Yah, those are some pretty big words I know, but for me it almost happened Sunday on the Yuba. A buddy and I did some bass fishing at Collins Lake until about noon when the weather turned. After a quick lunch we decided to hit up the Yuba for a little bit of fun. On our way to our usual spot we talked to a guy who was on his way out and he told us to try a hole out that he had been doing pretty good in. Thank you whoever you were. Me and my buddy took opposite sides of the hole and began fishing. On my second drift WHAM...I got hammered, got in a good hook set and it was on. Immediately I saw a big red flash and yelled to my buddy to come over because I thought it was a pretty big fish (at first I was thinking 20" or so). The pig ran up and down, side to side for a few minutes taking whatever he wanted from my reel. When my buddy finally made it across to me the fish came in about 3 feet from shore and just sat in the current. Wow! It was then we finally got a look at him and it was BIG! To try and make a long story a little shorter... I fought the fish for about 15-20 minutes, and by fought I mean just held on to my rod at the mercy of the fish. It did whatever it wanted, and for a good time that was just sitting in the current as solid and strong as a big rock. Finally, it rolled up to the surface as if to waive the white flag so I finally thought it was tired out. I slowly brought him over to the shore and told my buddy to get below him...of course we didn't have a net on us. I got him within about a foot or two of my buddy and when the fish saw him he got his second wind, shook his head a few times and fired off into the current breaking me off in the process.
Man what a rush! As a new fly fisherman that was by far the biggest trout I have ever hooked, or ever even seen. I went home later that night and pulled out a tapemeasure to try and stack him up. I am convinced it was easily 28". It hurts to not get him in and get that trophy picture but I definitely will never forget it. As an avid reader of this site I always get so excited by all of the great fish stories and pictures and it feels GREAT to finally experience something similar.
Hey JMO32, That story brings up memories of a similar experience I had this fall at Putah. While I don't think the fish I hooked was 28" it was certainly the largest trout I've ever hooked on a fly and it was heartbreaking to lose it! Hang in there man if you are hooking hogs at the Yuba you'll be hooking them everywhere else in no time. That first trophy pic seems like it will never come but once you get it you'll end up with more pics than you know what to do with! chuck
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"when you put your hand into a flowing stream you touch the last that has come before and the first of what is still to come" -DaVinci
The bass fishing started well then turned bad once the weather changed. We caught a couple right away but then it shut off. My buddy did a tournament this weekend at Clear Lake...how was it for you?
I didn't really catch what fly the fish took, but I was using black aps, vadars and caddis pupas.
Chuck- how long did that stick with yah? It definitely has been on my brain...but I'm just gonna get back up there as soon as I can and try for him again.
Wow that sounds like fun. I have never been to Clear Lake but me and my buddy were just talking about going out that way some time. My friend that did the tournament this past weekend went 20 lbs (best 5) on the first day....I didn't hear how he did yesterday though, but I know the leader was at 31 lbs...Wow! You have any tips for someone that has never fished there?
The bass there will hit anything you throw...It's that good. Fish the keys in Clearlake oaks. That's a great area to catch them. If you see any grass floating on top, throw a frog on it. Topwater is a blast. Crankbaits work really good too. I'm wanting to flyfish for some bass this year, but my rod isn't heavy enough.
Hey LilWhip that sound like tons of fun! I have not been to Clearlake in a while but I went to a couple club tournaments there when I was in high school and did pretty well. I fished Clearlake Oaks also but it was right in the middle of the spawn so we were sight fishing mostly. Once the water temp gets into the mid sixties that will probably come into play more. JMO32 I still think about that fish sometimes because of how it went down. My old reel failed and the drag freespooled while the fish was running, sending coils of line everywhere. I chased the fish down the bank trying to undo the tangle but by the time I got it fixed the fish was off. I was pretty bummed for a while but a few steelies from the AR set me right!!! I don't really believe in the "fish of a lifetime" theory. The way I see it if you put yourself in the position to catch big fish with some time, practice, and dedication the fish of a lifetime can become a lifetime of fish! chuck
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"when you put your hand into a flowing stream you touch the last that has come before and the first of what is still to come" -DaVinci
Eh Chuck, I gotta 18' bass tracker and a rv in clear lake oaks... If you ever wanna make a trip up there, let me know... Same thing for anybody on this board.
We have a house on the water up at clear lake ... fly fishing for bass is a blast..there are a lot of good spots to rip some streamers throught the water or pull some poppers on the surface...
