Ten Kilns Brook is in Vermont’s Massive Department Wilderness close to Mt Baker. It’s straightforward to entry from Forest Highway #10 adopted by a hike south on the AT/LT and the Previous Job Path. I backpacked this part final summer time and made a psychological word to revisit it as a result of it gave the impression to be glorious trout habitat. It’s named after the ten brick-lined charcoal kilns that when existed alongside the brook. Remnants of the kilns’ brick lining may be discovered downstream alongside the riverbank and on the paths.
I’m usually in an excessive amount of of a rush on my backpacking journeys (to get someplace) to spend my time fishing, so after backpacking into the brook, I deliberate to spend the following two days fishing. I discover I can solely focus on one exercise at a time. Upon arriving on the trailhead, I hiked about 2.5 miles upstream to the Previous Job Shelter, a really rundown lean-to, and began fishing again to my automotive. I’d introduced alongside my backpacking gear as a result of I needed to camp out and have the flexibleness to hike farther into the wilderness to a different brook, if the fishing didn’t pan out.
I’d introduced two rods for this hike: a Tenkara USA Iwana and a Dragontail Hydra. The Iwana is hands-down my favourite rod, and I personal two of them. I introduced the Dragontail alongside as a backup, in case I broke the Iwana, and it didn’t see a lot motion. It’s not a foul rod, but it surely’s higher in pushier water.
The Ten Kiln Brook meanders forwards and backwards because it flows downstream. For this journey, I adopted it by mountaineering alongside its rock and boulder-strewn banks as an alternative of the adjoining path, crossing forwards and backwards each time the brook zigged and I ran out of boulders to climb over. I counted 17 stream crossings within the first mile as I waded from one aspect to the opposite. The brook wasn’t working excessive and by no means reached over my calves as I crossed, though I used to be cautious the place I selected to cross.
The perfect crossings had been in locations the place the riverbed was made up of smaller rocks and stones, the place my ft might get good buy within the nooks and crannies between them. My trekking poles had been additionally helpful to maintain my steadiness. I used to be carrying my backpack for these crossings, and I didn’t need to fall. The water was very clear, so I might see precisely the place I used to be going. Quite than take huge steps, I’d slide the soles of my sneakers ahead, gingerly testing my traction, as I made my means throughout the brook.
Working my means down the brook banks was related. I averted bounding from boulder to boulder, staying as near the bottom as potential. The very last thing I wanted was a severe fall, as a result of there was nobody round to assist me. Whereas a part of the hike into the brook adopted the AT/LT, the path adjoining to the place I used to be fishing didn’t, so nobody was round. I solely noticed two AT thru-hikers passing by that night, after I was stealth tenting farther downstream close to an AT/LT lean-to.
Quite than carry my pack with me on a regular basis, I’d carry it to the underside of the part of brook I needed to fish, drop it, after which work my means again upstream, casting as I went. This went on all day from 9 am to 7 pm after I lastly broke off to arrange camp and make dinner. It’d taken me 10 hours to fish only one mile of brook as a result of there have been so many nice swimming pools, pour-overs, and runs to fish alongside the best way. My shoulders ached that night from casting all day, however I slept effectively.
The trout had been very feisty in that brook, and I had some epic battles. I primarily used dry flies and terrestrials on this outing. When approaching a brand new function, I’d float an attractor sample over all of the locations the place trout had been more likely to maintain. They’d make themselves identified by lunging for it, however spit it out more often than not. As soon as I knew the place they had been, I’d cycle by means of my fly field attempting to entice them with a smaller fly, underneath the speculation that they’d rejected the attractor as a result of its hook dimension was too massive. My attractors are a dimension #12, and I’ve #14 and #16 dries and terrestrials. Even then, they had been hitting the flies however not taking them. I’d get a half dozen hits off a fly, after which the trout would cease responding altogether. It was a bit aggravating, however I managed to catch just a few over the course of the day and launched them. It was nonetheless good enjoyable.
One factor I did discover about this brook was the absence of terrestrials alongside the banks. It was shocking. I did see some inexperienced spiders and black grasshoppers, however not within the abundance I’d count on, which can clarify why I needed to work so laborious to catch the trout I did encounter. Nonetheless, I need to change the composition of my fly field and tie some attractors in smaller hook sizes and enhance the variety of terrestrials I carry. My flybox is closely weighted with dry flies, and I need to add some extra selection again in, together with ants and spiders.
This was my first devoted fly fishing journey into the realm, which has plenty of brooks and streams price exploring additional. Along with the Ten Kilns Brook, there’s Lake Brook, which drains stocked Griffith Lake and Massive Department, a mountain stream filled with big boulders that can require some severe bushwhacking to entry.
As I used to be scrambling down the banks of Ten Kilns Brook, I couldn’t assist however keep in mind a visit I took a few years in the past after I did the identical alongside the East Department of the Pemigewasset River within the White Mountains. Quite than bushwhack by means of dense vegetation, I’d opted to hike alongside the rock-strewn riverbed. If you consider it, the individuals who initially lived on this area and subsequent explorers most likely used the identical tactic to journey. The rivers, streams, and brooks would have been extra open and sooner to journey alongside, though you definitely get a exercise scrambling alongside the banks.
The following morning, I continued following the Ten Kilns Brook, however had to surrender as a result of the rocks and boulders alongside the brook had been moist with morning dew. This made them harmful to clamber over, particularly since I used to be alone with no wing individual to look at my again. Whilst you can see the brook from the AT/LT decrease down, the banks are too steep to descend safely. Once I lastly acquired again to my automotive round midday, I drove all the way down to Silver Bridge, which spans a decrease part of Massive Department, and had a session with extra feisty trout. This whole space has attracted my fancy, and I hope to return for one more journey this autumn, after i get again from Alaska.
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