Pretentious Snobby Bastard Fly Fishing!

Fly Fishing Reports => Local Trip Reports => Topic started by: rjs123 on November 24, 2009, 17:08:14 PM

Title: My best Brown to date on the Smith today!
Post by: rjs123 on November 24, 2009, 17:08:14 PM
Well... I  was and still am pretty bummed that I couldnt go steelhead fishing this week. However, I kind of made up for it today on the Smith.

I fished a few places today for about 3 hours around Bassett.

I caught 2 and lost 3 today.  The first one of the day was my best fish to date on the Smith.  I was fishing my new 3 wt with 7x tippett when I hooked this fish.  Not having caught anything larger than about a 10 inch fish on the 3wt I really had no idea how big it was till it came to the surface.  After a couple of attempts to get it in the net I was finally able to do that. Of all days not to have my camera with me.  I did have the iphone though and used it to take the pics below. Caught it on a #20 midge dropped from a nymph.

I caught this fish in Bassett, not in the lower river around Koehler where I would expect to catch bigger fish.

I put a small nick on the rod so I could measure it later.  He was 18 and 1/4 measured.

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Title: Re: My best Brown to date on the Smith today!
Post by: Get Bent on November 24, 2009, 17:35:48 PM
Don't be to bummed about steelhead fishing. Unless conditions are right, most of the tribs would have been low, crowded, and the fish would have been getting pestered to death. Look at this way, you now have time to acquire a rod! Now you will be pumped the next time you get to go!

Nice brown...gotta love fishing for fall browns ;D
Title: Re: My best Brown to date on the Smith today!
Post by: troutphisher on November 24, 2009, 17:36:10 PM
Very nice fish......well done
Title: Re: My best Brown to date on the Smith today!
Post by: Woolly Bugger on November 24, 2009, 17:38:47 PM
Ha cha cha chaaaa!
Title: Re: My best Brown to date on the Smith today!
Post by: 22midge on November 24, 2009, 18:46:18 PM
Nice fish Robert...guess a few are holding on. ;D ;D If you dont mind can I sneak a gill cover pic of you fish.Then I can add it to the catalog of the "Brownies of the Smith"
Title: Re: My best Brown to date on the Smith today!
Post by: rjs123 on November 24, 2009, 19:03:34 PM
Quote from: 22midge on November 24, 2009, 18:46:18 PM
Nice fish Robert...guess a few are holding on. ;D ;D If you dont mind can I sneak a gill cover pic of you fish.Then I can add it to the catalog of the "Brownies of the Smith"

Sure Peewee.  Wish I would have had my camera with me but how about this one:

[attach=1]
Title: Re: My best Brown to date on the Smith today!
Post by: 22midge on November 24, 2009, 19:11:00 PM
got it-- appreciate it.
Title: Re: My best Brown to date on the Smith today!
Post by: fly4u on November 24, 2009, 20:46:48 PM
Great fish Bob, You put in the time..........today was pay day.
Title: Re: My best Brown to date on the Smith today!
Post by: rjs123 on November 24, 2009, 20:57:20 PM
Quote from: fly4u on November 24, 2009, 20:46:48 PM
Great fish Bob, You put in the time..........today was pay day.

Its funny you should say that.  I stopped at the Mossy Creek Fly Shop on my way home from Gettysburg yesterday.  I talked to the guys there about the Smith and told them Ive caught a few fish on the river but the biggest so far has only been about 13 inches.  One of the guys there told me if you put in the time you'll get some bigger ones.
Title: Re: My best Brown to date on the Smith today!
Post by: Trout Maharishi on November 24, 2009, 21:05:48 PM
"Tell me where all the big fish hang out or I'll choke you to death" ;)
Title: Re: My best Brown to date on the Smith today!
Post by: rjs123 on November 24, 2009, 21:36:44 PM
Quote from: Trout Maharishi on November 24, 2009, 21:05:48 PM
"Tell me where all the big fish hang out or I'll choke you to death" ;)

Believe me, he wasnt talking.
Title: Re: My best Brown to date on the Smith today!
Post by: Z-Man on November 25, 2009, 06:32:30 AM
Nice fish, Robert - congrats.  You have come a long way, Pilgrim!
Title: Re: My best Brown to date on the Smith today!
Post by: trouthead on November 25, 2009, 10:00:53 AM
Nice trout. You did well to land him on that light tackle. I've practically quit using my 3 wt. on tailwaters due to break offs with quality fish.  0--0
Title: Re: My best Brown to date on the Smith today!
Post by: outdoorguy3 on November 25, 2009, 17:46:57 PM
Quote from: trouthead on November 25, 2009, 10:00:53 AM
Nice trout. You did well to land him on that light tackle. I've practically quit using my 3 wt. on tailwaters due to break offs with quality fish.  0--0

Would someone smarter than me (shouldn't be hard to find someone) please explain how the weight of the rod has anything to do with fish breaking off?

