Steelie Blue: January 2012

                                                                  FROM THE BEGINNING


                  There are some places where legends are built. Stories that have stuck through time from trial and error. Zane Grey and the steelhead,Joan and Lee Wulff with their dry fly attraction,George Griffith and the Au Sable,Charles Orvis.....and so on. Some of these places haven't been tampered,and the water still runs pure like the day they where found. One of these places I would like to share would be the Battenkill.

   Getting out of the car as I pull up to the river,instantly I felt the ora of history that these grounds I walk on have. Its a feeling of respect,and awe. After all,this is the place the brown trout was first placed after a science fair was one in the late 1880's in Germany. The prize,the brown trout. The outcome,a legacy.
And just for the record,has not been stocked since the early 1970's.
     The river starts its journey up historic rt.7 in East Dorset, where much is private,but people up here view the beauty a bit differently. Both times I had fished this section,I  simply  pulled over got out of the car and walked right into the stream . (all spots being bridges)Every person that was outside doing the yard work routine simply looked and waived with a smile. (ya,it really was that easy)  As if they had knew that i had a proper etiquette,and respect already instilled.But that's how they are,total class and they expect the same.
This section of the stream as pictured above is swift at times with gin clear water. Pools that look 2 feet deep are 4' to even 7'-8' feet in depth. If you like brooke trout,this is your section down to northern Manchester.And of course a few small browns as well. I will also add that this section to me holds more fish.Cooler waters,and ample tribs in this section all of course are C.W.H. from limestone springs and mountain snow make the water at times almost invisible. They say a dry fly here is key to match the hatch.I threw mostly stoneflies on a no.12 curved long nymph hook with no problems. But if u like the sulphurs,come back in June.Wow! The limestone makes this water so pristine it makes you wonder if its so clean its sterile.
      After the Battenkill meanders through,and picks up water from the Roaring Branch,Lye and Mill brooke it turns into a gentle picturesque stream where some of those "fabled stories and legends" come from. As pictured up top, the famous covered bridge pool is one these spots. Norman Rockwell would agree. But in this section,famous doesn't come easy. A 3-4 brown trout day is considered exceptional. And that's not because of pressure. I have fished this section 3 times and 2 out of 3 times I've had ample space. And the other not another angler present,no matter where i went. If u choose to fish this section I would recommend streamers and buggers in natural tones to hit the holes where these lunkers DO sit.
Stoneflies in sizes 12-16 are not uncommon here either.
And just to add a bit more hollowed ground feeling,u can visit the American Museum of Fly Fishing and talk with Mrs.Murphy. She is 100% committed to the museum and the sport.