When most trout nuts think Green Drakes they picture big bugs being gulped up by big fish, on big water, not a bad mental picture and you can't blame them and i used to be the same, and still am sometimes.  However anymore i am just as happy on a small mountain stream where the fish average 6 inches long with the potential for a trophy 10 incher and there is not another 2 legged angler around for miles.  With this in mind as the crowds grew during the green drake frenzy on our most recent trip to PA we decided to go small.  Small streams, small rods, and typically smaller fish though there are exception.  While we did catch plenty of fish around the average size of brookies on streams only 15 feet wide we came across something else very interesting and the equivalent to hitting the wild brookie lottery.....beaver dams.  Beaver dams on small streams make a virtual swimming pool for fish used to being confined to smaller spaces, allowing them to grow larger, for brookies that is.

A fish like this is cause for celebration...when its average size your dreaming.

And they kept coming, slashing at green drakes like they were t-bones.

This guy would not take a dry so a dropper added below the dry was the ticket. 

Seriously.

The bottom end of the pool created by the dam

Looking over the top. 

As i came around the bend and saw this a choir of angels started singing.

Throw in a bunch of these guys and it doesn't get any better.

Your about to get eaten.

This chunky brown was a pleasant surprise from the pond. 

One of those days that will be remembered...and revisited.  Until next time.