The idea was to both get my left hand used to being a part of the cast again and maybe hook a big rainbow. Nothing felt right about the first pool. It had been months since I'd done any spey casting at all and it was showing. Not that I was particularly good at it before either. But I was really inconsistent to start this outing. I had expected that though, and subsequently chose a run I didn't think would produce to work the kinks out in.
I moved down to a pool I was much more confident in when I was comfortable with my casting and presentation. Just where I was expecting there to be a fish my purple marabou Intruder got slammed so hard the hit just about pulled rod out of my hand. I'm almost certain it couldn't have been a stocker rainbow. Not given the biggest fall ones I've seen here being about 20 inches. And I missed it. I cussed, then shook it off (literally). I made note of how much line I had out and the rod angle and made another 15 swings to that lie even though I knew whatever it was wasn't coming back.
I moved up one pool and worked it through about as thoroughly as I could, which wasn't very. The river was high enough to make wading the line that would have been most optimal for good slow swings very uncomfortable. I got out to certain rocks and did what I could and was rewarded with a half a dozen grabs, including some spectacularly visual ones.
The fish don't wait around for it to warm up, and neither do I. It has been said a million different ways a million times by a million people: you don't become a better angler by waiting around for the weather that suits you best. There are still a lot of anglers out there that would being doing themselves good by heeding this advice.
Thanks for joining the adventure, and tight lines.
It is weird sitting in Florida with 81 degrees feeling slightly chilly reading this.
ReplyDeleteI was sweating most of the day. Too many layers.
DeleteThat's cool to be swinging and practicing with the spey stick. Looks like a lot of fun!
ReplyDeleteIt can be.
DeleteWe don't know what real cold is over here in the UK.When it does ice up never thick enough to safely fish through
ReplyDeleteI'd still trade New England's climate for the UK's maritime climate.
DeleteWinter is one my favorite times of year to fish. Most likely I will have my favorite zone all to myself which suits me just fine.
ReplyDeleteYup, the solitude we that brave the winter get is what makes it worthwhile.
DeleteAre you going to fish the Atlantic salmon broodstock?
ReplyDeleteProbably. And hopefully steelhead or landlocked salmon. Definitely holdover striped bass for which a swung fly is deadly.
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