SilverFly
01-26-2004, 10:21 PM
Hello Ifish fly-fishers. I introduced myself a while back on the main board but I figured I should greet everyone here too since fly-fishing is my favorite method.
Anyway I did the intro story thing on the main board but I’ve got a fly-fishing yarn you might like.
Three years ago I got a new 8 weight, GL2 for Christmas but June rolls around before I finally get to break it in. This day I feel like a hike so I take it to a small local “river” with hatchery steelhead that require some serious footwork to get to. After finding the “easy” water devoid of fish I finally get to one of the “money holes” (more like a pocket.) This spot is located in some interesting geology. The kind of place with sheer vertical walls, rockslide rubble, narrow ledges, etc… A place where, in fact, the sun does not actually shine! I walk out on a ledge overlooking the foamy pocket and sure enough there is a pair of fat summer runs holding against the rock wall in 3 feet of water. All I have to do is climb down the slimy ledge, hop 2 large boulders, slide into the water up to my chest, cross the “river”, and creep up an unstable bank of loose river-rock to get within casting range undetected. I manage to do this successfully and breathe a sigh of relief when I still see the slate gray shapes holding in the shaded water barely 20 feet away. From a crouching position under some alder branches, I pick a size 8 purple woolly bugger and tie it on. Hands shaking, I flop a short roll cast just shy of the fish. I Strip out another 18” and flip the bugger right into the chute. Just as the fly is drifting into range, the nearer fish bolts forward and the line tightens as the slate gray torpedo suddenly flashes silver and white. I come tight, set the hook, and the fish responds with a double back flip nearly hitting the rock wall! It hits the water and instantly turns down river past the large boulders where I crossed. I turn to follow and I see it jump again in the narrow pool just around the bend. Already nearing my backing, I notice a strange scraping sensation as the fish peels line off my reel. As I get to my crossing point I find that my line is actually going through a submerged gap between the 2 large boulders! For a moment I consider breaking off the fish instead of risking damage to my new rod, but it appears to be a straight shot through the gap so I submerge my arm up to my shoulder and thread the rod through the hole. At full reach I give it a push and let go. I wade (OK, swim) around the boulder and dunk again to grab the rod. Fortunately, the fish is still on and has not gone over the tailout into the rapids below. A brief fight in the pool and I bring the bright 8lb steelhead to the bank. I tag the fish and hike out dripping wet, but happy to have broken in my new flyrod without actually breaking it.
-SF.
Anyway I did the intro story thing on the main board but I’ve got a fly-fishing yarn you might like.
Three years ago I got a new 8 weight, GL2 for Christmas but June rolls around before I finally get to break it in. This day I feel like a hike so I take it to a small local “river” with hatchery steelhead that require some serious footwork to get to. After finding the “easy” water devoid of fish I finally get to one of the “money holes” (more like a pocket.) This spot is located in some interesting geology. The kind of place with sheer vertical walls, rockslide rubble, narrow ledges, etc… A place where, in fact, the sun does not actually shine! I walk out on a ledge overlooking the foamy pocket and sure enough there is a pair of fat summer runs holding against the rock wall in 3 feet of water. All I have to do is climb down the slimy ledge, hop 2 large boulders, slide into the water up to my chest, cross the “river”, and creep up an unstable bank of loose river-rock to get within casting range undetected. I manage to do this successfully and breathe a sigh of relief when I still see the slate gray shapes holding in the shaded water barely 20 feet away. From a crouching position under some alder branches, I pick a size 8 purple woolly bugger and tie it on. Hands shaking, I flop a short roll cast just shy of the fish. I Strip out another 18” and flip the bugger right into the chute. Just as the fly is drifting into range, the nearer fish bolts forward and the line tightens as the slate gray torpedo suddenly flashes silver and white. I come tight, set the hook, and the fish responds with a double back flip nearly hitting the rock wall! It hits the water and instantly turns down river past the large boulders where I crossed. I turn to follow and I see it jump again in the narrow pool just around the bend. Already nearing my backing, I notice a strange scraping sensation as the fish peels line off my reel. As I get to my crossing point I find that my line is actually going through a submerged gap between the 2 large boulders! For a moment I consider breaking off the fish instead of risking damage to my new rod, but it appears to be a straight shot through the gap so I submerge my arm up to my shoulder and thread the rod through the hole. At full reach I give it a push and let go. I wade (OK, swim) around the boulder and dunk again to grab the rod. Fortunately, the fish is still on and has not gone over the tailout into the rapids below. A brief fight in the pool and I bring the bright 8lb steelhead to the bank. I tag the fish and hike out dripping wet, but happy to have broken in my new flyrod without actually breaking it.
-SF.