Hale Bob with a Copper John tied off the back of the hook

It’s been a rough week trying to get caught up at home after the Wounded Warrior Event.   I was scheduled to go to the Trinity yesterday  but it just didn’t work out.  Instead I went up to the club around 5:00.  I wanted to try out my new Sage  One six weight Spey Rod in preparation for my trip to the Trinity the end of this month.   I started swinging  a Hale Bob with a copper John tied off the back of the hook.

 

Copper John tied off the back of the hook

 

 

After about 5 or 6 casts I hooked a good size fish that got off by bending the hook.   I straighten the hook and then started casting again more concerned about my casting than fishing.   I did practice bumping the line to get more action.    After another half dozen casts I hooked a 20” rainbow that made some very impressive runs.  You can always tell it is a big fish when the fish starts making long runs up or down stream.   This fish made some nice runs of 25 plus yards up and back down the river.   Eventually I got him into some shallow water before landing him.  Sorry I did not have a camera as I was there to practice casting, not fishing.

 

Since I have started Spey Fishing for trout below the campground I have been hooking two or three 18” to 20” rainbows in about an hour of fishing.   You won’t catch as many fish swinging flies versus dry or nymphing.  However the quality of the fish will greatly improve and the fish will be very aggressive when you do hook them.   It takes some time and practice to learn the cast and land the fish.  This is my first year of casting and I can reach the other side of the river below the campground fairly easily.    I really enjoy the “take” when a fish grabs the fly while it is swinging by them.

 

Tight Lines,

Tom