Hey Del! You did what you had to do, Man! Cheers,
Jimmy ******************************** Desert Eagle wrote: >Excellent my friend, but the way you caught it would it be considered >"Still" fishing ???? Just nudging you my friend, that's a memory for the >world. >Jimi > > >Listers; > I left this morning at 0530 to go to Burrles Ford to fish. I was >shocked >to see not a soul and had the river to my self. I hiked back a ways (app 5 >miles) and rigged up. It was a gorgeous morning and I was sure I was going >to >do well. > I tied on one of my new furled leaders, 3 ft. of 5x tippet, and a #16 >B. >H. P. T. > First cast and drift, nothing. Second cast and drift, nothing. Third >one, more of the same. > I set my fly rod down, got a drink of my ever present 20 oz Pepsi. I >noticed a few bait fish (minners) rush by. Decided to tie on a # 8 Rust >Woolly Bugger. > So.......I tied one on. Sat the rod back down and lit a cigarette, >waiting if I could see what was chasing them. I hadn't noticed that my >leader >and fly was in the water. > About the time I had taken my third puff, I heard my reel whining, as >it >started to head for the water! By the time I realized what was happening, >3/4 >of my rod was swimming! I dove for the rod, tripped and fell in. Let me tell >you, early morning water is COLD !!!!!!!!! There was no need to set the >hook, >the fish had already done that. All I could see of it was a flash of silver >about 6 inches wide and about a foot long. > We danced for a while, 30 minutes that seemed like 2 hours. He shoed me >every rock and hole in that portion of stream I never knew about. Needless >to >say, by now I was soaked and not about to loose this fish. > I finally got the rainbow to the net, just to see bright red from his >gills. I measured it, 20 inches even! My best so far. > I tried to revive it, and thought I succeeded. It swam away after being >held in the current for a bit. > I continued to fish my way downstream. Nothing. So I sat down for >another cigarette. While watching for any signs of fish I saw something >floating in the river. After a double take I realized it was a large fish. > I quietly waded out and caught it in my net. It was the same one I >caught earlier. I guess the stress of the catch and the damage done to the >gills was to much. > I had planned on keeping a few (4) stockies for dinner. So I put him in >the creel. > I walked back up towards the truck, fishing along the way. I managed to >catch 3 - 10 inch stockies for dinner. Caught them all on the first fly I >tied on, a # 16 B. H. P. T. > When I got back to the truck I reflected on the time I had spent on the >water. I wanted the big bow to live on, but sometimes it just don't work >that >way. This is a blood sport, but that don't make it easier. Even if he would >have broke off, I would have considered my self lucky to hook into one that >size. > I looked at my watch and saw that it was only a little after 1200. I >went into town and got a bite to eat. > Looking back it was a good day on the water all in all. > > > Delbert (Del) Roberts >[EMAIL PROTECTED] > Belton, SC > > > -- Jimmy D. Moore, "BIGTROUTMAN" I FISH BECAUSE I MUST! More importantly, I fish because my Dad taught me! Author,Outdoor Writer,TOWA, GRTU Owner/Webmaster - Worldwide Flyfishing Info. http://www.BIGTROUTMAN.homestead.com/MainPage.html