My simple mind just can't understand this.

Thank you in advance for your educational reply.

Ralph   0--0 
Title: Re: My best Brown to date on the Smith today!
Post by: Woolly Bugger on November 25, 2009, 18:00:22 PM
Quote from: outdoorguy3 on November 25, 2009, 17:46:57 PM
Quote from: trouthead on November 25, 2009, 10:00:53 AM
Nice trout. You did well to land him on that light tackle. I've practically quit using my 3 wt. on tailwaters due to break offs with quality fish.  0--0

Would someone smarter than me (shouldn't be hard to find someone) please explain how the weight of the rod has anything to do with fish breaking off?

My simple mind just can't understand this.

Thank you in advance for your educational reply.

Ralph   0--0 

Thanks for asking that question Ralph... I've landed a 22" pig on an Orvis one ounce... that's a 6' 2wt rod....

I can understand bustin a rod better than breakin off fish...
Title: Re: My best Brown to date on the Smith today!
Post by: rjs123 on November 25, 2009, 18:04:11 PM
Quote from: outdoorguy3 on November 25, 2009, 17:46:57 PM
Quote from: trouthead on November 25, 2009, 10:00:53 AM
Nice trout. You did well to land him on that light tackle. I've practically quit using my 3 wt. on tailwaters due to break offs with quality fish.  0--0

Would someone smarter than me (shouldn't be hard to find someone) please explain how the weight of the rod has anything to do with fish breaking off?

My simple mind just can't understand this.

Thank you in advance for your educational reply.

Ralph   0--0

I cant answer your question but will say I wasnt the least bit worried about the rod.  However the 7x tippett combined with my lack of experience was a cause for concern.
Title: Re: My best Brown to date on the Smith today!
Post by: Woolly Bugger on November 25, 2009, 18:20:52 PM
i think that question was directed to trouthead....


Title: Re: My best Brown to date on the Smith today!
Post by: outdoorguy3 on November 25, 2009, 22:26:15 PM
Quote from: Woolly Bugger on November 25, 2009, 18:20:52 PM
i think that question was directed to trouthead....

Anyone smarter than me.....which means just about everyone!

Ralph   0--0
Title: Re: My best Brown to date on the Smith today!
Post by: Trout Maharishi on November 25, 2009, 23:30:23 PM
Careful Ralph, you might push the wrong button >:D ;D
Title: Re: My best Brown to date on the Smith today!
Post by: Fire-Fly on November 26, 2009, 19:39:14 PM
Personally i like a lighter line, especially when using small tippets ex. 6x-9x. I think the rod is more forgiving and protects the tippet. Yes that also works for for medium to slow action rods.
Title: Re: My best Brown to date on the Smith today!
Post by: jwgnc on November 26, 2009, 20:57:15 PM
Way to go !! That is reward for your dedicated efforts.  I haven't been online in three weeks - and this is a great post to see.
Title: Re: My best Brown to date on the Smith today!
Post by: possessed on November 27, 2009, 20:29:23 PM
Very nice.   0--0
Title: Re: My best Brown to date on the Smith today!
Post by: jwgnc on November 29, 2009, 18:24:18 PM
Well deserved.  Hours and hours on the stream - you've paid your dues to get a fish like that.
Title: Re: My best Brown to date on the Smith today!
Post by: Fire-Fly on November 30, 2009, 19:03:15 PM
Quote from: 22midge on November 26, 2009, 19:52:18 PM
Fire-Fly just a couple of questions ----not trying to bitch

what  % of increase in strikes does the smaller (6x-9x) tippits offer
does the longer fight times --increasing the stress on the fish-- justify its use
its seldom I go beyond the 6x and 7x is my limit to fit the size20 and smaller flies.

