Definitely a pristine & out of the way place. Thanks for sharing (even if some of the photos did make my knees ache, lol.).
Good question. I did have some trouble at first with 15 feet of 6X, so I trimmed it back to 12 feet and just spent a little more time with my cast until I got the correct rhythm down (I'm not the best caster, and it had been a month or more since my last outing). I went with light tippet b/c of low and clear water - I didn't want to spook fish. None of them broke me off and they all came to hand fairly quick. I wouldn't have gone any lighter, but I probably could have done ok with 12 feet of 5X.Very cool spot! Pretty big flies for 6X tippet. You have any trouble turning them over with the light tippet? Why so light?
Impressive, and interesting. The flies look like size 10s or so. I don't think I could get a 12 foot 6X leader to work very well with that setup. With flies that size on small streams I usually go with 4X. The guidelines seem to agree with me, but of course rules are made to be broken. I wonder if, as an experiment, you had tried larger tippet, that would have resulted in fewer hookups.Good question. I did have some trouble at first with 15 feet of 6X, so I trimmed it back to 12 feet and just spent a little more time with my cast until I got the correct rhythm down (I'm not the best caster, and it had been a month or more since my last outing). I went with light tippet b/c of low and clear water - I didn't want to spook fish. None of them broke me off and they all came to hand fairly quick. I wouldn't have gone any lighter, but I probably could have done ok with 12 feet of 5X.
I dunno - there are so many variables to consider in that kind of comparison that could impact catch rates that it would be hard to say whether 4X vs 6X would have been the difference maker. I just go with my gut on these things after looking at the situation on the river. If things aren't working I switch it up, but I was catching fish steadily so I just left things as they were. I probably could have gotten away with a 5X 9ft tapered leader, but the setup was working, so why mess with it? I was just happy that my blood knots held up!!!Impressive, and interesting. The flies look like size 10s or so. I don't think I could get a 12 foot 6X leader to work very well with that setup. With flies that size on small streams I usually go with 4X. The guidelines seem to agree with me, but of course rules are made to be broken. I wonder if, as an experiment, you had tried larger tippet, that would have resulted in fewer hookups.
Interesting read. Maybe I'll save my lighter tippets for spring creeks. Thanks for the link.I like some of what Deeter wrote about trout and tippet size. Consider: http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/flytalk/2012/08/maxima-dry-fly-test-tippet-size
I would say just fish and leave all that nonsense in the trunkI like some of what Deeter wrote about trout and tippet size.
Did you read it? That's basically what the editorial says.I would say just fish and leave all that nonsense in the trunk![]()
You are correct, they were in the deeper pockets at the heads/middle of riffles and runs. You are also correct that they weren't as spooky as I thought they would be, so in hindsight I didn't have to go as light as I did...I think that's probably because they rarely see flies (it's a pretty remote area). Thread color? You mean my tippet?I bet the fish were up in the deeper pockets at the head and middle of riffles and runs, given the low, end-of-summer water. Plus, when you put in the footwork like Alosa did the fish are usually less cautious. Hey Alosa nice choice of thread color btw.