Learning, and a hair of fishing as well.

Last week was pretty nuts here.  It took a smidge of time to hit a local stream which is what my last post was about... but this weekend I managed a bit more time.  Ill start backwards...

If any of you know what this wild flower is, I'd love to hear.  I've seen these - typically near streams in the forest, and during the mid spring green up.  They are amazing!

First things first, hitting a small stream that I "found" during muzzleloader deer season last year.  I knew the stream was there, but had never explored that bit of woods.  I crossed it just above this large quiet pool several times, and every time thought there had to be brookies.  But on my test mission this weekend, I learned something... if this stream had brookies, it most likely does not now.  There is a large swamp up stream from here, and above that further is a substantial warm water pond that drains into this stream.  I'd hoped for luck, and that the cool water draining out of the granite which forms Mt Wachussett would keep temps down and O2 up... but be it the swamp and warm water pond or a farm or two in the area up stream from here... This poor stream is fairly lifeless outside amphibians and some bugs.  There was a lot of algae lining the bottom, and not a lick of fish life I could find.  No minnows.  No sun fish.  No sculpin.  No trout... Heck, flipping rocks didnt even reveal bugs.... To bad, because it's a gorgeous spot.

Thus, a stream (above) that originates on the east side of the same hill as the stream above, but is about .5 miles away was hit prior to heading home... the same fly that worked the other day - my variation of the Ausable Wulff - was the fly again.  And a few brookies like the one below came to hand... the brookie pictured took the fly on the first drift - right infront of that hemlock... this spot practically "screams" brookie!

Saturday was really fun as well.  I had a professional development conference to attend, and part of what fired me up more than a normal conference, was that the keynote speaker was a favorite author, scientist and coach.  And that person is Inigo Mujika.  Dr Mujika is from Spain, so the chance to see him speak was amazing.

His talks paralleled much of what I've read in his books and scientific papers - and other very good works on the subjects of endurance training, and in particular, tapering and detraining.  I managed to speak briefly with him, and as a professional, it was a total honor.  If you have an interest in sport science, read his work, or check out his "blog" here: http://www.inigomujika.com/en/

With any luck Ill hit a local freestone, a large freestone, that a friend had epic fishing on last week over the next couple days... We shall see.  But, my fingers are crossed that I can catch part of the hatch, or just swing some big ugly streamers for big browns...