Fly Tying/Fishing Thread

[Hem]

Bet that was a fun battle! What did he weigh?

It was a good fight. Fish ran across the river well in to backing.
I'll guess weight at 10lbs.

 

[Rie Bread]

Water was 70 degrees by 3pm. Lots of boats on that upper section near the dam

 

[Flatbrimmer]

View attachment 331282

That’s a beaut! Nice work!

Surprised you stripped line on him rather than reel!?

 

[Hem]

That’s a beaut! Nice work!

Surprised you stripped line on him rather than reel!?

I was using an older reel that day which doesn't always wind the line smoothly. I typically strip the line on larger fish anyway...guess I feel it's safer.

 

[Flatbrimmer]

I was using an older reel that day which doesn't always wind the line smoothly. I typically strip the line on larger fish anyway...guess I feel it's safer.

Hey me too, but I’ve heard a good quality reel+good sized fish=happy landing. I’ve never been a big flyfisherman and didn’t know better so I’ve always just stripped it no matter what. Lol

 

[longbow51]

You get a big fish, get it on the reel. Eventually the fish of a lifetime is going to tangle the stripped line in your sandal, backpack, etc. The Orvis Battenkill Disc Drag is $175 now. A daughter of a friend of mine just landed a 4# rainbow on this reel, with a 4wt IM6 Winston. Tried to post the picture, but couldn't get it without showing the face of her or her brother.

I was a strict click and pawl purist until a fish towed my buddy's 16' motorboat and spooled me. On a Hardy Perfect, which is a pretty good click and pawl. It haunts me, not to the point of Captain Ahab, but I wonder, what trout could tow a boat with 3 guys in it?

 

[Hem]

You get a big fish, get it on the reel. Eventually the fish of a lifetime is going to tangle the stripped line in your sandal, backpack, etc. The Orvis Battenkill Disc Drag is $175 now. A daughter of a friend of mine just landed a 4# rainbow on this reel, with a 4wt IM6 Winston. Tried to post the picture, but couldn't get it without showing the face of her or her brother.

I was a strict click and pawl purist until a fish towed my buddy's 16' motorboat and spooled me. On a Hardy Perfect, which is a pretty good click and pawl. It haunts me, not to the point of Captain Ahab, but I wonder, what trout could tow a boat with 3 guys in it?

Circumstance dictates which path. I've seen people lose big fish when the fish runs at the rod and they can't possibly reel in line fast enough to keep tension. Depending on tippet diameter I trust my hand tension everytime. We are talking trout...a few good runs and the battle is all in close.
Many times I get the fish on the reel but finish the fight by hand in close where fish are often lost due to poor rod management. You can't palm a reel when you have a net in one hand.

 

[longbow51]

Circumstance dictates which path. I've seen people lose big fish when the fish runs at the rod and they can't possibly reel in line fast enough to keep tension. Depending on tippet diameter I trust my hand tension everytime. We are talking trout...a few good runs and the battle is all in close.
Many times I get the fish on the reel but finish the fight by hand in close where fish are often lost due to poor rod management. You can't palm a reel when you have a net in one hand.

I agree, but I only fish with my wife, or another friend, so net is not an issue. Boats these days. I do long for the wading days, but knees say no. I'd give anything, including the proverbial left nut, to wade a few miles up a stream. Enjoy!

But, I did it for decades, so I feel blessed. And, before The Movie.

 

[Hem]

I agree, but I only fish with my wife, or another friend, so net is not an issue. Boats these days. I do long for the wading days, but knees say no. Enjoy!

I'd like to hook a fish that drags my 16' boat across the lake.

 

[Hem]

I mistakenly posted a rod for sale under Fishing Hole and not this thread. FYI
Bonehead move.

 

[Ought Six]

Curious you fly fisher folk’s thoughts:

Targeted fish with just streamers Sunday morning and it was great action. In a couple hours, I quit counting the number of flashes and strikes at 52, but had only landed 3. Fish just didn’t seem to be committing but were aggressively coming to the big bugs (as small as sz6 wooly buggers and up to double articulated sz2s). By the end of the 3.5 hour morning, a buddy and I had over 90 flashes and strikes, but only landed a dozen or so fish.

What is this behavior? And any tips for landing more fish when they are super active but not fully committing?

I’ve fished nymphs in that section this time of year before and caught 30-40 in a couple hours, but my buddy is a streamer purist lol so figured I’d fish his preferred method. Went to nymphs a couple times for a few casts just to see and immediately caught fish, then went back to the streamers..

 

[Rie Bread]

Were the fish just following the streamer and not always striking it? Different cadences and rod tip movements help. Pauses can help entice a strike
There is the “strip set” and a “rod set” for setting the hook not sure which you were doing.

 

[Ought Six]

Were the fish just following the streamer and not always striking it? Different cadences and rod tip movements help. Pauses can help entice a strike
There is the “strip set” and a “rod set” for setting the hook not sure which you were doing.

Felt like I tried every trick in the book. They struck it most of the time but just a tail bite so no hookup. They liked a real fast and twitched streamer which maybe made it tough for them to grab it but slower retrieves weren’t getting any attention.

 

[Rie Bread]

Felt like I tried every trick in the book. They struck it most of the time but just a tail bite so no hookup. They liked a real fast and twitched streamer which maybe made it tough for them to grab it but slower retrieves weren’t getting any attention.

Huh yeah that’s streamer fishing I guess. Iv been into dead drifting streams with a euro rod lately if I’m streamer fishing.

 

[Hem]

Water temp probably effecting trouts willingness. Dog days of summer isn't streamer time in my playbook....except mousing in the dark.

 

[NR_Hunter]

…..

 

[NR_Hunter]

Look at you guys arguing about the best way to land big fish. Wish I could join in, but I don’t catch big fish.

Curious you fly fisher folk’s thoughts:

Targeted fish with just streamers Sunday morning and it was great action. In a couple hours, I quit counting the number of flashes and strikes at 52, but had only landed 3. Fish just didn’t seem to be committing but were aggressively coming to the big bugs (as small as sz6 wooly buggers and up to double articulated sz2s). By the end of the 3.5 hour morning, a buddy and I had over 90 flashes and strikes, but only landed a dozen or so fish.

What is this behavior? And any tips for landing more fish when they are super active but not fully committing?

I’ve fished nymphs in that section this time of year before and caught 30-40 in a couple hours, but my buddy is a streamer purist lol so figured I’d fish his preferred method. Went to nymphs a couple times for a few casts just to see and immediately caught fish, then went back to the streamers..

Trout are very territorial. There are only so many safe places in a stream/river they can hold while also having access to food. The biggest fish get the best spot and they have to defend it

My theory is is that a lot of those short streamer strikes are fish being territorial. They aren’t always trying to eat the streamer, they just want it out of their space.

 

[MTLabrador]

The weather is way too hot, but I did alright on dries a couple days ago.

 

[peterk1234]

Went camping in Wyoming this weekend. Tiny mountain creek. Little cutties and brookies. I don't believe a human has fished here ever. 54 degree water temps. Fish in every piece of pocket water. Truly a special place.

 

[Rie Bread]

Biggest fish on a dry yet.