I see more fish on 9X tippet when fishing small flies, especially size 22 and smaller midges. I have actually experimented with both and see much more strikes and fish. And remember thses arent 200lb marlin were fighting for 2-3 hours, theres little evidence to show that 10-15 seconds longer getting a fish in will have high mortality rates, most of those sudies are done in large fish. And if i worried that much about fight times i would be spin fishing with 10 lb test line and drag the fish across the water. Nice troll though pewee i bit.
Title: Re: My best Brown to date on the Smith today!
Post by: rjs123 on November 30, 2009, 19:55:53 PM
Is that second fish a Smith River brown Peewee?  Nice looking fish!
Title: Re: My best Brown to date on the Smith today!
Post by: Fire-Fly on November 30, 2009, 21:16:49 PM
Quote from: 22midge on November 30, 2009, 19:28:23 PM
OK now Im bitching I ask a simple question if I wanted to troll then I would ask someone that might teach me something.I guess if catching the 6'' TROUT IS what the 9x does then you might be right.These kind of fish dont need the 9x fight time. ;D ;D ;D ;D Play nice TU PRES.



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you opened this can of worms, hell peewee if you know more than me then why ask the question other than to start a conflict, your gonna fish with what you want and me the same. You didnt ask that question looking for any insight, you wanted to prove your point. I was just surprised it came from you. If we all worried that much about the life of a fish we wouldnt fish at all.
Title: Re: My best Brown to date on the Smith today!
Post by: rjs123 on November 30, 2009, 22:05:08 PM
What happened to my thread.  ???  Jis sayin'   :)

[attach=1]
Title: Re: My best Brown to date on the Smith today!
Post by: 22midge on November 30, 2009, 22:17:24 PM
your right Robert sorry for the hi-jack that brownie deserved better.
Title: Re: My best Brown to date on the Smith today!
Post by: diaz dassie on November 30, 2009, 22:40:35 PM
Outstanding fish!Always good to see those size fish landed on the super light stuff.I hooked and landed a 5lber on the Davidson(profile pic) on my 2wt 6' orvis and I wasn't bothered about the rod snapping, just the line snapping and being livid I lost a beast! Good times!!! 0--0
Title: Re: My best Brown to date on the Smith today!
Post by: OTS on December 01, 2009, 00:12:11 AM
Very nice Robert!!! See, there are still some very nice sized trout in that river and you actually caught it in one of the most heavily pressured areas: I can't help but feel that the river is actually in recovery but it still needs a little help and time, as it took many years to get as bad as what it was in the early 2000's. A hardy congrats to you :)
Title: Re: My best Brown to date on the Smith today!
Post by: trouthead on December 01, 2009, 08:55:12 AM
In theory you could land a marlin on a one weight with the right tippet. Why don't you give that a try and tell us how it works for you Ralph. I'll admit that I could be blaming the rod for break offs. I couldn't have been hungover or having an off day. Anyways, I'll I'm saying is that I prefer a 5 wt. on the tailwaters most of the time. It's has enough backbone to not exhaust the fish but yet you still get a good fight. I still use the 3 wt. for dry fly work at times. Thanks for posing such a deep question Ralph. Once again, great fish Robert!
Title: Re: My best Brown to date on the Smith today!
Post by: outdoorguy3 on December 01, 2009, 11:08:03 AM
Quote from: trouthead on December 01, 2009, 08:55:12 AM
In theory you could land a marlin on a one weight with the right tippet. Why don't you give that a try and tell us how it works for you Ralph. I'll admit that I could be blaming the rod for break offs. I couldn't have been hungover or having an off day. Anyways, I'll I'm saying is that I prefer a 5 wt. on the tailwaters most of the time. It's has enough backbone to not exhaust the fish but yet you still get a good fight. I still use the 3 wt. for dry fly work at times. Thanks for posing such a deep question Ralph. Once again, great fish Robert!

troutdick,
Your reply didn't address my orinigal question of what factor the rod might play in the fish breaking off once the fish is hooked.  You originally stated that you fish a 5wt now to prevent break offs you were having using a 3wt.


The breaking point of 5X tippet is the same on a 3wt. rod as it is on a 5 wt. rod.  I understand how using a rod that is too heavy for the tippet size could cause break offs, but I'm confused how going from a 3 wt. rod to a 5 wt. rod using the same size tippet could make a difference.


I won't even bother to commet on your marlin on a 1 wt. remark.

As far as being hung over on the stream, that sounds like your  problem not mine.

