BUT! … after finishing my beautiful little tiger eye rod last fall, a bunch of blood sucking leeches and one very nasty gopher prevented me from using it in real time. Until this week! We were able to run away for a few days and I had the opportunity to try out the new rod. What a delight!! It is the 7 foot 3/4 weight, and I rigged it for 4 weight. Wow. It took everything from weather to strange catches.
I fished a flies only area, and had a bit of luck … nice sized rainbows. The probable illegal one was a mud puppy (sculpin) that took the fly, and as I tried to raise it to release it, a HUGE, brown trout, I mean to tell you HUGE brown trout, slammed out of the recesses and nailed that sculpin! As I raised the line, the trout let go, and then SLAMMED it agin! Before I had it totally out of the water, the trout grabbed hold and shook like a wild man, shaking the sculpin loose, and impaling himself, in the mouth, on the fly! I did land him. Holy schmazolie! What a sight! Rod bowed like crazy, but held the big guy! And, I released him, too. Should I fear for my image in fishing with live bait in a flys only area? Will the trout police come and search me down? Wish I’d had pictures, but everyone was laughing too hard to take any.
Think I have found my new go to rod for small streams!
Betty,
That’s too much. Sounds like you had a great outing. That rod sounds like a real sweetheart as well. Live bait? Hummm?
Sounds like fun, have you started tying the sculpin yet?
Eric
this one looks fun http://www.flyanglersonline.com/flytying/fotw2/082001fotw.php
Betty -
So you finally got to do the Tiger Eye thing - and YOU DID IT UP BROWN !!!
That is one of the best stories I’ve heard in a long time. Couldn’t happen to a more deserving person.
Glad you got away and had a great time.
John
Wow sorry your in laws and the gopher gave you such a hard time. :mrgreen:
Now that you are a bait fisher are you going to sell your fly gear? Huh? Dibs…:rolleyes:
Betty, you can expect the Game and Fish laddies to kick in you door in the wee hours of the morning. Them, and one mighty righteous looking sculpin.
Glad for ya. I want to see that rod in Michigan this summer.
Ed
and yet another tiger eye addict. I personnally love them. Glad you got to try it Betty. So whheeeeen are ya building anlother one LOL
Betty whats next WORMS say it aint so LOL
Betty now thats a real fish tail…
Betty, Congrats on what sounds like a truly wonderful day. Have you posted pics of the finished tiger eye rod somewhere?
REE
Betty,
I am glad you had some excitement in your life! Here is a Fly for you: http://www.flytyingforum.com/uploads/img47bacdf568332.jpg
Material List: Simple Sculpin
Hook : Daiichi X472 size 2
Eyes : med dumbbells painted white
Wing : barred zonker
Body : amber angora goat
Thread : brown 8/0
Head : tan ez bug yarn
Designed and Tied by Jim Guida - Signature Fly Designer for Umpqua & Gander Mountian Pro
Doug
What about that poor “Sculpin” must of been a hoot for him…lol
Betty, Betty, Betty,
In order to Ease Your Guilt Send all Your Fly Stuff to Me and I will give You Absolution:p
Failing that…
WAY TO GO!!!
I’ll have t try that next time, it should be way easier to keep a Sculpin on the hook rather than these flies I’ve been using…
Flies are tiny and you have to hook them just right through their tiny little lips to get them to stay put for a couple casts.
I totally believe you Betty. Just yesterday I accidentally hooked a nightcrawler on my back cast.
703/4 Tiger Eye - Myrtle wood, down-locking reel seat - variegated brown/cream/tan wraps
Looks so pretty in the sunshine!!
That rod is beautiful!
Betty,
That story was great. A friend of mine caught a 6 inch Sculpin on the Yakima River last fall. I had to copy your story and send it on to him.
Great looking rod, what a way to break it in.
Larry —sagefisher—
Hi Betty,
That is a fishing experiences that will remember vividly for a lifetime. I once saw a five year old girl (with a lot of help from her Dad) land an eight pound LMB in much the same way. The little girl had hooked a small brim and the LMB kept hitting the brim again and again until the bass was firmly hook too.
BTW, that is one beautiful rod! I would think sculpins from now on! 8T
Okay, I’m GREEN with envy!!!:mad: