Somerset county small stream 03/03/13

[strike proof]

My son has been agitating for a chance to go fishing and is too young to care about weather or seasons, so out we went on Sunday. We had hiked through a local preserve about two weeks ago in the snow, along a nearby small stream where we had caught some small, wild browns in the past. We startled a pool of trout in a place that is hard to fish when overgrown in the spring and fall, so it looked like an opportunity to get back in before the leaves and brush fill out again. I was surprised to see them move so quickly in the icy water, but they were pretty responsive to us standing over them.

We walked back in on Sunday, approached from upstream because of some trees overhanging the pool, and I was happy (but shocked) to see a couple of gentle rises in the bubble line at the head of the pool. There were a few small grey bugs coming off, too small and mobile to see the profile but I assume they were midges. Once we got settled, the surface activity stopped, so we nymphed. We landed a small, healthy looking brown from that pool, moved around a bit, hooked four more, landed two. The larger fish looked a little thin and didn't have a lot of energy, but I was encouraged to see them active, considering the temperature (35 on the car).

First fish was on a rainbow warrior (18 or 20), all others on PT's and BHPT's around size 16. Water was clear, higher than fall, and damned cold.

 

[Catskill Mountain Man]

dude on a small stream?

NICE!

real beauties there.

the hog in ur last picture was he in an undercut?

 

[strike proof]

...for scale, CMM. Those hands are only 4 1/2. They make the fish look a lot bigger!

He was in a bend pool, in the deep against the far bank, but only about 3 feet of water, no real undercut. Lots of overhanging brush and shadow, though. The stream varies from about 3 feet wide to maybe 12 at its biggest pool. Most of it is ankle deep.

 

[weirdnjfly]

very nice guys the fish gorgeous

 

[lightenup]

Awesome!!!!!!!!!!
Lucky kid......to get a chance to satrt so young:thumb:

 

[strike proof]

Thanks. He loves to get out and fish, but can't stop throwing rocks and sticks in the water. He's rough on sunnies, but getting to be pretty careful with the trout. Can't ask for more at his age!

 

[FIN-ITE 34]

Nice fish SP. Is that opposite bank still a shear cliff of dirt? Surprised it hasn't been fenced off to prevent a walker from falling down into that hole.

 

[strike proof]

The 2nd fish was caught at that pool with the high bank. It must be 6 feet off the water at least. It erodes a little differenly in each season, then even more according to the storms. There was a small section of fence up there a while ago, but just to block the main footpath -- easy to step around. The 3rd fish was in a different bend downstream where you would have to seriously bushwhack to get to the bank and fall in.

 

[Thursthouse]

..for scale, CMM. Those hands are only 4 1/2. They make the fish look a lot bigger!

A woman with small hands can have a similar effect which can result in a boosted ego.

Nice fish, good to see young kids getting involved in the outdoors