mirogak Posted August 6, 2013 Report Share Posted August 6, 2013 So this summer was turning out to be a bummer in terms of fishing. Work and building a "mega" shed in the backyard got in the way. I "way" underestimated how long that shed/workshop would take. This long weekend I decided to hit a favourite spot in my favourite river. Went with a couple of buddies. There were 3 holes, each of us working each hole. I knew there were smallies here but I also knew there were Brookies. I kept catching smallies on the spinning rod, none too big until I landed a 1.5 or maybe even 2 pounder. Kept that one for the pan. I had both rods with me - spinning and fly rod. I reserved the last hour of daylight for the rod and some nice fly action. Saw lots of bug activity on the surface but nothing was rising. I decided to use an old, beaten, grasshopper fly given to me by a fellow angler I met the weeekend before at the Forks of the Credit. He told me the hoppers were in season and trout love them. I noticed that my 5X leader had shortened to about 4 or 5 feet in length and I only had 5X tippet, so tying the tippet to that leader didn't seem like a good option. So I switched to a brand new 9 foot 7X leader, thinking trout don't get bigger than 2lbs in the river. So I should be good .... ***MISTAKE**** My buddies had quit fishing at that point, and I saw this nice log right next to the hole my buddy was working for a good hour. My first cast I landed the hopper right next to that log, a good 30 yards away from where I was standing. Not much current on the surface, so I decided to twitch my rod, giving some life to that hopper ... BAMMMMMMMMMMM!!! something just destroyed it. I couldn't believe my eyes. My friends sitting on top of a bridge, watching me in fly action, got up on their feet and couldnt believe their eyes, especially the dude who was working that hole for an hour. This baby jumped a good 3 or 4 feet in the air, and was running in every direction, to the right, to the left, straight away from me. I was all so gentle with the rod, giving it line. I had this nasty feeling in my gut that I was going to loose him. After about 3 or 4 mins (seemed like half an hour) it came straight towards me, coming as close as 6 feet, but as soon as it saw me, he must have said "no way", he shot back up straight away from me. One more jump but he was too far for me to tell what it was and it was getting dark. Next thing I know, he shot right towards my left side, there was a 10 feet opening between me and the bank of the river, he shot straight across by my side, only 3 or 4 feet away from me. I was letting line but he was too fast ... SNAP!!!! I stomped my feet in disappointment and felt this energy/electricity just drain out of me. Must have been all that adrenaline rushing out. I just kneeled down in the water and felt this huge headache in the back of my head. What a rush, what a disappointment. Why did I switch my leader? This fight reminded me not of the 2 pounder bass that I caught earlier but it reminded me of the salmon and steelhead fights during the fall runs. It had to be a Speckeled Trout, would you agree? PS: Two years ago, when I started chasing brookies, I had dreamt about a colorful trout on my line jumping 10 feet in the air in this very river, in this very spot. Dreams do come true? It made my summer! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asdve23rveavwa Posted August 6, 2013 Report Share Posted August 6, 2013 Great story, but, I personally have never seen a speckled trout jump. They will bulldog, spin and thrash just under the surface for me. Sounds like you had quite the rush, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky or Specks Posted August 6, 2013 Report Share Posted August 6, 2013 Now you'll never know. Welcome to the FISH THAT HAUNTS YOU. I think most fisherman have one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christopheraaron Posted August 6, 2013 Report Share Posted August 6, 2013 Great story, but, I personally have never seen a speckled trout jump. They will bulldog, spin and thrash just under the surface for me. Sounds like you had quite the rush, though. They most definitely do jump! Mostly the smaller ones though, since we're into August, I doubt it was a brookie, probably a good bass, go back with more flies and catch it again! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joeytier Posted August 6, 2013 Report Share Posted August 6, 2013 Specks rarely jump, especially ones as big as what you described, and bass love terrestrial flies. Sounds like a fun day on the river though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
solopaddler Posted August 6, 2013 Report Share Posted August 6, 2013 Great story! If the river you fished is a great lakes trib my guess would be holdover rainbow. There's always a good number of fish that stick around sometimes all summer. Always a surprise when you hook one... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asdve23rveavwa Posted August 6, 2013 Report Share Posted August 6, 2013 They most definitely do jump! Mostly the smaller ones though, since we're into August, I doubt it was a brookie, probably a good bass, go back with more flies and catch it again! Just speaking from my own personal experience Christopher, which goes back about 40 years when it comes to specks. I don't doubt that they can jump, I'm just saying I have never had one do it. Cheers, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christopheraaron Posted August 6, 2013 Report Share Posted August 6, 2013 Ya, usually when they jump its super aggressive ones taking dries. I would still say bass Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mirogak Posted August 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2013 (edited) Now you'll never know. Welcome to the FISH THAT HAUNTS YOU. I think most fisherman have one. Yes Brad, it is haunting but it puts a smile on my face every time I think of it. To be honest, it revived my fly fishing spirit since I hadn't really caught much with the fly rod, but now its back on. Furthermore, you know this river and this spot very well. And you'd agree it was THE God of Fish. Edited August 7, 2013 by letsgofishing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mirogak Posted August 6, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2013 Great story! If the river you fished is a great lakes trib my guess would be holdover rainbow. There's always a good number of fish that stick around sometimes all summer. Always a surprise when you hook one... Only lakers, smallies and brookies are present in this river that is fed by a lake. Will PM you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky or Specks Posted August 7, 2013 Report Share Posted August 7, 2013 If I could find a brookie in that spot mid summer I would consider myself a God so I'm guessing Smallmouth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris.brock Posted August 7, 2013 Report Share Posted August 7, 2013 sounds like a memorable outing regardless, I enjoyed reading that Mirro, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod Caster Posted August 7, 2013 Report Share Posted August 7, 2013 great read. Another vote for bass. I've had a few "mystery" fish that still haunt me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mirogak Posted August 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2013 No way dudes!!!! I respect your experience and opinion here on this thread BUT FOR ME it was MY BROOKIE .. lol Thx for reading. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mirogak Posted August 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2013 No way dudes!!!! I respect your experience and opinion here on this thread BUT FOR ME it was MY BROOKIE .. lol Thx for reading. Might I add ... my "TROPHY" Speckled Trout. hahaha .... This one will stick with me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhickey Posted August 7, 2013 Report Share Posted August 7, 2013 Good luck. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musky or Specks Posted August 7, 2013 Report Share Posted August 7, 2013 Just to haunt you remember this 23" came out of there Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dhickey Posted August 7, 2013 Report Share Posted August 7, 2013 (edited) By the way. If you cant tell the difference between a speck and a bass????? I can tell the difference between Bass/pike/lunge/picks/lakers/whitey/ or perch off the bat. They all fight different and if you know your stuff they take the hook and bait in their own way. My 2cencs? Edited August 7, 2013 by saltydawg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now