Ralph

Title: Re: My best Brown to date on the Smith today!
Post by: trouthead on December 01, 2009, 11:56:32 AM
OK Mr. Personality. Since we're down to name calling, I'll try to answer your question and hopefully end this discussion. (Of course you'll have to make an insulting reply first) My reasoning is that as the time that a fish is played increases so does the probability that something will go wrong i.e. the fish drags your tippet over a sharp rock or whatever. Therefore if a 5 wt. can play a fish faster than a 3 wt. That chance of something going wrong decreases. You'll probably argue that this isn't a true break off. But the point is the longer you play the fish the more likely you are to lose him. That's my opinion. I'm sure you'll tell me why it's wrong.
Title: Re: My best Brown to date on the Smith today!
Post by: Woolly Bugger on December 01, 2009, 12:03:16 PM
Title: Re: My best Brown to date on the Smith today!
Post by: outdoorguy3 on December 01, 2009, 19:46:14 PM
Quote from: trouthead on December 01, 2009, 11:56:32 AM
OK Mr. Personality. Since we're down to name calling, I'll try to answer your question and hopefully end this discussion. (Of course you'll have to make an insulting reply first) My reasoning is that as the time that a fish is played increases so does the probability that something will go wrong i.e. the fish drags your tippet over a sharp rock or whatever. Therefore if a 5 wt. can play a fish faster than a 3 wt. That chance of something going wrong decreases. You'll probably argue that this isn't a true break off. But the point is the longer you play the fish the more likely you are to lose him. That's my opinion. I'm sure you'll tell me why it's wrong.

My Thoughts are this, it's not the rod that catches the fish, it's the person that's holding the rod.  It's not the rod that plays the fish, it's the person that's holding the rod.
You can land a fish just a quickly with a three weight rod as you can a 5 wt. rod, if you know how to play and land a fish.

Merry Christmas !

Ralph   0--0

Title: Re: My best Brown to date on the Smith today!
Post by: absales on December 01, 2009, 20:44:19 PM
Quote from: outdoorguy3 on December 01, 2009, 19:46:14 PM
Quote from: trouthead on December 01, 2009, 11:56:32 AM
OK Mr. Personality. Since we're down to name calling, I'll try to answer your question and hopefully end this discussion. (Of course you'll have to make an insulting reply first) My reasoning is that as the time that a fish is played increases so does the probability that something will go wrong i.e. the fish drags your tippet over a sharp rock or whatever. Therefore if a 5 wt. can play a fish faster than a 3 wt.  That chance of something going wrong decreases. You'll probably argue that this isn't a true break off. But the point is the longer you play the fish the more likely you are to lose him. That's my opinion. I'm sure you'll tell me why it's wrong.

My Thoughts are this, it's not the rod that catches the fish, it's the person that's holding the rod.  It's not the rod that plays the fish, it's the person that's holding the rod.
You can land a fish just a quickly with a three weight rod as you can a 5 wt. rod, if you know how to play and land a fish.

Merry Christmas !

Ralph   0--0

Of course you are right Rafe, the amount of tension you can apply to tire the fish is controlled by the tippet size, if you have small tippet then you are limited by that - not the rod size. If, however, you have large tippet you can horse the fish because you don't have to worry about break-off. The larger rod is handier for this, although you can do some heavy hoisting with a 3 wt if you aren't afraid of breaking the rod.

The idea that you can play a fish faster with a large rod and fine tippet is ludicrous.

jis sayin...........

Title: Re: My best Brown to date on the Smith today!
Post by: trouthead on December 02, 2009, 08:58:39 AM
QuoteYou can land a fish just a quickly with a three weight rod as you can a 5 wt. rod, if you know how to play and land a fish.

You're absolutely right. You might also argue that pigs fly and water runs uphill.

Merry Christmas!
Title: Re: My best Brown to date on the Smith today!
Post by: outdoorguy3 on December 02, 2009, 10:36:15 AM
Quote from: trouthead on December 02, 2009, 08:58:39 AM
QuoteYou can land a fish just a quickly with a three weight rod as you can a 5 wt. rod, if you know how to play and land a fish.

You're absolutely right. You might also argue that pigs fly and water runs uphill.

Merry Christmas!

Thanks.   ;D

Ralph   0--0

Really nice Smith River fish Robert.  Hope to meet you tomorrow at the meeting.
Title: Re: My best Brown to date on the Smith today!
Post by: Shane on December 02, 2009, 15:20:37 PM
That's the nicest fish I've seen in a while on the Smith. That's awesome. Congratulations.





S
Title: Re: My best Brown to date on the Smith today!
Post by: 9ft4wt on December 03, 2009, 09:00:07 AM
That is a nice brown for any river. Glad to see the Smith is giving up a few big ones. Nice job.

9ft4wt
Title: Re: My best Brown to date on the Smith today!
Post by: 5xTippett on December 03, 2009, 09:47:51 AM
That is a beautiful fish, Robert!  Hope to see you tonight.
Title: Re: My best Brown to date on the Smith today!
Post by: Ham on December 07, 2009, 00:16:38 AM
Nice fish! Congratulations!  ;D

I know it's a little late but I haven't been on in a while.