Was able to spend most of the day on the creek today. Got there about 8:30a. Surprised by the number of bodies on the water.
Fished 3 spots up from 5, down from the bridge.
Continue to see aggressive behavior from large fish. Appears to be what some call pre-spawn. (???) Perhaps establishing turf. Fished one pool from rocky bottomed bank, harder, but opposite shore looked like redd land ... need to be cautious. Don't see redds yet, but likely sites for later.
I made a new bug choice based on the "behavior" I've been seeing last couple times out. Turned out to be a good choice! Got one 12" football to hand in this pool. Hooked several others. Also got into a new size and weight category than I've experienced so far! no kidding around!
The first one gave me such a tussle before heading downstream that I was shaking and had to take a break after it came undone ... I'm a believer!
I hit one more like that in this pool! Some of you seem to hit fish in this class regularly ... it's one thing to read about it and another to experience it! Yikes, what a rush.
Moved to another pool, got my new personal best to hand! approx 16" native, just bigger than the opening in my net. Killer. I believe in keeping it real ... so you can never tell about the one(s) that get away, but even the 16"er paled in intensity to the other 3 monster takes I had today!
Then I got SMOKED! Biggest connect of the day, massive take, and set. I thought it was going to be easy, it motored 10' upstream, I tried to control it's head ... that was a JOKE ... it turned back, and in one hard long run, stripped half the line off my reel! Gone in about 5 seconds, it stopped running and then it came undone!
My miracle pick, went cold so I switched to old trusty, #18 olive fox pupa, w/#26 midge blu dun on a short dropper. One more heart wrencher and several smaller hookups.
Fished til just before dark, exciting day! For me any how.
Today, gave me hope, but also reminded me I've got a lot to learn.
Almost forgot ... Happy Thanksgiving one and all!
Good times, Ed.
-- Edited by Lahontan at 21:41, 2007-11-21
-- Edited by Lahontan at 21:42, 2007-11-21
-- Edited by Lahontan at 21:51, 2007-11-21
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"You tell yourself that it will be both educational and spiritually uplifting, as all imaginative excuses for goofing off are." John Gierach, "Music of the Spheres".
Sounds like you had a very good outing and were very successful. Bringing fish to hand on those very small barbless flies does make it very challenging.
awsome post ed, i am so glad you finally got to feel the real deal. it sucks that you couldnt land it. but i remember my first pig that did that to me and i will never forget it or make those same mistakes twice. next time i got ahold of a pig i landed 4 over 16" in one day. eric was there he will tell ya. and all from the same spot. so if you are going to putah tomorrow let me know. ill be eatin turkey for most the day. but ill shoot you a quick pm to let you know whats up. i figured you are due for a pig, and as many of times that i have been out there helpin my bosses and me not catchin anything its my time to shine as well. I HOPE. well again i am so happy that you got to land some nice fish, and got to feel the raw power of some of these monsters like the one larry caught. looks like i really need to get my pic up. and just so packrat knows mine is 24"s long, i measured it with my rod then when i got home took a tape measure to it. pics will mess with length trust me, i have a largemouth bass on my wall back in new york that measured 28" and 11 lbs and didnt look a thing over 24 in the pic.
well pm is sent to you ed. hope to hear from ya
Great Job Brian
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Fishing isnt about catching fish, its not about who caught the most, or who caught the biggest, its about the experience that you have on the water, and the life long bonds you make with others on the journey to becoming a better person inside.
Nice to see ya had some action Ed. I fished today and hooked like 5 fish, Couple of em were some nice fish. I had action on a #20 disco midge and a #20 green bodied soft hackle I think its grizzly hackle not sure. All but one fish hit on the swing. A slight increase in flows is gonna make fishing much better then in weeks past.
