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Just wanted to share some pics of my small stream fly fishing adventures over the last year.
All stream pics are from CT, NY, MA & NH.
Starts with first fish of 2011 & ends with first fish of 2012.
Wishing everyone a great 2012 on the water.
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Editor's note: As is often the case, this post/article is continued in the next post in the forums. Becoming a smallstreams.com member is free, and always will be. Why not join us in the forums and share your own fly fishing tales and read the rest of this story? -Gus

On our last visit, I had been telling you about my fishing trip into the backcountry of the Little Yosemite Valley and describing how I had managed to survive the hike and had even managed to catch a few fish the very first afternoon. So after all of the hiking and the fishing it is no surprise that I fell into a deep dreamless sleep content and happy with the world.

I woke to the sound of two of my three tent mates, through hikers who were on a 50 mile circular dash around the Yosemite back country, stirring to get their stuff packed so they could grab a quick breakfast and be off on another 10 or 12 mile stroll. I giggled to myself thinking that I could just roll back over and go back to sleep for a while and that all I had to do for the next two days was fish, rest and maybe fish some more …….. and oh yeah smoke a cigar and have a sip of bourbon while watching the wonderful scenery of Yosemite change color and texture with the various different phases of the day’s light. ...

I had only fished this section of water once before, and it was with good success. The lower stretch is decent brown trout water. There are lots of large, deep pools interspersed with smaller plunge pools and runs. There are several small waterfalls scattered through this area as well. It also has a few brookies that have dropped down from further up in the drainage. They become more prevalent as you travel upstream. The creek eventually splits with one fork holding browns, and the other, nothing but specs. The plan today was to start in the lower, mixed water area and get my brown trout fix. At the junction, I would switch gears and pursue the natives.
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Sitting at the office one day, I got an email from the Yosemite High Sierra Camps letting me know that they had openings the last week of their season which is in late September. Well this is normally a lottery draw for reservations and nearly impossible to get …. So I jumped all over the opportunity. I have visited Yosemite National Park and even fished there previously, but here was a chance to hit some of the more remote back country areas… far from the crowds and the roads, which we all know is where I feel the most at home. All without having to carry tent, bedding and food because they supplied that for you as part of the “hike in” tent camp experience nestled in the Little Yosemite Valley area above the Tuolumne Meadows. I figured this was a great compromise for getting back deep in the backcountry but keeping pack weight down and keeping enough people around me that my cardiologist and family wouldn’t flip out on me if they knew where I was going. I knew the scenery was supposed to be outstanding but I wasn’t too sure about the fishing, but a trip to the woods is a trip to the woods and honestly even though the Maine trip hadn’t been that long ago…….. I needed another break from society and reality… … as I get older I seem to need my breaks more frequently.
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Spring Trip New Mexico and Colorado 2011

It was a strange one, this past 2010-2011 La Nina winter. New Mexico ...

Editor's Note: This is part one of a two part story that rbaileydav wrote... if you want to read the rest of the story, join us as a registered member of smallstreams.com!

You can’t be lost………………… if you don’t know where you are going. That is one of life’s truest statements and one of life’s greatest luxuries. I am not a “young un” anymore and to be honest, I am a hell of a lot closer to fifty that I care to admit….. read that as less than another calendar year, but when I have a chance to disappear into the woods with my backpack strapped on and no specific destination in mind that is a true luxury. I recently had a business trip scheduled for late in the week in Portland Me. I can hear you guys out there already, so yes I know my business schedule doesn’t suck all that much does it … regardless of how much I might pregnant dog about it. ...

Earlier in the year I told GMAC (a fellow flyfisher with a lot more experience than I have) that I would be heading to Colorado ...

Annual Colorado Trip 2011



Back from another glorious trip to Colorado. Fish were caught, rain ...

We are now in the rainy season, which started early June this year. When this short rainy season is over, the true summer ...

So I was fishing a small stream in NY state on Memorial Day when while standing in a sunlit pool I realized I was surrounded by brookies. These fish had no fear of me. Guess they don't see many predators or fishermen down in the ravine where the stream is located. Either that or I'm the "Brookie Whisperer" :) Took the first underwater shots with my new camera from wifey for my birthday (newest generation Pentax Optio, WG-1). If my friends are there next time, I'll take a video.
This is what the camera saw when I slipped it under.
Hope you enjoy.
A.T.
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