The last few weeks have been somewhat frustrating for me. I have at times attempted to remedy that but it's still hanging on. I'll try to explain. It can be said that in order to catch fish you must have your fly in the water. With this I can assure you I have been doing that. Now for the frustrating part. I can't seem to hold onto a fish after it's been hooked. Whether I loose it at a distance or at hand this seems to have been an issue. Now the problem is with me I will work it out I'm sure.
This stream I fished was in prime shape. I settled in on fishing the upper reaches manly because of it's more open banks. The boulders present a problem but I take my time in negotionating them. Side note here...which is slicker, snow or wet oak leaves?.....In the short run seen here I hooked two nice browns and lost them both at hand.
In this run/pool I hooked a good sized brown that took me into a snag. I worked at releasing him only to loose him soon after.
This wee brown was the one that didn't get away. Look how scantly he is hooked.
I know there are a few bigger browns in that stream. Perhaps these big flies will coax one to take.
I had the same problem last Friday Alan. But I had over a dozen lost and 3 released. Don't know if I'll fish this week, nearly everything is closed with the virus.
ReplyDeletebillp
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A dozen lost, wow. I guess it's better than a skunk.
Alan,
ReplyDeleteNice looking water. I'm sure your fortunes will turn around soon.
As my father would say. "The fish have to win some too"
JJ
Beaverdam
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Joe your dad was right. It's fishing and that has it's ups and downs.
I lost the last fish I hooked, a nice 10" brown; I feel your pain. Nice-looking Irish Mayflies!
ReplyDelete-Hans
Hans
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Hans I love tying and fishing them. They do wake up those lethargic trout.
I got him! last Thursday I hooked the largest fish I've had ever had on, a land locked salmon at least in the 25+ inch range with a #10 black Woolly Bugger. He rose twice and I got a good look at him. What happened? After a 2 minute fight the 5X tippet snapped. I was out gunned by my own doing. One week and a day later, this time armed with 2X and a #6 Royal Coachman streamer I got a second chance. Smaller, in the 20" range, he jumped multiple times. I got him to the shore where he began rolling in the river grass and dislodged my barb less fly. Now I'm 0-2. Fly fishing can be risky to your mental health. Those two fish are going to haunt me all winter if not longer.
ReplyDeleteDean F
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Dean that's an awesome fish. 25" is a big LL. Then to take another one and loosing it has got to feel like a kick in the gut. LL's are quite the fish on the fly. My biggest was a 20" fish taken in Maine.
We have a nice autumn LL run in Central Mass on the Still Water River out of Wachusett Reservoir. Kicked in the gut is about right. This must be what it feels like to get to the Super Bowl and lose- LOL. I'll be alright-
DeleteDean F, I never knew that. Perhaps next fall I might shoot up there and check it out. It's a lot closer then Maine or upstate NY.
DeleteDean, I feel your pain. In October I had 4 cracks at an unusually large brown that was hanging around the zone I fish. I still remember every encounter with it, most memorable being the take on a hare's ear nymph at dark that nearly jerked my rod out of my hand. I thought I had it for sure, but the barbless hook would not stay connected.
DeleteI think we all go through that from time to time. I know I do. I can never put my finger on why I suddenly get a case of the yips, just as I can never recall what I do to correct it; ...if I do anything at all. Hang in there, Alan; the sun will rise tomorrow and all your hook sets will once again sink home.
ReplyDeletemike
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Mike I was thinking that perhaps the fiberglass rod is to soft at the tip. So when I set the hook it's not stiff enough and not driving the hook in.
I love your blog, but do you think fishing for wild trout during the spawn is ethical? I for one do not and pursue stocked fish during this time.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous
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Yes I do...but let me explain. Spawning takes place from Sept to as late as Dec in some areas. Now when you stop fishing in say October or November and start fishing again in December you maybe fishing over spawning fish. Years of experience has taught me to know where and when trout are spawning. I avoid these areas and move elsewhere. Now the angler who say's he's ethical and refuses to fish while trout are spawning will have no problem fishing come January while he maybe doing more damage by stepping on redds and killing hundreds of fish. Now consider the damage done by stocking trout in streams that have self sustaining populations of wild trout, is that ethical?
G'Day Alan,
ReplyDeleteWhether you lose trout at a distance or close to hand, the positive is that you still fooled those trout to take your bundle of fur and feathers as a real creature. Remember too, that we call it fishing and not catching.
Cheers,
Steve.
Steve
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Steve that's a consolation, and the chance to actually get out there is a major plus. And I wonder who coined that phrase "fishing not catching"...
Amazing how some slender hook holds stay in, I've had pike to 20lb on a size 16 fine wire spade end barely in but luckily in the scissors, away from those sharp teeth..
ReplyDeleteBureboyblog
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Wow a 20lb pike on a tiny hook. It's a wonder he didn't straighten the hook out. Sometimes it's all luck and it's on our side.
Alan
ReplyDeleteI have the same problem getting the trout to be still while trying to get a pic of a trout I have played and landed. I started leaving the fly in the mouth of the trout while I am taking the pic. Thanks for sharing
Bill Trussell
DeleteBill they can get pretty fiesty at times. I just let them lie in the water a few seconds before trying to take a photo.
Seems the fishing gods have put a gray cloud over your head. Fear not, it will move on shortly.
ReplyDeleteMark Kautz
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Mark your right. I just thought it was something I was doing wrong.
Alan, I can't explain it either, but I go through spells where every fish I hook comes off. Although I would like to get a look at them at hand or in the net, I don't mind the efficient long distance releases any longer. I always loved the words of Vincent Marinaro on this.
ReplyDelete"My luck had been poor with the two better fish; yet not poor, for in the lexicon of the fly-fishermen, the words "rise" and "hooked" connote the successful and desirable climax; landing a fish is purely anticlimax." From my favorite fishing book 'Modern Dry Fly Code'.
Best, Sam
Sam
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Sam I recall you talking about it on the blog. So it must be something we all deal with at some point in are angling outings.. I never read that book, a classic I'm told.
It is a great read, Alan. His stories about him and his friend Charlie Fox fishing those limestone streams are great.
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