vulnerable, clinging to the undersides of brown trout looked like,” I called over to we were tempted to call it a day and
the bright leaves. The Housatonic’s Torrey, angling none too subtlety to head home to a beer and the Yankees,
more silt-laden pools are inhabited by provoke him. but we were only half way to our
both brown (Ephemera simulans) and “When you finally catch one let me destination. Drifting downstream in the
green (E. guttulata) drakes. Reportedly, afternoon sun, surrounded by lush
years ago severe flooding had a greenery, we were pleasantly hypnotized
catastrophic effect on the river’s populations, by the rushing, spilling, bubbling river,
but in recent years it appears that these the color of pale tea. Our reverie was
insects have increased in abundance. broken only by nearby warblers, cedar
They typically show up the first couple waxwings and the melodic songs of orioles
weeks of June.
Halfway through my sandwich, I spied
a dorsal fin that suggested a spotted body
high in the streamside branches.
Rich kept shooting—blue herons,
ospreys, hawks, even a train
named after the river. We
Special trout-management areas on the
Housatonic are open to public fishing 12
passed through more pools,
months of the year. The river offers a wide riffles and runs—Garbage
variety of water types suited to everything
Hole, Horse Hole, Ledges,
from drive-right-up access, to rafting, to
hikes along the Appalachian Trail.
Meat Hole, Dun Rollin,
know” he shot back. Carse Brook, Cellar Hole,
of larger-than-average proportions. I The hatch was over. Rainbow Run, each named
gobbled the remainder and stowed Time to head downstream. long ago. Legend has it that
empty containers; quickly I released the “Hey, boss, let me off many years ago a wagon
anchor and—as stealthily as I could— at the tail of the pool,” pulled by a team of horses
rowed the raft to a position that would Torrey ordered his driver. slid down the steep embank-
allow for a good presentation. Nervously, I should have antici- ment, plunging driver and all
I attempted to tie on an extended-body pated: He just could into the opaque, placid
green drake imitation, knowing that the not resist the urge to waters of the Housatonic. As
fish could appear in an entirely different dredge that fast water beneath the the story goes, the pool was so deep that
place next time it rose. Large trout in bridge with his big nymphs, hoping for the authorities were never able to recover
particular tend to cruise for their meals Moby. The water through this section of the unfortunate animals—hence “Horse
in this pond-like pool. the Housatonic begins to accelerate as Hole.” Could be. Many Housy regulars,
On my first attempt a stiff breeze landed the large pool above empties down a including me, believe that, because of
the fly several feet upstream from my relatively steep gradient for several Horse Hole’s considerable depth (20
intended target. I was afraid of spooking hundred yards. Once a year a slalom feet) and the confluence of Pine Swamp
the fish, so I let my fly drift as long as course is set up here for experienced Brook spilling cooler water, this
possible. Seconds later there was suddenly kayakers to test their abilities. Honesty legendary pool has the potential for
the nose of a big trout where my fly had compels me to admit that Torrey, despite holding the largest trout in this stretch
been. Rich’s camera began clicking in his degree in psychology and checkered of the river.
staccato cadence. Even though there past as, among other things, a bartender Later, as the sun approached the
were much larger trout swimming in the in a trendy Mexican restaurant in New surrounding ridges, the trout again
Housy, a nice, healthy 18-inch brown is Haven, is one of the most skilled nymph began to seek nourishment in the
nothing to sneeze at. Might even make the fishers I’ve ever been around. He’s good. lengthening shadows.
cut as the best of the day, I thought. After It’s a shame he knows it. We now found ourselves in Split Rock
Rich snapped a couple extra shots for Rich and I sat in the raft and watched Pool, aptly named for the van-sized rock
insurance, I carefully released the richly Torrey work his magic, expertly plucking with—you guessed it—a large split down
colored, golden fish. one trout, then another from the foaming its side. Under normal conditions, fishing
“Just thought I’d show you what a real pocket water. Fishing was so good that this pool successfully requires a boat, raft
18 FISH& FLY
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98