Sweet accidental catch
I have a feeling that fishing possibilities in rivers will be over soon. Winter is coming, with freezing temperatures and snow. But today was slightly warmer than in previous days. Despite of light rain, small grey mayflies were hatching.
In the middle of the day, graylings and trout started feeding on mayflies. Unfortunately, I forgot the box with dry flies at home. I met another fisherman on the river, and asked him to give me some flies. He opened his box, and I picked 3 CDC mayfly imitations on tiny hooks.
Despite for good possibilities, I didn't have luck with dry fly. There were many hits and misses, neither one fish was properly hooked. Maybe because hooks had too small gap.
Then I switched to Czech nymphing. Today was not my lucky day. I snagged few flies, but fish didn't bite. After changing couple of locations, and alternating between dry and nymph rod, I got nice rainbow trout.
I was thinking to leave soon. For me one decent fish is enough satisfaction, i'm not that eager for numbers. Especially in the late season, when fishing is slow, and having 2-3 bites in few hours can be considered as luck. But as last attempt, I wanted of make use of OPST tackle with small wooly bugger.
I rigged the same rod I use with dry fly, with OPST line. Few casts across the pool. Nothing. Only snagged and lost one fly.
I didn't believe that I can catch something, it was more like a casting exercise. Cast diagonally to the far bank, let it swing, then strip along your own side. After another cast, my fly almost hit the bank. Bang! Big splash, and line tightened. That's a big fish! It was so strong, so my reel spooled and started to scream. I had no power to stop it. I ran after fish in the shallow water, in attempt to overtake it. The fish made couple of rolls, producing cascade of splashes. It was very heavy for my rod. After few attempts I netted it near the bank. What a fish! That's a spawning brown trout hen, with belly full of roe.
Targeting spawning fish is illegal from law standpoint, and morally questionable. But if fish want to bite, it bites. So I released it carefully, in hope that this fight will not harm reproductive behavior.
The fish measured at 56 cm or 22" - my personal best brown trout. Unfortunately, it's happened off season, so it looks like a "cheating".
I didn't want to continue, maybe there's another spawners nearby.
But it gives a hope, that we will have many new baby trouts in the future.
In the middle of the day, graylings and trout started feeding on mayflies. Unfortunately, I forgot the box with dry flies at home. I met another fisherman on the river, and asked him to give me some flies. He opened his box, and I picked 3 CDC mayfly imitations on tiny hooks.
Despite for good possibilities, I didn't have luck with dry fly. There were many hits and misses, neither one fish was properly hooked. Maybe because hooks had too small gap.
Then I switched to Czech nymphing. Today was not my lucky day. I snagged few flies, but fish didn't bite. After changing couple of locations, and alternating between dry and nymph rod, I got nice rainbow trout.
I was thinking to leave soon. For me one decent fish is enough satisfaction, i'm not that eager for numbers. Especially in the late season, when fishing is slow, and having 2-3 bites in few hours can be considered as luck. But as last attempt, I wanted of make use of OPST tackle with small wooly bugger.
I rigged the same rod I use with dry fly, with OPST line. Few casts across the pool. Nothing. Only snagged and lost one fly.
I didn't believe that I can catch something, it was more like a casting exercise. Cast diagonally to the far bank, let it swing, then strip along your own side. After another cast, my fly almost hit the bank. Bang! Big splash, and line tightened. That's a big fish! It was so strong, so my reel spooled and started to scream. I had no power to stop it. I ran after fish in the shallow water, in attempt to overtake it. The fish made couple of rolls, producing cascade of splashes. It was very heavy for my rod. After few attempts I netted it near the bank. What a fish! That's a spawning brown trout hen, with belly full of roe.
Targeting spawning fish is illegal from law standpoint, and morally questionable. But if fish want to bite, it bites. So I released it carefully, in hope that this fight will not harm reproductive behavior.
The fish measured at 56 cm or 22" - my personal best brown trout. Unfortunately, it's happened off season, so it looks like a "cheating".
I didn't want to continue, maybe there's another spawners nearby.
But it gives a hope, that we will have many new baby trouts in the future.
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