Tangled
Well-known member
- Messages
- 710
- Reaction score
- 505
I find that it's not so much the fish you catch but more the circumstances that you fish in that makes the memories. So I regularly run my mind over a situation I got into a few years ago where I didn't actually catch or even hook a fish.
It was my very first salmon river and my second day on it. I'd caught a couple the day before but this day had been hard and we were on our way back to the lodge to write a blank into the book. Walking along the river we were looking down into it from above - you have to haven't you? - and we saw 5 salmon at the head of a pool so of course I had to have a go. But it was tricky.
We were 4m above the fish above a cut in the river, so I had to go upriver and wade down. It was a difficult wade across a wide underwater ledge with deep water to my right and a vertical rock bank to my left. When I had to hold my elbows out of the water I felt that was far enough and if I couldn't reach them with a fly then too bad.
But I could just about get there and with my spotter above I was able to cast to them. My mate was telling me that the fish were following as the fly swung by but then losing interest and returning to their positions. I tried bigger and smaller flies no retrieves and fast and slow stripping and every time at least one fish followed but didn't take.
I eventually had to give up but I still wonder what else I could have done. I was fishing at the right depth, conditions were pretty good, about 15C and overcast. water was clear and cold. No other casting position was possible.
I know a bit more now and have a wider selection of flies. I was using 10lb Maxima and the fish were in the 7-12lb range so I didn't feel like going lighter (and couldn't anyway) I'd certainly try a dry and a hitch but I reckon a 4” stripped-back sunray might have cracked it.
But I'll never know and always wonder.
It was my very first salmon river and my second day on it. I'd caught a couple the day before but this day had been hard and we were on our way back to the lodge to write a blank into the book. Walking along the river we were looking down into it from above - you have to haven't you? - and we saw 5 salmon at the head of a pool so of course I had to have a go. But it was tricky.
We were 4m above the fish above a cut in the river, so I had to go upriver and wade down. It was a difficult wade across a wide underwater ledge with deep water to my right and a vertical rock bank to my left. When I had to hold my elbows out of the water I felt that was far enough and if I couldn't reach them with a fly then too bad.
But I could just about get there and with my spotter above I was able to cast to them. My mate was telling me that the fish were following as the fly swung by but then losing interest and returning to their positions. I tried bigger and smaller flies no retrieves and fast and slow stripping and every time at least one fish followed but didn't take.
I eventually had to give up but I still wonder what else I could have done. I was fishing at the right depth, conditions were pretty good, about 15C and overcast. water was clear and cold. No other casting position was possible.
I know a bit more now and have a wider selection of flies. I was using 10lb Maxima and the fish were in the 7-12lb range so I didn't feel like going lighter (and couldn't anyway) I'd certainly try a dry and a hitch but I reckon a 4” stripped-back sunray might have cracked it.
But I'll never know and always wonder.