01-09-2006, 03:32 AM
So, from what I can see, 3/4 lb test smaller than 7x.
The brook trout up where I live, I am positive they are not as easy to spook as some heavily fished waters in the U.S.
Natural instinct makes most fish very nervous being close to the surface. But, I have often seen places where on opening day there will be 20 or 30 boats on a small lake and by the middle of the day, the fishing really slacks off for the rest of the day. The following weekend after a week of relative rest, the fishing is great again.
The brook trout fishing I do is usually in a very small lake. Near the end of summer, the larger trout are mostly found further from shore and if a person looks closely enough he will see a dimple like one made by a falling drop of water. So I silently paddle out and try to locate the fish. The dimples are usually about 4 feet apart so I cast in front of the fish....the appropriate length.
Fighting the fish....I can let it run as far as it wants and I don't have to horse it in. Brook trout will make a short run....then dog it...then another short run. The water is deep enough that I don't have to worry about the fish wrapping my line on something. They are pretty tired when I finally slip my hand under their belly and lift them out. They lay motionless on their belly in my hand. It's usually easy to pick out the fly with hemostats. The deeper hooked ones I keep. Size is about 8 to 15 inches.
I guess the fact that for over 30 years, I very rarely use more than 4 lb test mono on spinning gear.....about 30% of the time I use 2 lb test mono....makes it easier for me to use 1 lb or 3/4 lb tippets. A 1 lb test tippet is surprisingly strong on the end of a fly rod. 3/4 lb is "hotdogging", I guess but it is a lot more heart thumping. Losing a tiny size 24 fly when you can tie your own so simply (they are about the simplest to make) and quickly and knowing that the tiny hook won't harm the fish....I don't mind losing some fish.
Our quota is 20 any size brook trout. The ones I like to eat are the 8 to 12 inch size. I fillet and remove the skin most of the time.
The fishing is easy. There is no other food for the fish other than insects and maybe a few salamanders etc. The growing season is short. They don't seem to like eating blood suckers. The water temperatures at the surface rarely go above 65 F. A few feet below the surface....the water is quite cool. When swimming, the upper half of our body is in warm water but our feet are in very cold water. Fish revive quickly.
When fishing deep with nymphs, the trout hit very hard.....so they hook themselves.
And yes....they have those marvelous colours we see in magazines. Their flesh is almost red.
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The brook trout up where I live, I am positive they are not as easy to spook as some heavily fished waters in the U.S.
Natural instinct makes most fish very nervous being close to the surface. But, I have often seen places where on opening day there will be 20 or 30 boats on a small lake and by the middle of the day, the fishing really slacks off for the rest of the day. The following weekend after a week of relative rest, the fishing is great again.
The brook trout fishing I do is usually in a very small lake. Near the end of summer, the larger trout are mostly found further from shore and if a person looks closely enough he will see a dimple like one made by a falling drop of water. So I silently paddle out and try to locate the fish. The dimples are usually about 4 feet apart so I cast in front of the fish....the appropriate length.
Fighting the fish....I can let it run as far as it wants and I don't have to horse it in. Brook trout will make a short run....then dog it...then another short run. The water is deep enough that I don't have to worry about the fish wrapping my line on something. They are pretty tired when I finally slip my hand under their belly and lift them out. They lay motionless on their belly in my hand. It's usually easy to pick out the fly with hemostats. The deeper hooked ones I keep. Size is about 8 to 15 inches.
I guess the fact that for over 30 years, I very rarely use more than 4 lb test mono on spinning gear.....about 30% of the time I use 2 lb test mono....makes it easier for me to use 1 lb or 3/4 lb tippets. A 1 lb test tippet is surprisingly strong on the end of a fly rod. 3/4 lb is "hotdogging", I guess but it is a lot more heart thumping. Losing a tiny size 24 fly when you can tie your own so simply (they are about the simplest to make) and quickly and knowing that the tiny hook won't harm the fish....I don't mind losing some fish.
Our quota is 20 any size brook trout. The ones I like to eat are the 8 to 12 inch size. I fillet and remove the skin most of the time.
The fishing is easy. There is no other food for the fish other than insects and maybe a few salamanders etc. The growing season is short. They don't seem to like eating blood suckers. The water temperatures at the surface rarely go above 65 F. A few feet below the surface....the water is quite cool. When swimming, the upper half of our body is in warm water but our feet are in very cold water. Fish revive quickly.
When fishing deep with nymphs, the trout hit very hard.....so they hook themselves.
And yes....they have those marvelous colours we see in magazines. Their flesh is almost red.
[signature]