Monday, September 14, 2015

Week of Mouse, Day 1

While hunting for pickerel and bass today I had an idea. It happened right as a nice chain pickerel darted out of the bushes and tore my Morrish mouse to shreds. I thought, why shouldn't I do this all the time? Well. I really don't have the patience for that, so how about just a week? That's right, for this week, I am going to use nothing but mice. I'm going to fish for as many species as I can, in as many settings possible, and the only fly I am going to use is a mouse. Not one specific mouse pattern, but a variety of them. Subsurface ones for big bass, small ones for big brook trout on small streams, skimming foam ones for smallmouth, skipping chubby ones for trout and salmon. If this week goes well I'm going to repeat it next week. Wish me luck! And without further adieu, day one of Week of Mouse:

First I fished the lake. I got some absolutely smashing takes from pickerel. I landed one dink, and my pathetic strip strike lost me a true beast. That was some fish. I had thrown my mouse next to a grassy bank and began doing short hops when a wake formed an a a boil occurred behind the fly. I gave a few strips then paused. A few more. Wake, boil. Pause. One strip... two strip... WHAM!!! That fish was all mouth. Probably the biggest pickerel I have seen out of the lake, and the biggest I have caught was 24 inches. A real beast. Of course I didn't mess up when the 7 inch pencil took. I lost another good one at my feet an hour later.


After that I went to the Bell pond and had to exercise restraint, there were some big carp around and mice aren't exactly their favorite food. But it all payed off. Well, not really. You'd be surprised by how small a mouse eating fish can be!





I'm not sure where I'll throw mice tomorrow but it ought to be interesting!
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6 comments:

  1. CliffSeptember 15, 2015 at 5:56 AM

    That's a great idea. Mouse week, I love it! I can't wait to see all the catches, and I'm sure there will be many!
    Tie, fish, write and photo on...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. RM LytleSeptember 15, 2015 at 11:54 AM

      Thank you,
      I hope to get a few really nice ones in the mix

      Delete
  2. RI brook troutSeptember 15, 2015 at 7:19 PM

    Was this inspired by the recent fly fish ma blog post? I think this is a cool concept and certainly a fun one. I know bass usually hammer mice; I've had luck with them in the past. I am interested to see you land a brookie on one. I know large ones do eat them, but it will probably be difficult to find one large enough to hook.

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    Replies
    1. RM LytleSeptember 16, 2015 at 1:22 PM

      It was, in part. If it goes well I will make it annual and throw is some sort of competition and prizes.

      Delete
  3. AnonymousSeptember 16, 2015 at 5:44 AM

    Mouse Week -- sounds like a chapter to me! Keep more notes, anecdotes than you need for the blog....I know you rarely lack for material. In the meantime, those of us "armchair anglers" are enjoying your adventures.
    - G.
    Hope you are getting some of ths rain leftover from Tropical Storm Grace. Frog chorus this morning!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. RM LytleSeptember 16, 2015 at 1:23 PM

      Not in my book, no. Most of the fish I will be catching on Mice are introduced, non-native species.

      Delete

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