Ten Kilns Brook is in Vermont’s Massive Department Wilderness close to Mt Baker. It’s simple 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 season and made a psychological observe to revisit it as a result of it seemed to be glorious trout habitat. It’s named after the ten brick-lined charcoal kilns that after 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 consider 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 automobile. I’d introduced alongside my backpacking gear as a result of I wished to camp out and have the pliability 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 backwards and forwards because it flows downstream. For this journey, I adopted it by climbing alongside its rock and boulder-strewn banks as a substitute of the adjoining path, crossing backwards and forwards 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 operating 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 have been in locations the place the riverbed was made up of smaller rocks and stones, the place my toes might get good buy within the nooks and crannies between them. My trekking poles have been additionally helpful to maintain my steadiness. I used to be carrying my backpack for these crossings, and I didn’t wish to fall. The water was very clear, so I might see precisely the place I used to be going. Somewhat than take huge steps, I’d slide the soles of my footwear ahead, gingerly testing my traction, as I made my approach throughout the brook.
Working my approach down the brook banks was comparable. 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, once I was stealth tenting farther downstream close to an AT/LT lean-to.
Somewhat than carry my pack with me on a regular basis, I’d carry it to the underside of the part of brook I wished to fish, drop it, after which work my approach again upstream, casting as I went. This went on all day from 9 am to 7 pm once 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 way in which. My shoulders ached that night from casting all day, however I slept nicely.
The trout have 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 have been more likely to maintain. They’d make themselves recognized by lunging for it, however spit it out more often than not. As soon as I knew the place they have been, I’d cycle by my fly field attempting to entice them with a smaller fly, beneath 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 have 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 a number of 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 stunning. I did see some inexperienced spiders and black grasshoppers, however not within the abundance I’d anticipate, which can clarify why I needed to work so laborious to catch the trout I did encounter. Nonetheless, I wish 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 wish 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 various brooks and streams value 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 large boulders that may 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 once I did the identical alongside the East Department of the Pemigewasset River within the White Mountains. Somewhat than bushwhack by 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 actually 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 have been moist with morning dew. This made them harmful to clamber over, particularly since I used to be alone and not using a wing particular person to observe 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 obtained again to my automobile round midday, I drove right 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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