I once wrote a fish tale about peoples perceptions of fly fishermen and how some think that we are elitists. My experience yesterday just proves how wrong they are. I was fly fishing for brook trout in a very small stream close to my Dad’s house, and catching quite a few, when a white SUV pulled up and a guy rolled down his window and looked at me skeptically and said,”This is the public fishing stream?” like I said it was a very small stream but it’s loaded with brookies, which I think are the most attractive looking of all the trout species. Anyways, he parked his truck and to my pleasant surprise he pulled out a fly rod and we started chit chatting. After a brief conversation he decided to try his luck upstream but was soon back because of how thick it was. I, in the mean time, had caught and released every brook trout in my part so I was ready to move on. When he came back I told him that I was heading to Adams to try for some browns. I asked him if he wanted to join me and he said sure but he only had about an hour and a half because he had a wedding to go to. On our way there we hit some streams that he knew of on some back roads but to no avail. He was getting short on time and desperately wanted to catch and release something. We got to my spot in Adams and to our great delight trout were rising everywhere and we could see them rolling in the current. I decided to tie on a dry fly while he nymphed along the bottom. It wasn’t long before we were both onto fish. I asked him if he wanted me to take his picture and email them to him and he was very enthusiastic. After releasing his fish he said that really made his day. We talked some more and bs each other about the Salmon river and fish that we have caught. Before long it was time for him to make tracks or he was going to be late. He thanked me and we exchanged info while I continued to fish. I ended up catching about twenty browns of various sizes but I was the most amazed at how two complete strangers who just happended to meet at a fishing hole spent most of the afternoon following each other around upstate NY in search of the ever elusive trout. Who says that we are a bunch of elitists? Not I.
jinxed — nice work .. you are really catching some nice fish this season in your neck of the woods .. steelhead, browns, brook trout .. upstate new york has alot to offer … lot’s of water of all shapes and sizes. i typically spend my time out there steelhead fishing in late fall through early spring … but i would like to do some exploring on some of the trout waters someday.
Thanks Jeremy. One of these days I am going to hit the Tug Hill region hardcore. There are a lot of streams that run through there that are loaded with brook trout. My Dad recently got me a 4wt St. Croix for a graduation present from college but it’s still a little long for that neck of the woods. Thanks again.
How far south can I go and find Steelheads?
I want to be less than 2 hours from Stamford CT, where I can trout fish and shoot. Any suggestions?
HELP! WHERE IS GOOD TROUT FISHING AND SHOOTING 2 HOURS FROM Stamford, CT? Close to VT border is AAAAA.
Thanks, Tom 843-772-0073
Can anyone tell me any good upstate ny fly patterns? i usally fly fish at linear park. but would anybody tell me good fly patterns?
Thank you
That’s a great story… and it’s so true that 2 strangers can hit it off that way because they share more than might be evident at first glance. It happens on streams and in the woods too. Last year I was hunting stocked pheasant and met a gentleman with a thick European accent hunting with 2 German Shothair Pointers. My GSP Liza passed away 2 years ago, so we struck up a conversation. He then invited me to hunt the day with him and his dogs! People just don’t understand the bond between those that enjoy the outdoors. It is so much about the experience and NOT the kill! It is something I am proud of and have pased along to my 2 sons.