Around last Tuesday or Wednesday the weatherfolks on TV started bragging that the weekend weather was going to be unseasonably warm for January. Temperatures in the mid 50s they boasted, making one’s mind immediately wander toward outdoor pursuits.
What they didn’t say was that the weekend was going to also be a pea soup of misty rain, low visibility, and zero sun. After sitting Saturday out on the bench (secretly hoping Sunday would be better), when I awoke to identical conditions, I decided at least a little fishing had to be done.
With two Valley Creek trips already under my belt this new year, I thought I’d hit up my “not so secret water” to see how the resident wild browns were doing in that locale. I usually never catch great quantity in rain soaked conditions, but the fish I do catch are much larger than normal… I assume the smaller fish are seeking refuge from the swifter currents and not worried about feeding.
In about 3 hours of fishing, I ended up coaxing two “flashes,” one extended follow, one long distance release, and two to hand with my copper banded kebari. I really should have landed the one that snuck away, but as happens from time to time with small stream fishing an 11 foot tenkara rod, I got the tip of my rod caught in an overhanging branch during the fight, and in doing such created enough slack in my line to allow the trout to kick the barbless hook. Oh well, we always think about the one that got away more than the ones we landed… at least I do.
Some more pictures of the day:
All in all, I guess the weatherfolk didn’t totally lie. It was in fact warmer creating a nice opportunity to get out fishing this past weekend. Let’s just hope they are lying about this upcoming Wednesday… I can do without any snow…
Nice I'd fish that little creek in the fog!
Not too shabby for a Jan. day. The foggy conditions were here on Long Island too and my plan was the same as yours…except you caught something. BTW…nice sakasa kebari.
Time well spent! Thanks for sharing your time on the water – those fish look to be in great shape.
that kebari looks very cased caddisy to me. Love the “squatch in the mist” pic
Those are some sweet looking browns!
MichaelBeautiful brown, and the stream you were fishing is awesome looking. That stream looks like it should be framed. As for the weather, Global Warming is here!!
Real nice fish for the Valley Mike!
The squatch did make me do a double take. Nice pics and fish.
I can't believe you got Bigfoot on camera! Those are some nice looking brownies.
It's quickly becoming one of my favorite locations.
Sorry it didn't work out better in NY. Thanks for the compliment on the fly…coming from you, that means a lot.
I was waiting for someone to spot (or at least acknowledge that). The tenkara sasquatch has definitely become my mentor.
Maybe I'll show you where it's at…maybe….
All were good fighters on ultralight tackle.
You're not kidding about Global Warming. Looked back at some previous January fishing…a warm spell seems like an increasingly frequent trend.
Thanks. Not Valley Creek on this day, but they were big for their surroundings, no doubt.
Yeah, in real life the stench alerts you to his presence.
We fish frequently. I made the mistake of getting him on camera. He's gonna be pissed at me.