C
ChezJfrey
0
Went 1-2 today.
Started at one of my usual spots and had no action for an hour and a half. Got in the truck and hit #2 usual spot. Saw a guy, but he was nowhere near my target area...walked by him, hiking another 100-150 yards and tossed a spinner a few times. Within 5 minutes, hooked this shiny thing:
Gave a few more goes around the area, moved around...nothing. Hit another section of the river I've never fished before, but found beautiful water. Still nothing, so headed back to where I started as I've had the best luck in late afternoon. After a few casts, my spoon stopped moving downstream...set the hook and my rod bends, but that's it. Snagged? Lean it back again and it pumps a bit - fish! Then, the line goes slack. Uh oh, bad knot? I reel in quickly and still nothing....10-20-30 ft. of line. Dang, must have busted...keep reeling, then I feel a fish and it's now perpendicular with me out in the current.
Now, as soon as it feels the pressure, it freakin' takes off upstream like a rocket. I've never had so much line peel off so quickly...this fish is like a freight train! I'm glad it's heading upstream, perhaps take a little steam outta the thing. After a short while, it stops and hangs for a bit, so I work it back, bit by bit. When it gets within 20 feet or so, it starts flipping out, thrashing out of the water, violent head shakes, this thing is hot! It's also the biggest and certainly the most powerful I've hooked to date.
Then, I suppose the inevitable...it takes off...downstream this time. I'm losing lots of line as it makes its way out to the middle of the current and is absolutely flying. I figure I need to try keeping some of the line I'm losing, so I follow it while reeling. Unfortunate for me, the bank is lined with overhanging trees, so I have to keep below the water line, ducking branches. At one point, one of them touches the water and I have to dip my rod under water while navigating downstream.
Near where the river bends, the fish stops and I'm able to retrieve some line. Just below the bend, there is a set of rapids and I'd really like to keep this beast above that if I can. In fact, I'm standing in the same spot where I landed a native. Though it's become quite evident to me that using 10 lb. leader for the low, clear conditions has put me at a disadvantage for dictating anything to this fish; it is pretty much doing whatever it wants.
I gain some ground on this fish, but again, when I get it near, it bolts...tearing line away like I'm freespooling. It's going to the rapids and there's nothing I can do but follow. I duck under the trees, making my way over the rocks. Fortunately, when the fish hit the tumbling water, it must have felt a bit more secure, because was just waiting for me to gain my footing and bearings. Thanks
Since the river keeps curving down below this, there's a nice seam and some calmer water on the near side...maybe I can land this thing somewhere near here? The fish bumps back out into the wilder water, but I'm able to actually guide it back to the nearside below me. I'm ducking under the overhanging branches, when my line gets tangled in one of them...dang it. I quickly dislodge it and the fish is still there...phew! I'm able to pull the fish toward me, but my rod can't go higher than a couple feet above the water's surface. C'mon...a little closer, pull a bit, reel, pull a bit, reel. The fish appears to be cooperating better...getting closer, within 20 feet.
Downstream there is a mine field of rocks protruding above the water, I can't raise my rod tip...I get an ominous feeling...like I'm cornered. C'mon...the water is so shallow that the fish's back breaks above the water line...native. Though, at this point, this comes as no surprise as it's completely running the show. Pull a bit more, reel. We're about 15 ft. apart, then it reads my mind and spooks. About face and boom! Burning line again and headed straight down toward the rock field. I'm in trouble, I have nothing to lose, so I clamp down harder and pray
Nope, the fish heads right into the rocks...then takes a right. I can't raise my rod above the tops of the rocks, and my line slips under one. Bye, bye fish! My line is still taut, but broken from the lure/fish, under a rock and a couple tugs, it slips free and I reel in and just let out a wimper/sigh at the sight of a curly-end leader.
Exciting day, but I just can't bring the bigguns to the bank
Started at one of my usual spots and had no action for an hour and a half. Got in the truck and hit #2 usual spot. Saw a guy, but he was nowhere near my target area...walked by him, hiking another 100-150 yards and tossed a spinner a few times. Within 5 minutes, hooked this shiny thing:
Gave a few more goes around the area, moved around...nothing. Hit another section of the river I've never fished before, but found beautiful water. Still nothing, so headed back to where I started as I've had the best luck in late afternoon. After a few casts, my spoon stopped moving downstream...set the hook and my rod bends, but that's it. Snagged? Lean it back again and it pumps a bit - fish! Then, the line goes slack. Uh oh, bad knot? I reel in quickly and still nothing....10-20-30 ft. of line. Dang, must have busted...keep reeling, then I feel a fish and it's now perpendicular with me out in the current.
Now, as soon as it feels the pressure, it freakin' takes off upstream like a rocket. I've never had so much line peel off so quickly...this fish is like a freight train! I'm glad it's heading upstream, perhaps take a little steam outta the thing. After a short while, it stops and hangs for a bit, so I work it back, bit by bit. When it gets within 20 feet or so, it starts flipping out, thrashing out of the water, violent head shakes, this thing is hot! It's also the biggest and certainly the most powerful I've hooked to date.
Then, I suppose the inevitable...it takes off...downstream this time. I'm losing lots of line as it makes its way out to the middle of the current and is absolutely flying. I figure I need to try keeping some of the line I'm losing, so I follow it while reeling. Unfortunate for me, the bank is lined with overhanging trees, so I have to keep below the water line, ducking branches. At one point, one of them touches the water and I have to dip my rod under water while navigating downstream.
Near where the river bends, the fish stops and I'm able to retrieve some line. Just below the bend, there is a set of rapids and I'd really like to keep this beast above that if I can. In fact, I'm standing in the same spot where I landed a native. Though it's become quite evident to me that using 10 lb. leader for the low, clear conditions has put me at a disadvantage for dictating anything to this fish; it is pretty much doing whatever it wants.
I gain some ground on this fish, but again, when I get it near, it bolts...tearing line away like I'm freespooling. It's going to the rapids and there's nothing I can do but follow. I duck under the trees, making my way over the rocks. Fortunately, when the fish hit the tumbling water, it must have felt a bit more secure, because was just waiting for me to gain my footing and bearings. Thanks
Since the river keeps curving down below this, there's a nice seam and some calmer water on the near side...maybe I can land this thing somewhere near here? The fish bumps back out into the wilder water, but I'm able to actually guide it back to the nearside below me. I'm ducking under the overhanging branches, when my line gets tangled in one of them...dang it. I quickly dislodge it and the fish is still there...phew! I'm able to pull the fish toward me, but my rod can't go higher than a couple feet above the water's surface. C'mon...a little closer, pull a bit, reel, pull a bit, reel. The fish appears to be cooperating better...getting closer, within 20 feet.
Downstream there is a mine field of rocks protruding above the water, I can't raise my rod tip...I get an ominous feeling...like I'm cornered. C'mon...the water is so shallow that the fish's back breaks above the water line...native. Though, at this point, this comes as no surprise as it's completely running the show. Pull a bit more, reel. We're about 15 ft. apart, then it reads my mind and spooks. About face and boom! Burning line again and headed straight down toward the rock field. I'm in trouble, I have nothing to lose, so I clamp down harder and pray
Nope, the fish heads right into the rocks...then takes a right. I can't raise my rod above the tops of the rocks, and my line slips under one. Bye, bye fish! My line is still taut, but broken from the lure/fish, under a rock and a couple tugs, it slips free and I reel in and just let out a wimper/sigh at the sight of a curly-end leader.Exciting day, but I just can't bring the bigguns to the bank
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