I fished the NF Stilly just below Fortson (Picnic Table?) yesterday. morning. I arrived at about 10:30 and fished until 1. I like that particular spot because I fish for trout, but it always offers the opportunity to hook into something big.
The weather was mild, overcast, and by 1 it was starting to get chilly and wet. The Good: Within minutes of arriving I saw some very large fish jumping and rising. I assumed these to be silvers and/or steelhead. The sides of the fish had a pinkish look and they looked strong and healthy. I also saw what I thought to be a (very) few BWO floating by. Ignoring some of the advice I was given several weeks ago I decided to tie a size 18 BWO onto my 6 weight with a 5 lb leader with 6x 3lb tippet. I watched a large fish rise about 25 feet downstream and decided, what the heck - my cast was perfect and within seconds I felt the line tighten. The fish left the water - I would like to think it was a steelhead, but I think I hooked a salmon; I am sure it was not foul hooked (maybe it was leaving the water with it's mouth open when my fly floated by??) by the way it pulled and shook. The fish was on for over 15 minutes (I took the time to check my watch); easily the largest fish I have ever hooked. It jumped once and, for a short time, I was able to carefully work it towards shore where I got a quick look at its size before it bolted back into the current. After 15 minutes I felt the line begin to strain; the water rushing past sent vibrations through my submerged floating line. The fish shook wildly and the fly came loose - it was then that I realized that I should have given back some line... Sean, I was careful to keep the rod at 90 degrees to the water and I am sure that this is the only reason I was able to keep the fish on for so long. I also managed to stay downstream of the fish, but I am not sure how much this helped - perhaps I should have gotten further down into the slower current. The fish made only one short run, after which I was able to hold it steady - it was quite content to stay in the current at a 45 degree angle upstream, working left to right in a 15 foot range. The Bad: Shortly after playing this wonderful fish (or, it playing me) I stumbled and fell into the water...breaking my Fenwick Cofi 57 fly rod (I hope they stand by their product, but I have my doubts). I will be looking for advice about a new fly rod in the less than $200 range soon. The medalist reel held up great, and the drag worked well. The Ugly: This is a matter of perspective - it is beautiful to see the plentiful fish populations working their way upstream, but, once dead, the smell, well, you get the idea, there were dead fish everywhere. EH (Eric Hausman)
