Report 4-5-15

[jgentile]

If you had a fly rod and a single hook with some of the Browns I ha e Caugjt you would have never got them in.

With all due respect, I once again disagree. If one can hook and land a Tarpon, GT, Muskie, etc.. on a fly one can do the same to any brown on the Current.

[Alex Heitman]

In certain spots with open water yes but in a lot of the areas I catch them good luck. Logs big boulders and turns is a different sorry on a fly rod.

[XP 590]

Wow! Respectful disagreement and ongoing discussion of issues. That's why I love OAF. (NO sarcasm intended)

[joeD]

I love fishing F11s on the Current in the winter. It is an effective legal lure that regularly produces big fish for me. That is why I use it. Plus, and this is a big one for me, it is easy to fish, and, one is not laden with all manner of peripheral equipment and supplies. Trust me, I love stuff just like countless others. Graceful, it is not. This is about getting in the water and casting and casting and casting.

I understand why fly fishermen get upset at those of us who use treble hooks on our lures. I'm sure it is frustrating to see all your hard work and money and time spent in tying flies, researching leaders and tippet size, getting the proper reel size and weight, not to mention the actual fly rod itself. Add vests and leader wallets and boxes and everything else, well, you have quite a sizable stake in pursuing your passion.

Then a schlub like me comes along, with a spinning rod and reel and a lure that can be bought at any Wal Mart, and waddles through your stream like a herniated water buffalo, and consistently catches nice fish that, if there was any justice in the world, should have been yours.

But, here we are.

I too, fly fish, albeit occasionally. I get it. Multiple hooks versus one. Seems unfair. Yet, I can't tell you how many big browns have spit out my lure with both disgust and aplomb, trebles be darned. Remember, flyfishermen still have a sharp hook on the end of their lines, sometimes two. You're not exactly coaxing fish into your nets with charm and good looks. I am unaware of any mortality study on trout that have been hooked by trebles or a single fly. As an aside, I can't tell how many fish I, and others, have caught hooked only on one treble.

The public perception that spin fishermen usually catch and keep fish illegally is not true It is a function of the person, not the equipment. I've certainly seen a few fly fishermen bait the end their lines illegally over the years. So, method is moot when comes to the illegality of fishing practices when it comes to trout. Spin fishermen also love to fish, and are just as concerned about trout water health and other matters as fly fishermen are.

Basically, there is room for both types of fishing. One method is not morally or ethically superior than the other. As long as rules are followed and rights of others are respected, there is reason to believe that we can do what we love to do without acrimony.

Fishing is fun.

[Gavin]

Agree with Joe. Always have a dry fly, nymph, and streamer fly rod outfit handy when down there, but you gotta have some floating & suspending minnow plugs. That bite can be insane! Browns usually hit the front treble if the candy is right. EZ release if de barbed. Rainbows usually hit tail on a minnow plug...they like spoons better. Browns will hit the spoon too, but gold, not silver, mostly. Kastmasters 1/6oz plus and minus. Enough hints! Good night.

[fishinwrench]

I had a buddy that led me up the Current a couple times, he was a really good jerkbait fisherman and would roll those browns out from under logjams then quickly get his bigass Rapala away from them so that I could deliver a big leech fly in its vicinity while the fish was still trying to figure out where that big flashy minnow went to.

It was an absolute blast! And I've tried since then to elicit the type of response that those big minnow baits get with all manner of streamer fly's.

It only works about 1/10 of the time.

Those big 5" Rapala's apparently have an acoustic footprint....or something that just flat excites a nice brown trout in a way that no streamer can copy.

I learned something really cool about browns by doing that though, and that is IF you can coax a big brown out of his hiding place he is gonna eat SOMETHING before he goes back.

[Gavin]

Thinking the brownie man. Great guy!

[fishinwrench]

That's the one. I miss him, he was a good dude.

[joeD]

I will quote Billy Joel, knowing I am quoting Billy Joel, because it is true on many levels.

" I'd rather laugh with the sinners than cry with the saints.."

It's fishing. Everyone welcome! It's fun!

[nymphermaniac]

I completely respect all fishing styles and preferences. I have seen guys fishing jerk baits on the Current and they know what they are doing. I do worry about treble hooks. Just seems that they pose a greater risk of badly injuring fish. I just wish that MO could bring itself to have some true C&R areas so that people don't legally kill an 18.5" brown. The Current could become a premier brown trout fishery if it was C&R and then maybe more of us fly guys could catch a 5 pounder every now and then.