LOCALadk Magazine

Fly-fishing gear is another way to attract brookies. Small streamers, Wooly Buggers, and so hackle wet flies can also be fished from a canoe on a sinking line, whether trolled very slowly with a jigging motion or cast and stripped. Now and then an angler will be lucky enough to catch a hatch on a pond, where the action takes place on the surface, with brookies readily taking dry flies. e thin blue lines that weave an intricate network of streams throughout the Park are probably my favorite brook trout haunts. A "big" brookie in one of these tiny streams measures around seven to eight inches, with a ten-incher being a true trophy. ere is something about exploring no-man's land with a 2-weight fly rod and a handful of big, bushy dry flies that just checks all the boxes for overall peace and satisfaction. No sounds other than those produced by nature surround the angler. Flies like the Ausable Wulff, Haystack, and the Usual — all designed and tied by another Adirondack icon, the late Fran Betters of Wilmington — bring the overall experience full circle. Making a short cast onto the surface of a remote pool in the middle of nowhere and watching a tiny fish attack it ferociously is nothing short of incredible. It's something that just never gets old. e excitement a palm-sized fish can incite in a grown adult is uncanny. Bigger specimens can be found in some of the slightly larger "wild" unstocked streams that are oen tributaries of known brook trout ponds. Fish like these do not come easy. Almost always an extensive hike through thick, rugged terrain is necessary just to get to a stream that might hold brookies of considerable size. Lots of research and leg work are needed, and days of ten- or twelve-mile hikes are not uncommon. Even so, the angler might come up empty-handed, but in the end, it's always about the chase. When hunting remote, backcountry brookies, black flies can be ungodly. I would not classify them as bad or terrible; it's more along the lines of a "situation." Head nets are not an option, they are a requirement. e old-timers say the best time to target brookies is when alder leaves are the size of a mouse's ear, which, in the heart of the Adirondacks, typically means mid-May. Stream fishing winds down in early summer as water temperatures begin to rise. Brookies leave the streams and seek refuge from the heat by hanging around springs that feed cold water into ponds. is can also make pond fishing a bit better as well. As the summer months drag on, brook trout will move deeper. Adjust your offerings accordingly, as you will catch no fish if there are no fish in your target zone. Slower and deeper are the keywords for catching summer brookies. e current daily limit for brook trout is five fish of any size. At a recent meeting, Steve Hurst, Chief of the New York State Bureau of Fisheries, mentioned that next up on the DEC's agenda is a complete reevaluation of New York's brook trout fisheries. Many studies, data collection, public commentary and surveys, and angler input will all be taken into consideration as they formulate a new plan for better management of this amazing resource. In the end, remember to respect the fish, undoubtedly one of the most persistent icons of the Adirondacks. LOCALadk 25

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