A THIRD OF A HALF
Headed out for a pond and this one is a hike as I no longer have permission to drive in. Since the days get very hot I leave the truck at 5:30 am. It is light enough to see where I am walking.
Take a 5 and 6 weight with me; the heavier rod is to throw a slump buster and a pine squirrel cheater. These are tied with tungsten beads and an angled jig hook. I have the flies and fish basket with me also.
I get into the pond at the southeast corner and hike across the dam and down the west side. This way it's closer to the truck as I fish my way around the pond. I have a slump buster on the heavier rod and a Rubber Legged Dragon on the other. The first few casts result in catching the grass on the hillside behind me. The grass is about 5 feet tall and seems higher as the ground slopes upward. I try to get some line out but even with the rod held up high it just doesn't work. I managed to get about 20 feet of line out and then roll cast a few times to try to get the fly out farther. This works but not real well, but I get a few fish to hit the fly, but land very few. The fish are hitting the fly very shallow in the water column. When hooked they are on the surface and flip the fly out, But you can't catch what you don't hook.
I decided to move along the shoreline and get to where the water is a little deeper; hoping the fish will be in closer. Unfortunately this turns out to be not true.
I changed the fly to a palmer chenille fly with small bead chain eyes. This is a lighter fly and seems to roll cast better. I get this fly out and find that a few more fish come to hand. The fish seem to be taking this fly a little deeper and thus the hook is holding better.
I hooked about 15 fish at each place before the action stops. My guess is just too much commotion and the fish scatter. I had not roll cast for a while, but am slowly getting better doing this. Still lose more fish than I get.
Finally get to a place on the pond where the land is flatter. This lets me cast in a normal manner. I get a few more fish on the palmer chenille fly and decide to try the slump buster. I get it out and let it come back in, moving fairly slowly. I have not moved it far when the rod tip goes down. I set the hook and have a heavy weight on the line. This fish takes some line out and swims around for a while before any line can be taken in. Then the line comes in slowly as it is a 4 pound leader attaching the fly. I want to get my grubby fist on this fish that will go back into the pond. Finally work the fish in and can see it swimming around out in the pond. This is a huge bass. I work it slowly and finally get it to shore. Lip it and leave it in the water.
Get the fly out and then measure it against the fly rod, knowing the spacing of the guides. This fish is about 26 inches long and very fat. Then let the lip go and let her swim away.
No more fish in this area but I move again and pick up a few more fish on the 5 weight. Every time I cast the 6 weight a bass takes the fly, so more time is spent with the 5 weight.
I keep moving around the pond and end up doing more roll casting than anything else. But if that is what it takes to catch the fish, then that is what will be done. Sure wish I could get the canoe into this pond. My guess is it would be a great day.
Got to where the pond would be too shallow to hold any fish so I decided that it was time to head out. Did some math is my head and realized that I hooked about half the fish that hit the fly. Of those only about a third made it to hand. Not a great rated, but a lot of fun to be at the pond. Also the fish will be bigger next time.
Had fillets to eat and to share.
Hope you can get out on the water.
Rick