Pat,
Someday I would like to get a serious discussion up about the differences
and similarities in fishing for trout and smallmouth. Here in the Midwest,
it is not a moot subject. I'm beginning to think there are more similarities
than differences. But I'm too green in the trout area to have a position I
can support.
I had a 7' 3 wt, first rod I built, but I lost it. Don't ask me how. I
figure it's God's way of telling me to build an 8.5' or 9' 3wt this time.
I started with a 5 weight medium to soft that I had trouble with. I was
trying to throw more lead than I could handle. So I built myself a 8.5'
stiff 6 weight, and thought that was the best of all possible worlds. But by
using that for awhile, I got to be a better caster, and fell in love with
the 5 weight once I could cast leaded woolly buggers with it. I thought that
was the perfect smallmouth weight...I could throw everything except my big
bullet-head rabbit fur zonkers on #2 hooks (chuck & duck with the 5 wt.).
This weekend was the first time out with the 4 wt, and it's already my
favorite. But I'm happy to have another excuse to build a 3 weight...so I
plan to take your advice. Probably won't be until the fall when smallmouth
season is over here in MO.
Jerry Spector
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On
Behalf Of Neal Patrick Eller
Sent: Tuesday, March 26, 2002 8:59 AM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: [VFB] Re: Rod/Tresspass Fees...
Jerry,
You should try to find a stiff 3wt to throw at those smallmouth. I fish
almost exclusively with my sage RPL 9' 3wt and it does wonders. The rod has
a fast enough action that you can throw two large size streamers with it,
yet an eight inch small mouth can feel like a goliath on the end of the rod.
This rod has brought so much enjoyment to my fishing, it almost feels like a
new sport.
I will have to pick a bone with you on your "bigger than trout sized
wolly-buggers". I have found that people are afraid to throw large bugs at
trout. My streamer box is full of wolly buggers from size 4 to 2/0 and I
fish them all to trout. Some of my best streamers for trout I originally
tied up for Smallmouth or Pike. Trout are voracious predators and will try
and eat just about anything when it comes to streamers. For example, I
caught about a 6 inch brown trout this weekend on my 4 inch bugger. I don't
know how he thought he was going to swallow it!
Anyway, back to the topic. Here in Montana we are lucky to have mainly wild
trout in our streams, and the stream access law is probably the best in the
nation. The closest thing we have to fishing in a barrel would be the
pay-to-fish spring creeks and private ponds. I ususally do not go to these
places since there are so many other places to fish.
Anyway, Just thought I'd Chime in
Pat Eller
