph correctly, yes both had different styles and I know they really just wanted to catch the fish themselves. They announced they were going upstream (thank god!) As soon as they were gone I clipped off the dropper fly and put on my own #18 red bead head nymph and caught 4 consecutive Brookies! When they returned from investigating the waters upstream, the 3 of us spent the last hours of light catching a few more beautiful brookies and even a couple salmon and brown trout. We all caught fish, had a few laughs at each others expense and all had a great day. Doesn’t get any better than that.
Greg,
That was definately a great day! You said it perfectly here “What a great day. We all caught fish, had a few laughs at each others expense and all had a great day. Doesn’t get any better than that.” …………… Amen, to that. Glad we got a chance to get out there and take a few casts together … it had been too long.
Great looking fish Greg. I know that rock and have had some great afternoons there. Good to see you boys out fishing together.
Certainly that was a terrific fall day greg. The colors of those Trout are brilliant.
I like the story you told of the two youngsters who still can hop from rock to rock like jackrabbits, and seem to possess XRAY eyesight. I think maybe in exchange for some minor holding/lie info and some technical advise, they just MAY have lured you to move about at their whim just for thier amusement.
p.s. Matter of fact I am SURE they did!
I know they enjoy it to……….LOL.
Greg:
What a great read! I believe that you have outdone yourself, as a man of few words, but quite a few posts. Somehow the personal nature of this fishtale really gets my attention. You are truly special to have two of Maine’s finest “guiding” you. And yet it must be so ego-boosting to get the takes YOUR OWN WAY! OLD GUYS UNITE!
I just love the fire engine red fall brookies (I guess that the colorful ones are the males? … probably old guys, too!)
Keep it coming, Greg!
Dave (an old guy of many words and few posts!)
The experience is special in it’s compromise amongst friends and the fish are gorgeous in the fall.
Greg,
Glad you got into the fish after we went exploring… I find I fish more effectively without a bunch of barking and commotion going on.
Thanks for the read and the colorful fish shot too….Beauty.
We’ll have to fish again soon…
Love those fall Brookie colors Greg! That is where I caught my first Maine Brookie. The drift definitely has to be right down the sweet spot in that hole. A few branched flies and a few bad casts will take you to that one perfect drift that gets the job done though. Patience is the key.
great trout greg, wonderful looking specimen.
Good times on the water with good buddies are what it is all about regardless of how good the fishing is…although it sure is nice when you catch a few too! Beautiful, classic Maine Brookies would love to get back up there some time.