Thanks to running into Matt R, and observing his dead drift (watched him hook 4 fish in about 45 minutes), I've improved my skills enough to hook a fish that took me to my backing. As soon as he hit he went airborn, amazing, and did it several more times. Had him on for a good while, kept steady pressure, tried to do a little reeling in and slowly lifting the rod, but the he would just pull to the point where I knew I had to give it to him. Than after losing more ground he finally let go, reeled in all my equipment including the #20 pt dropper. Hook was not straightened, still intact. There were no abstructions in the water, just a deep clear run. Thanks for any advice you can give.
For me, August is one of the most difficult months to land big fish. Sounds crazy, but I believe it's because the weed growth is at or near its maximum during August. My last two trips I had a couple of really good fish leave me with nothing but a clump of weeds. When the fish swim into the weeds, the tension of the tippet against the weeds pulls the fly from the fish's mouth. There's not much you can do about this except to fight the fish on as short a line as possible (take line any time you can). You can also try saying a quick prayer! Other than that, I think it's pretty much luck. Also, the existing current flows are still high and it's always a lot harder to fight a good fish when the current is stiff.
Yes, sir. I had a chance to get him early but was stunned by the whole thing. And he did go deep. I felt a rubbing on the line for awhile, lifted him up and out of it, but still, he was too far away. All the current against the line didn't help. Glad to know that I'm not alone. My prayers have only been directed toward getting bites. Now I will plead for a few landings.
I haven't been able to break into the 20 inch mark on putah yet, I know i have hooked a few that easily would go over 20 inches but they are like rocketships when you hook em, and they seem to know every log, brush or snag around em, Last winter I hooked a monster that jumped over a big branch that was hanging over the creek a good foot above the water, He just sat there making one jump after another, Nothing I could do except say a prayer and try to pull em back over that branch, SNAP ! So I think its alot of luck to land those pigs. Its pretty amazing how many large fish are in putah when they start spawning you really get to see just how many big trout are in there, Its fun just to watch em in there spawning behavoir.
20 inches is tough to crack in the summer Captain. I have hooked 7 to 10 fish this year that were well into the 24 inch range and one this winter that was 26-28. Plus during the summer the fish are really hot. The winter fish are tired and drained. A big summer fish is a better accomplishment for sure. As far as Matt R's technique, he's a steelheader and those dudes can fish. Just the right amount of pressure. I've watched guys play fish for so long out there I start rooting for the fish. Sure enough after too long the knot gives out. A very fine line indeed.
Is it true that all the big fish are spawners? We could assume this on the flats in South Florida: Snook, Redfish, Sea Trout. The big ones were always mothers.
