pab1
Well-known member
I went fishing today for the first time since the end of last November. After catching a few 7-10" fish I tied on a small woolhead sculpin pattern to see if I could move something a little bigger. I came to a nice stretch and caught another 10" on the sculpin. I started working it along the bank when I had a good hit and was almost instantly broken off. I saw the head of the fish and guessed it was at least 18" which is a very good fish for that stream. I decided to leave and come back later to try him again. There was a broken willow branch over the water (which might have helped break him off) right where the fish hit so I had a good landmark. I left the stream and hit the river it runs into for a while. I tied on an ugly streamer pattern I came up with this winter and caught several fish including a 15" rainbow. The pattern looks horrible when its dry. If I bought my flies I would not look twice at it. When its wet it looks pretty good though and the fish really seemed to like it. Then I came across this monster that didn't make it through the winter. I put my foot next to it for scale. I wear a size 11 wader.
That fish made everything I had caught so far seem tiny. It also made me feel under-gunned with the 4 weight rod I was using. A few hours had gone by since I had been broken off so I decided to head back to the small stream and give that fish another try. I approached the hole and started working my new streamer pattern down near the willow branch where he had hit before. After a few seconds I felt weight on the end of the line and raised the rod tip. I could tell it was a good fish. I rushed downstream to keep him from breaking me off on the willow branch and then got a good look at the fish. He looked bigger than I thought from the glimpse I got earlier. The fish took off downstream and I tried to keep up. After a good fight I was able to land the fish about 80 yards from where we started. It turned out to be a 22" rainbow. This is the biggest fish I have caught on this stream so far and a great way to start my 2012 season!
That fish made everything I had caught so far seem tiny. It also made me feel under-gunned with the 4 weight rod I was using. A few hours had gone by since I had been broken off so I decided to head back to the small stream and give that fish another try. I approached the hole and started working my new streamer pattern down near the willow branch where he had hit before. After a few seconds I felt weight on the end of the line and raised the rod tip. I could tell it was a good fish. I rushed downstream to keep him from breaking me off on the willow branch and then got a good look at the fish. He looked bigger than I thought from the glimpse I got earlier. The fish took off downstream and I tried to keep up. After a good fight I was able to land the fish about 80 yards from where we started. It turned out to be a 22" rainbow. This is the biggest fish I have caught on this stream so far and a great way to start my 2012 season!
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