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 Big Maine Rainbows In July: Sight Casting, Small Caddis And Patience
Posted by MarshallD on July 13, 2004
Monday, July 12, '04: Thib and I arrive at the run about 7:30 AM It's a guides' day off, sunny, warm, hardly a breeze. The water is cool, though, but low. It's a sight-fishing day, long 15-foot leaders. Mostly, we walk slow and watch the water for a tell-tale rise form of a Rainbow. We seine the substrate. Baetis nymphs and Caddis Larvae. We examine the surface, shake the trees. Caddis. Thib sees a rising fish, then another. Fairly aggressive rise form...could be Caddis emerging, or midges. We take up positions, Thib gets the first casts. No takes, but fish still occaisionally rising with some Caddis and spinners showing up on the water and a few Caddis in the air.
I move down the run, leaving him over the fish, giving him room to work. No blind casting here! Pure sight fishing.
I walk about a hundred yards downstream and see some rising fish in the tailout of a large sweep. Wading ever closer to casting range, I see the two Rainbows who are feeding frequently. The Zebra Caddis (Alder Flies) are just showing up here, and I saw several spent Zebras on the water along with some tiny beetles and a few spinners. So I tie on the Nelson's Caddis, a no. 12., add a drop of floatant, strip off some line and begin to short-cast to the nearest fish, hoping not to put him down. After about six long casts over where the target fish was, I decide to reel in and wait, in case I'd spooked him. After a smoke,
a leader check, and a re-application of floatant, I saw him rise again, this time closer. The cast was perfectly placed. The fish rose and confidently inhaled the fly, its head turning down and away. The fight was on!
Startled by the hook, the Rainbow darted away and upstream, sending droplets of water from the line into the air. The fish changed directions, surging downstream and away into deeper current, putting a strain on the 6X tippet, taking line almost to the backing. I hoped he'd tire enough for me to recover my fly line. A few seconds of side pressure let me turn his head so I could reel in line. The rest of the battle was a slow process of staying connected and just tiring the fish, until I saw it show a side and come to the surface. Then I knew it was a hen, a broad, fat, healthy and bright female Rainbow.
Thib came downstream, clicking pictures, having seen the fight from above. He was right beside me when I netted her and took a load of pictures with his camera and mine. We released her after she'd recovered and both of us stood dazed, astounded by her strength, size and beauty.
We stayed there in the same run, quietly waiting for the fish to return to feed. A few fish returned and each of us soon had a target. I got lucky again. This time, it was a male of around 18-inches who took the dropper, a size 20 Black Caddis Emerger.
Maine has some astonishing Rainbow waters, and I know of a few places to fish for them, not rivers full of fish like the Western rivers, but these here in Maine are just as demanding of casters. These waters are not fished well by impatient anglers though. Some stretches you can't nymph with any great success. Some areas demand only dry fly casting if you are to hook a fish. The time is now.
If you'd like a guided tour of these Rainbow waters feel free to ask. Please check the article comments for more info.
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Re: Big Maine Rainbows In July: Sight Casting, Small Caddis And Patience
by jeremy on July 13, 2004 http://www.ineedasimplesolution.com | That is a gorgeous fish. What colors! If anyone out there would like to fish
with Marshall - I recommend his services. He is a licensed Maine Guide and truly
loves what he does. Visit his website
http://www.flyanglersguide.com [www.flyanglersguide.com] - very affordable and he obviously knows
where to find the fish and how to catch 'em |
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Re: Big Maine Rainbows In July: Sight Casting, Small Caddis And Patience
by joe-m on July 13, 2004 | | That is the best bow I have ever seen in Maine... EVER EVER EVER !! great job |
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