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 Roaring Fork Valley: Big Fish On Light Tippet
Posted by joey on July 10, 2006
(3111 reads)
“All natural flies no bead heads.” “Your lead fly should be a #22 followed by a #24 and fish nothing heavier than 6x fluro if the fish are picky bring it down to 7x.” These words were rattling around in my head as my girlfriend and I drove through the canyon towards Ruedi Dam. The water was low, cold, and gin clear. If you concentrated hard enough you could watch your nymphs move below the surface. All of a sudden I saw a large shadow move into the seam I was fishing. No sudden movements I thought, you will surely spook it if you move too fast. It was then when I realized what I was casting to. It’s long bright red stripe became very clear to me and I could just make out the silhouette as the fish moved back and forth along the bottom. My indicator floated right over the fish’s head then twitched and I set the hook. Damn!!! Bottom, I got my flies unstuck and watched the fish move down stream. Patiently watching it began to move on the other side of me into shallower water. I spun around carefully trying not to make a sound, the fish was only 10 feet away in about 3 feet of water, and I had to make a perfect cast if I was going to have a shot at it. I made a cast upstream and watched my indicator bob through the current. As my flies approached the fish I softly said “eat it….just eat it” my white indicator twitched and I saw the fish roll. I set the hook and the battle was on. Quickly I loosened the drag and let the fish take as much line as it needed. With 6x on I wasn’t going to risk horsing the fish in. It was a 25min battle of tug-o-war that ended with me
getting my picture taken with the biggest rainbow I have ever landed. The fish took a size 24 pheasant tail nymph that was tied on with 6x fluro. Believe me I am as surprised as you are. I give thanks to the guy from Florida who netted the fish for me and to my girlfriend Amy who was there to cheer me on during the battle.
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Re: Roaring Fork Valley: Big Fish On Light Tippet
by waterwhippa on July 10, 2006 | | Joey, That my friend is a true trophy. Know you know how the pioneers felt as they lifted there first nuggets of gold out of the river. “eat it….just eat it” I usually say that with a few expletives thrown in........Beauty Bro. |
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Re: Roaring Fork Valley: Big Fish On Light Tippet
by jeremy on July 10, 2006 http://www.fliesandfins.com | sweeeet! great story too ... being from the east coast, as you are, i often fish big water with lots of current and dark ... maine has lots of that .. so .. to be honest, as i am sure you would agree, 6x and 7x tippet is for the most part kind of a novelty but not really necessary (except in certain instances) .... when i do go out west to visit jason .. i realize very quickly that 6x and 7x tippet is not just a needles novelty .. in fact, many rives demand it ... i learned quickly when nymphing the spring creeks in jackson or using midges on the green .. that 6x and 7x tippet make all the difference in the world ... jason can attest to the one trout that i was fishing for .. he was eating midges and i was convinced that 5x tippet was not the reason why i was not able to trick him ...sure enough .. jason put on 7x and bingo! it worked ..
so anyway, sorry for rambling, but i actually prefer fishing heavier tippet because then i can feel confident if i do hook a good one .. so here in maine .. or whenever possible ... i will always fish the heaviest tippet i can get away with ... with that said .. i certainly appreciate how hard it is to land a fish on that super small stuff and its stressful too .. cuz if you do hook a good one like the one you got .. your constantly thinking "oh no,, he is gonna make a run and bust me off..." ... so - nice work joey .. i hope to someday have you show me around the frying pan .. thanks. |
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Re: Roaring Fork Valley: Big Fish On Light Tippet
by wrh on July 10, 2006 http://www.theanglersnet.com | Well done joey,
Turn an eastern fisherman loose on the west and look out. A good nympher will always do well. Is that fish 24" long or bigger? If so you are in the rare 24/24 club! a 24" fish on a #24 fly. It's nice that there are the chance encounters with others who help get the pics or land the fish. Welcome back and thanks for sharing the picture. |
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Re: Roaring Fork Valley: Big Fish On Light Tippet
by bbhog on July 11, 2006 http://home.fuse.net/cbruce | | Pay attention to the details. That fish is a dandy! I seldom use flourocarbon for tippet, but swear that Orvis Mirage is the best tippet material there is and on those high sun, clear water days, it makes a difference. Ironically, white indicators bug the snot out of me, and I don't think I have anything smaller than 20 in my fly boxes - I couldn't tie a 24 anyway with my sight - not sure I could have caught that one - nicely done, the details matter. |
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Re: Roaring Fork Valley: Big Fish On Light Tippet
by mike-c on July 11, 2006 | | Nice fish and beautiful country - congrats! (Note to self - get back out west some day...) |
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