A day chasing specks

[flyrod444]

Had a client that wanted to fish a small stream for specks earlier this month. Ended up being a great day with a fellow fly fisherman that knew how to fish a small stream. Caught some beautiful trout in some beautiful country.




Had a first happen for me as well when he set the hook and pulled a spring lizard out of the stream. I've had several crawfish latch on to my nymph over the years but this was a first.

The little deer had been all up and down the stream leaving it's sign behind.

 

[NCHillbilly]

Looks like a fine day indeed!

About ten years ago, I caught a big shovel-nosed salamander on a small nymph. No one believed me.

 

[Flyfisherskor2]

Beautiful fish! So specks are what you are calling brook trout? I have heard that nickname for speckled sea trout and crappie, but not brookies. Of course, I ain't from round here, so that probably explains it. Great pics. Thanks for sharing.

 

[flyrod444]

Thanks everyone, yes we call brook trout speckled trout or specks. I was around 12 years old before I ever heard one called a brook trout. I tend to call wild brook trout specks or speckled trout. I save the term brook for stockers thrown in by the state.

 

[Flyfisherskor2]

Got it. I forgot to ask, is the green worm/caddis nymph in the picture a mop fly?

 

[NCHillbilly]

Beautiful fish! So specks are what you are calling brook trout? I have heard that nickname for speckled sea trout and crappie, but not brookies. Of course, I ain't from round here, so that probably explains it. Great pics. Thanks for sharing.

Specks, aka speckled trout, are specifically southern Appalachian strain native brook trout. Stocked northern-strain brook trout are doughbelly brook trout.

 

[NCHillbilly]

Got it. I forgot to ask, is the green worm/caddis nymph in the picture a mop fly?

That's a green weenie/inchworm, tied with micro chenille or furry foam. It's an inchworm imitation and works well here through the summer.

 

[gobbleinwoods]

Specks, aka speckled trout, are specifically southern Appalachian strain native brook trout. Stocked northern-strain brook trout are doughbelly brook trout.

And hopefully never to be interbred.

 

[Flyfisherskor2]

That's a green weenie/inchworm, tied with micro chenille or furry foam. It's an inchworm imitation and works well here through the summer.

Ah, good to know. I see inch worms all the time on shore at Allatoona.

 

[flyrod444]

It is a green weenie tied with furry foam, which is a blanket Roger Lowe had dyed years ago. He gives me a square of it as I need it. Very easy tie with some small dia lead wrapped under the foam. It is hard to beat through the summer in our streams.

 

[NCHillbilly]

It is a green weenie tied with furry foam, which is a blanket Roger Lowe had dyed years ago. He gives me a square of it as I need it. Very easy tie with some small dia lead wrapped under the foam. It is hard to beat through the summer in our streams.

Small world. I've got a chunk of Roger's furry foam blanket, and still got a chunk of the chocolate tan Dayco plastic he gave me for tying Coffee's Nymphs, back years ago when he had the fly shop in Waynesville.

 

[splatek]

Looks like a perfect day