Saturday, December 10, 2011

FINALLY SOME FISH !!

Well I finally got a chance to get out and do some fishing.  This trip was a long time coming since trout season has now been closed for over 2 months.  I went to a new place in secret location and decided to do some hiking. What would today bring??  I couldn't wait to find out!




Just as soon as the sun started coming up, so did the trout :)  I caught this brown in the very first hole and very first cast in.  So far so good :)  Man was the grass green for this time of year.




Soon the sun was out in full effect and things really started to look green.  The holes were starting to become visibly see through and the fish could be seen swimming effortlessly through the current.  Occasionally one would rise to the surface to sip on the leave particles passing by.






After watching them rise for about a half hour I decided the only thing to do was to tie on a Bomber and proceed from 10 to 2 and let the fly do it's thing.  SMASH goes the bomber and a beauty Brown comes to hand.  Love those Bombers :)




A few more Brown's were brought to hand and I was really excited about how well these trout were thriving in this beautiful stream.  Around the next bend things seemed to change and looked even better than water I had just fished.  The creek seem to be a bit smaller but looked like maybe it could be holding some wild Brookies to boot.  Onward and upward I went.  Each hole seemed to be plucked right out of my dreams and placed before me.  Challenging me to hit the mark and see what happens.






What happened next surprised me and brought a huge smile to my face.  Just as I had suspected,  BROOK TROUT!!!!!!!
 




When I finally reached what looked to be the end of the stream, I came across a sort of waterfall spilling from above off of a limestone bluff.  Could there be a spring that high up ???  Well the only way to find out was to climb up and see if my curiosity was going to pay off.  So up I went.  Luckily I was wearing hiking shoes and this made gripping a hold of the rocks a lot easier.






I made it to the top and to my disbelief the trickle of water was coming from what seemed to be a sweet looking, tiny, trout stream.  More limestone and beautiful gin clear water.  It looked good enough to drink, but of course I know what can happen from drinking dirty water and I decided to hit the Camelbak up full of ice cold Capri Sun instead.  Things were looking UP.  Literally :)





First hole looked like a winner so in went the Bomber and out came a Brookie.  What a great equation. :)





The Brookie was released and I continued on towards what looked like another small hill top.  The stream seemed to becoming directly from the bottom of it.  Maybe the spring was somewhere on that hill and I was determined to find out.





Fishing along the way, wildlife seemed to be out and not afraid to get their picture taken.  The Brook Trout were everywhere and I even managed to get a pic of a baby fawn that was doing it's best to hide out.  This place just seemed to keep getting better as the day went on.  I wasn't sure if I would ever be able to pull myself away and get back to reality again.












The day grew longer and soon the misty dusk sky started to set in.  I continued to catch Brookie after Brookie and there didn't seem to be any presence of Brown Trout in this stretch of stream.  My hand's were starting to get cold after releasing the fish into the ice cold water.  But I still hadn't made it to that hilltop so I just kept going. 





I was hoping to maybe come across a lunker of a Brookie so I switched my flies up and tied on a Castle Rock Killer trailed by  a Mud Honey .  Maybe this would attract the monster of stream and I may set a new record :)










I never did get any monster Brookie, but I was happy with all of the willing healthy ones that were so kind and took my fly.  I busted out the Binoculars and looked towards the hill top to see if I could see where this water was coming from.  Still no sign, so had to keep going until I could get close enough to see.  Where in the heck was I.  It seemed so far away and unfamiliar, but yet it seemed like I had been there before.  Huh.








The flowers were in full Bloom and the Butterflies were everywhere?????  Is that possible this time of year.  This was definitely a first. 








More Brookies came to hand and the stream meandered for an eternity.  Now matter how far I hiked the hill just seemed to keep getting farther away.  The bumble bee's were out buzzin and the grass was super green and extra lush. 









I gave up on trying to get to the hill and concentrated on catching some more fish.  I just kept casting and the fish just kept biting.  It was just Brookie after Brookie after Brookie after Brookie after healthy Brookie.  This is the best place in the world.  I can't wait to take some one here and show them this.  I was ecstatic.  I could hardly contain my excitement.  I just wanted to yell through the valley. " I love this place!!!!!"   Then................................................................................................................................




