Nothing like the day before.

[mondrella]

Decided to hit the river again Saturday. I kind of hoped for a day like the one before but I knew it was Unlikely. I fished a different section of water and was a little dissappointed in all the boots prints I saw. But what the heck maybe they did not trip the trigger of the kind of fish I was really after. Right away within the first 15 min. a really big trout comes cruising by right up on the sand in water only 18" deep nearly running into me. This I thought was a good sign. Working My way up and trying to get in position to work a run. I spooked a really nice fish out from under a bush. From the angle that the first fish came from they had to be laying together and one decided to move. In a way I think they may have been a couple of late steelhead. After spooking the big fish into the run if anything was there I think I put them down. I tried my hand at bait fishing but those dam little steelie smoltz where driving me crazy and cleaning me out. So I grabbed the hardware and started hitting some browns like this one.
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/523/DSC01728.JPG
Nothing real big maybe 9" fish. The first 15 or so the biggest may have been 12" I covered from one bridge to another and walked back down the road to my vehicle. I Then moved to a different section of river for the evening and met a guy on the way in and we talked a little fishing. I had never fished it before but it looked interesting on my maps. Man I should have been fishing here for years. It has the making of big fish water. I was expecting a 20" fish from numerous spots. It just screams big trout to me. Alot of difficult places to fish if you can't place a cast. I was in the groove and making unbelievable cast yet not a 20" fish gave in. I managed 7 or so like this one.
http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/523/DSC01729.JPG
A did not measure any of them but I would have to guess a solid 15" fish the biggest may have been 17". Quality fish and they all put up a great fight.

[Big Medicine]

Nice pics. Not as big as your last report but still really nice.:D Good luck finding that 20".

[Splitshot]

Nice fish Steve. You can't expect to catch 20" fish every day. Well you can expect it, but it's not likely unless your fishing the Paris brood stock pond. lol

Sounds like a good day on the river. A 14" fish is a great trout anyday and any time you catch one bigger count your blessings.

A couple of years ago when we were in drought conditions, you were lucky to catch an 11" fish.

[mondrella]

Nice fish Steve. You can't expect to catch 20" fish every day. Well you can expect it, but it's not likely unless your fishing the Paris brood stock pond. lol

Sounds like a good day on the river. A 14" fish is a great trout anyday and any time you catch one bigger count your blessings.

A couple of years ago when we were in drought conditions, you were lucky to catch an 11" fish.


I wish I could hook a resident bow in a stream like those fish. I had one when I first started trout fishing but was to new to troutfishing to know it was a fish of a lifetime.
My intention everytime I trout fish is to catch at least one fish 15". Its just a personal goal of mine. I have became much more consistant at it over the years. I kind of am in shock now that I can hit a section of water I have never fish before and do quite well.
All trout are special to me even the dinks. For one I wish them to reach 20" and come visit me again I wish I could have stuck with the bait in the first section I fished I think I may have done a little better. Those little smolts would have cleaned me out in the first 3 spots if I would have stuck with it.

[Whit1]

II kind of am in shock now that I can hit a section of water I have never fish before and do quite well.


Don't be surprised, you've learned to "read" the water and what's more important you have enough experience to have developed a "sixth sense" about where trout lurk, especially those 14+" in length. It's funny, but I can almost sense when I'm going to tangle with a larger stream trout. I don't know what it is, but this "sense of the upcoming" in regard to trout does exist.

[axisgear]

Now try it with a fly (streamer)that you tied YOURSELF!:lol: ! A whole new ball game just opened up before you;) ! You can either run with it!.....or you can fish with bait and spinners until you're dead:rolleyes: (boring with a capital B) . Choose wisely young jedi,I didn't:lol: !

[alexsalmon]

Nice fish Steve. You can't expect to catch 20" fish every day. Well you can expect it, but it's not likely unless your fishing the Paris brood stock pond. lol

Sounds like a good day on the river. A 14" fish is a great trout anyday and any time you catch one bigger count your blessings.

A couple of years ago when we were in drought conditions, you were lucky to catch an 11" fish.

Hey, I fish that pond all the time and those trout dont just want any bare hook, I found a golden one works best.;)

Mondrella, one of these days my dumbA** will stumble upon the creeks you fish and will probably never leave it. Until then I will fish my little spots. Im pretty sure we fish the same spots it's just the way you fish that gets you the big fish.

[mondrella]

Now try it with a fly (streamer)that you tied YOURSELF!:lol: ! A whole new ball game just opened up before you;) ! You can either run with it!.....or you can fish with bait and spinners until you're dead:rolleyes: (boring with a capital B) . Choose wisely young jedi,I didn't:lol: !

I have and use a flyrod quite often. I have caught quite a few 20"+ fish on a flyrod. Most of them on streamers. The thing is I like to catch fish! I know there is often a better way to go about it. You can say its more of a challenge and that is a bunch of crap. The challenge is knowing what to use and when to be the most successful. There are times the flyrod is the first thing I grab. You Know why. Because conditions say it will be best. That what seperates good trout fisherman from great ones. Stream trout over 24" they are an other animal There is nothing that will get your juices flowing any quicker than a heavy brown and yellow tank. I don't care if I catch them on a crawler,spinner or fly. Its the same rush. Its about the pull on the other end that gets me not how I got it. Being consistant at catching big trout is probably one of the hardest things to do. I just want to master it. I have a ways to go.

[mondrella]

Hey, I fish that pond all the time and those trout dont just want any bare hook, I found a golden one works best.;)

Mondrella, one of these days my dumbA** will stumble upon the creeks you fish and will probably never leave it. Until then I will fish my little spots. Im pretty sure we fish the same spots it's just the way you fish that gets you the big fish.

Alex I know we fish the same waters. The thing is your young yet by the time your my age you will be light years ahead of where I am.

[Whit1]

Now try it with a fly (streamer)that you tied YOURSELF!:lol: ! A whole new ball game just opened up before you;) ! You can either run with it!.....or you can fish with bait and spinners until you're dead:rolleyes: (boring with a capital B) . Choose wisely young jedi,I didn't:lol: !

This WILL NOT be turned into another of the unending battles between flyfishing and not to fly fish.

Period!