As most know I am a rookie and unfortunately don't get much time to fish anywhere else but Putah. So don't get into many fish I am sure it is me more than anything. I seem to do a lot of obssesing over wether I have enough weight or too much is my dropper long enough or too short, leader to long short etc etc. Putah does not do well for ones confidnce but its all I can get too on a regular basis.
Anyway now for a real disturbing problem the last four fish (over two seperate outings) I have hooked and landed have all been foul hooked in the back half by my dropper!?! I presume it is because i am missing/late-on a strike on the first and snaging them with the dropper?? I feel like I am as fast as can be on any twitch of the indicator. Some of my thoughts on possible explanations are too much leader and weight...or ... too big an indicator...or bad drift/mending??? Any help or advice/explanation would be greatly appreciated as what little confidence I had confidence is dissapearing fast.
Also with some of the recent posts about fish mortality after release I feel a bit guilty about hitting Putah fairly regularly and the last thing I want to be doing is damageing/killing the few fish i do get into!!!!
Thanks in advnce.
Alastair
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"Three-fourths of the Earth's surface is water, and one-fourth is land. It is quite clear that the good Lord intended us to spend triple the amount of time fishing as taking care of the lawn." - Anon.
You're not gonna kill the fish if you release it properly. I've had that happen to me before, but not 4 fish in a row. Sometime it will happen if when you miss a hookset when a fish hits the top fly. The only thing I can tell you is put you more productive fly on the bottom and make sure to set down stream.
You know AA, I've had a high number of foul hooks in the past also. I'm also a newbie but I've since figured out my main problem. It wasn't the reaction time, I was leaving too much slack in the line on the water between my rod tip and the indicator, so my first move up with the rod would pick up all that slack first instead of set the hook, losing crucial milliseconds.
Yeah sounds like that might be it but I do really try not to have slack but whatI consider no/little slack may not be good enough.
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"Three-fourths of the Earth's surface is water, and one-fourth is land. It is quite clear that the good Lord intended us to spend triple the amount of time fishing as taking care of the lawn." - Anon.
I'd get over the fish mortality thing. Landed quickly, released quickly, and its fine most of the time. Putah can be a real confidence buster ! I'd really try to get up to some "easier" water to build confidence and practice the basics. Time is your best friend, Freetime to fish that is. I think sucess has alot to do with just being able to spend alot of time on the water. I also beleive that working with slack line in some situations is a must. Slack is not always a bad thing. Its impossible to explain how to get a drift here becuase every single drift you will ever make is different.
If you ever figure out what's causing all of the foul-hookups, let me know. I've fished Putah around 25 years and I still get a lot of foul-hooked fish. I do know that certain fly combinations seem to trigger more foul-hookups. For example, when I use an egg pattern as my top fly, I seem to get a lot of them. I just figure that the fish are hitting the egg, spitting it out and then I am setting the hook.Â
you answered your own question.All those things can at one time or another foul hook a fish. I recommend a small under water camera to help solve your problem..
Go Pro has a cool underwater camera for $200. You can also use it for action sports. I think I am going to get one and see what Ralph Cutter is talking about.
Hey guys thanks for all the help. Got a day off yesterday and decided to give Putah another go. Arrived at the water in time to see an Osprey hammer a 10 incher!!! Anyway changed flies around and worked as best I could on my mending to keep slack out of the system... am going to need some help there...anyhow had an awesome day
I think I just happened to be at the right place at the right time hooked and landed fish all day long with only one fouled!! With out a doubt the best day I have ever had anywhere!! (Not that means much as i haven't fished too many places.)
Once again thanks for all the advice.
Cheers
Alastair
__________________
"Three-fourths of the Earth's surface is water, and one-fourth is land. It is quite clear that the good Lord intended us to spend triple the amount of time fishing as taking care of the lawn." - Anon.
Aren't you supposed to be squishing grapes like Cole? Maybe the African grapes are different. Congrats on catching some fish. Did you really catch a 23" trout or was that a misprint. Anyways good job. Head out to the Yuba if you have a few hours.
