Well, here's one of two so far for me. Caught on the swing with not an egg pattern.
It can and does happen, you just need to leave the gear rods at home....and endeavor to keep the faith.
That's my biggest issue. I've really committed to fly fishing only so far this winter, even if that does mean I'm missing a few fish here and there... which is my OCD worry I guess. The fish I might be missing often haunt me as much as those I hook and lose.
Gotta make peace with it and accept it, then and only then will you fish freely and break your bait soakin' gear chuckin' ways. Do not be seduced by baits that smell like bacterial vaginitis. I know it can be tough...
View attachment 157877
Since we are all sharing our centerpin caught fish on a fly fishing site, here is one from a few weeks ago. 31" 12lb hen. Fight was short, she came in close early, and death rolled like crazy, wrapping the leader around her mouth clamping it shut.
If you want to catch fish consistently and efficiently then fish gear. If you want to catch them on your terms and in a way which you deem necessary then flyfish. I find myself flip flopping some. The two I landed today were on gear and WAY out of range and depth for my fly gear. When fish move out of the big deep holding water to the seams and transition water I will adapt accordingly with the fly rod.
Low and cold fish the fly rod. High and off color fish the fly rod. Normal winter height fish the gear rod or centerpin. For the fly look for water that
forces the fish to the edges
If i am going to a mixed stock fishery in the early winter i am probably gear fishing. I love drift fishing with eggs. My intent is to harvest chambers creek so they don't stray.
If i am going later in a mixed system I'll mix flies and gear and am more likely to throw a spoon than bait. My motives are still to remove hatchery fish but with sensitivities about hooking wild fish on bait.
Late season wild fish.. first off i rarely do this even though it's my favorite but this is when I swing flies. My motivation is just to be in a beautiful place hoping for the best.
Floating line, long Leader and a rabbit leach in about 2 feet of dirty water. Took the fly the cast before, but didnt hook up, came back to eat a second time.
Floating line, long Leader and a rabbit leach in about 2 feet of dirty water. Took the fly the cast before, but didnt hook up, came back to eat a second time.]
No swung steel for me this winter, due to many factors including lack of trying. I did have a HB eat a stripped in white baitfish, but he spit the hook.
Last weekend was predictably crowded and unsuccessful. However, I did catch this.
Ah yes. The ever elusive hatchery bull trout. Talk about a unicorn.
Nice @golfman44 ! No bugs on mine but it did come on a type 3 tip. If only I had brought leader material I could have had my first dry line winter fish. Damn. Was alone so pardon the crappy pic.
Nice @golfman44 ! No bugs on mine but it did come on a type 3 tip. If only I had brought leader material I could have had my first dry line winter fish. Damn. Was alone so pardon the crappy pic.
Sweet fish and winters hope. I love the look of those winter fish that are just starting to show some color like the one you got. Here's a close up of another one from that day:
I like to think of this decent sized red-band rainbow as a 'no-salt' steelhead... can I at least get honorable mention status? I've swung up about half a dozen or so this year like this. The chrome will come if I keep putting my time in ya?
Panda bears eat steelhead? Guess that makes sense.
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