July 4, 2022: Taking some inspiration from Looknfishy on Youtube I decided to do some bushwhacking to a smallish stream in search of wild trout in places where very few people ever go.
I selected the confluence of Pond Brook and the Hubbard River which feeds into the north end of the Barkhamstead reservoir in Hartland, CT. A trail near the reservoir hugs the Hubbard for a half mile or so but wanders away, only to return to it and follow it north for several miles. I began bushwhacking and the wandering away part and followed some very old logging trails. One often finds scattered stone walls in theses woods but I was surprised by a cluster of stone walls that looked like some sort of small settlement once upon a time. Certain that I was in a place where nobody ventures, I immediately stumbled upon a fire ring which had clearly been used within a few days. Doh! No matter, it was right next to the river.
Video of Hubbard River above confluence.
The upper stretches flow over granite bedrock outcroppings which often create somewhat flat tiers that cascade from one to the next. The lower stretches suddenly become all boulders, no more outcroppings. Surely, it has looked this way for many thousands of years.
The water was quite low due to dry conditions of late. Given the very steep banks which are lined with mountain laurel, trying to fish this river in the spring would be extremely difficult. It was largely a matter of scrambling over rocks and boulders, looking for pockets and pools. While I did find some beauties, the tiny trout in them would only bump my flies rather than eat them. I did find one kettle-shaped pocket which had a bunch of fish in it but the GoPro was aimed to high to capture it properly. After dozens of bumps from itty bitty brookies, I finally hooked one but it came flying clear out of the water and past my head.
The conflluence, it turned out was a bust as Pond Brook was nearly dry. Time to bushwack back out to the road which was only a hundred yards or so away. Beautiful day.
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