Shenandoah National Park Brookies

Had my first opportunity to fish for wild brookies last week. I am new to fly fishing, since last summer, and I have been trying to add to my resume. After doing some research and getting some good advice from some locals, I hiked into Old Rag Mountain in search of my first brookie. I don't have any pics, since it poured rain on me all day, but I did bring my first brookie to hand on a "Spirit of Pittsford Mills" size 14. Not only was it my first brookie on a dry, but my first trout on a dry. Wading a small mountain stream with lots of falls, in the rain, is a LOT different than wading the Gunpowder, my local tailwater. There were more kinds of bugs hatching than I have ever seen at the same time. The hatch lasted about an hour and a half and included rusty spinners and blue wing olives. All in all, a great day.

Nice One BelAirSteve, I think maybe it is you that got hooked on that mountain stream? :D
All the best.
Mike.

BelAirSteve, glad you had a chance to catch a native! Old Rag is a nice area to go into, also a good place to see a Black Bear or two, I'v seen more than one on that mountain...:)

Pictures of the area would be nice to see for those of us who haven't been there.
Remember to take your cameras!
Just a thought.

Nicely done, Steve.

After seeing Grubb's pics of a couple places he's fished, I'm sure looking forward to more pics from that neck of the woods.

John

P.S. Can you give us a general description of the "Spirit of Pittsford Mills" ??

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Originally Posted by JohnScott

Nicely done, Steve.

After seeing Grubb's pics of a couple places he's fished, I'm sure looking forward to more pics from that neck of the woods.

John

P.S. Can you give us a general description of the "Spirit of Pittsford Mills" ??

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http://www.classictrout.com/dryflies...sfordmills.php

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Originally Posted by Quill gordon

http://www.classictrout.com/dryflies...sfordmills.php

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That's it precisely. By the way Quill, no pics since it was pouring down rain all day. I have a cheapy Kodak point and shoot digital and a Nikon D40 SLR, but I wouldn't have taken either of them out in that kind of rain.

But trust me, there will be other trips and plenty of opportunities for pictures. I plan to fish some of the brookie streams in Central Pennsylvania this year. My brother lives just outside of State College.

I remember back in the summer of 1988, I had just purchased a spiffy 4wt fly rod and Cortland reel with all the trimmings. I had tied up a bunch of flies and headed out to Shenandoah. I caught my first trout on a dry fly I tied myself there using a woolly worm fished dry. I still remember it, beautiful fish.

Jim

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Originally Posted by BelAirSteve

But trust me, there will be other trips and plenty of opportunities for pictures. I plan to fish some of the brookie streams in Central Pennsylvania this year. My brother lives just outside of State College.

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I understand.................
Looking forward to seeing those scenic shots. It's not all about catching fish!

Steve,

Come on back down sometime on a weekend day if you get the chance and I'll show you some great spots. Sorry I didn't catch up with you on this trip...

Marty

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Originally Posted by MrFishingToughGuy

Steve,

Come on back down sometime on a weekend day if you get the chance and I'll show you some great spots. Sorry I didn't catch up with you on this trip...

Marty

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Marty,

I appreciate the offer, and I just might take you up on that!