I WOKE UP !!!!!!!!  :(



Until Next Time ........ Tight Lines to All!!!   :)

21 comments:

  1. Unbelievable photos MaGee. Perfect water, perfect fish and perfect pictures...thanks!

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  2. Stellar stuff as always...you had me going for awhile there , I was already packing my gear and ready to head North looking for that "Green Eden" in the middle of winter! If that selection of pics doesn't make you salivate at the thought of spring then you're beyond help.

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  3. Sitting by the fireplace with 12°C below zero, I think we had the same dream.
    Great pictures.

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  4. This post is nature at its best. The colors on those trout are outstanding. I agree I can't believe the green colors this time of year. Exceptional post--thanks for sharing

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  5. Cofisher,
    Thanks much. These were just some pics from this summer put together to represent a recent dream I had. Not a true story.... Yet :) Tight Lines.


    HPFF,
    Thanks a lot. I plan on getting down to Iowa after January hopefully. I don't think it will be quite as green but a paradise in it's own wintery way. :) Tight Lines.

    Jan Olsen-Nauen,
    Thank you. The dream will be reality soon I hope. 2 months down 3 to go :) Buurrrrrrr. Tight Lines.


    Bill Trussell,
    Thanks a lot. I love the way a Brookie shines in the sun:) The colors up here right now are mostly brown. These pics were actually from this summer. Just got caught dreaming about those days:) Tight Lines.

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  6. You had me going there for a minute TM. I've been dreaming of fishing lately too, but all my dreams have a white backdrop.

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  7. Dream or not, that was friggin' awesome dude.

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  8. Dude you should really be gettin paid for these photos! I was listening to WPR and Wisconsin TRAILS magazine had done photo contests going on for wisconsin photos. You should check out their website and enter. Keep it up!

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  9. TM,
    Great stuff.
    Brookies and Bombers, it's a natural.
    Whats the name of the fly below the bugger? It looks to be a Picket Pin variation.

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  10. Great post. It must be torture to wait it out, so I'm glad you can make these fine posts to help curb the anxiety.

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  11. Wizzard post, you had me going too. As everyone says your pics are just stellar mate.

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  12. so the secret location was in your brain ;)

    had me going for a minute!

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  13. Hey Mr. Magee, great story and pictures. You had me going there. It has been a mild start to the winter here, but butterflies? Good one- that dream will be real once again though. Good post.

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  14. Very creative post....I think I too have had that dream.

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  15. Clever post, all through I was thinking those pictures are too green for winter ! Just waiting for the then I woke up line and there it was. Keep dreaming

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  16. Wonderful photos...I wish it was that green around here as we are in the beginning throes of Winter and its shades of grey.

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  17. Man, I want to catch a brookie! Great photos.

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  18. I don't know how I missed this one...I must be slipping.

    Thanks for taking me along for the ride, I needed that...Great photos, awesome!

    ...and remember, better days ahead :-)

    Cheers!

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  19. I'm actually partial to the "Chocnoculars", myself. Wasn't that the cookie-hole shot?

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  20. You just reminded me why your blog is one of the first I click onto. Your photography combined with your powers of observation and expression are inspiring to say the least. Next year I have resolved to carry the big camera with me and to Hell with the inconvenience. This has everything to do with the amazing images and the high standards you present to us on your blog. You've raised the bar for the rest of us and the challenge is cordially accepted! Thank you and a Merry Christmas to you and yours.

    Regular Rod

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  21. Thank you for all of your comments. I have been having horrible computer/internet problems so I am sorry I can't reply to all the messages. Thanks for stopping by and all of the kind words. Tight Lines.

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Cast your line here...Thanks!

Early Season Winter 2013

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Who Is Trout MaGee

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Driftless Area, SW Wisconsin, United States
I am an easygoing person who likes to fish and just enjoy life. I have a family, a beautiful wife and two(soon to be three), awesome children that make my world go round. I enjoy fishing,photography and being out in nature.

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