In the course of ones time angling we are bound to cross paths with some strange happenings. These encounters will usually go unrecorded and remain memories in our mind coming forward at times when they are brought up in conversation while angling or over coffee and such. Here are two that I've encountered and was fortunate to have a camera handy to photograph them.
I was nymphing a small stream one day. In a section of slow moving water as the drift came to a stop. The fly set there for a few seconds and as I lifted the rod I could feel weight. Proceeding to retrieve I could tell it was not a fish, but perhaps a piece of sunken wood. As I placed the object on the bank I noticed a fresh water mussel had tried to eat my pheasant tail nymph. Being a strict catch and release guy I tried to remove the fly, only the mussel would not give it up. After wrangling for some time I finally got it out. I put the mussel back in the water and put the bent and tattered nymph in my box. I still have that fly somewhere.
Another time while fishing streamers one early morning I hooked a small brown. As the fish moved to the surface as I retrieved a second brown, somewhat larger than the one hooked on the streamer, hit the smaller one. The brown held the smaller one for some time. As I brought the two to shore, I attempted to shake the larger one free from the little one. He would have no part in letting go, and hung onto that fish. After picking him up, he let go. I looked at the smaller brown, he did not look to be harmed. I set him back into the water where he laid for a few moments and swam off.
CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE
That looks like a state record for mussel, Possibly a world record on the fly rod! If I were you I would definitely submit the photo to the inland fishery folks.. I'm pretty sure there is a catch and release state record category, And that does look like a winner! If for nothing else you might make some dude laugh..
ReplyDeleteSwamp Yankee,
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It does hold the record...largest mussel on the fly.
Good stuff my friend.
ReplyDeleteI as well have had a large brown trout try to eat a smaller one that I was reeling in.
Also, had a sea gull drop a small flounder on my head while saltwater fishing. Should have seen me jump!
A.T.
Apache Trout,
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Flounders from the sky. Would have loved to see that.
Wow, mussle fishing with a fly rod. What a concept. LOL I think I'd be a bit careful wading in the water. You seem to have some mighty carnivorous creatures there.
ReplyDeleteMark Kautz,
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Racoons love mussels, I could be cited for trolling for racoons.
its great you managed to capture the brown grabbing the smaller brown on camera, it happened to me once yesars ago, the wee trout was as goood as dead when he let go of his grasp.
ReplyDeleteCol,
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It seems as if the bigger guy just refused to give up his meal.
Some very special moments there. I've had a few unique experiences like that myself. You spend enough time out there, you're bound to see some strange things. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteJay,
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So much more to fishing, we just have to observe, and take part.
Brk Trt - nice couple of stories. We do see some amazing things fishing! I have never hooked a mussel but my first time fishing the Farmington, I hooked a small salmon parr. I stopped "retrieving" it for a few moments while I tended to the line on the reel. When I took up the slack something MUCH larger was on the other end of the line and swimming around my feet. It was the largest brown trout, I've ever seen (in person) in my life. I managed to get my net under it. I got it half in the net (it was larger than the net would hold) when it snapped the 4x tippet and off it went. I really wanted to get a look down it's throat because I am certain there was a small salmon paar down there.
ReplyDeleteMark,
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That must have been some brown. I can only imagine how many salmon met the same fate.
Great stuff!! I've had the big brown chasing the little brown before, except that after a game of tug of war, the big fish spit the little guy out so I didn't have the opportunity to get a good look. Thanks for sharing a great story made even better by pictures!
ReplyDeleteDavid Knapp,
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The photos really bring it to life.
I caught a saltwater mussel once near Watch Hill. It almost spooled me.
ReplyDeleteRKM,
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You sure it wasn't a Albie.
Brk Trt!!! I am suprised you did not take that mussel home and try to make some delectable delight!!!!!!! Nice pics of the Brown!!!!
ReplyDeleteTROUT1,
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I probably would have, only I don't know if the fresh water variety are safe to eat.
Their beauty masks their predatory nature..
ReplyDeletepenbayman,
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That's for sure.
This is a great post. It goes to show that trout are not dainty little wussy fish that just eat insects. That smaller brown is almost half the length of the one eating it.
ReplyDeleteKevin Frank,
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No they can be quite tough and cannibalistic.