Fighting big fish

[AVK]

I was out the other day despite the high flows caused by rains. Found some soft water where I could drift my nymphs nicely. Everything went well but I lost a big one twice during the day. It was like 4-5 seconds after setting the hook, short fight then SNAP!... I kept the line tight `cause I wanted to reel in the slack and fight the fish from the reel. Maybe too tight, perhaps I shouldn`t have pressed too much at those first seconds. Once hooked, the fished rushed downstream into the fast current, I couldn`t follow its movements. I was using my 4wt rod with 5x tippet, all new material, good knots. Later I landed a huge sucker using the same rig at a different location of the same stream. But I don`t think the fish I lost was a sucker. Different behaviour, first of all. Then the current at the spot where I lost the fish was too swift IMHO to hold suckers. Plus, while drifting my nymphs I saw a decent trout, maybe 3-4 pound, splash in just 10 ft from me. I realized that I have to learn a lot before I kind land something this big. I had such mishaps last season fishing West Branch Delaware. I think to start with I should use a heavier set up for early spring fishing, especially when the flow is so high.
Does anyone have good tips to share on landing big ones on a light tackle?

[johnjav]

i hear ya, anytime i have a trout on the line im always nervous for break offs. How is your drag on your reel? Maybe you may not want to keep it so tight?  I lost a pig trout this winter on the east branch and i was pretty upset over it.  It would have been the biggest i caught, this thing looked like a football.  I was using a size 18 black le bug.  What knot do you use to tie your fly on? I use to use the clinch knot for the main fly but now only use it for droppers flies.  I have been using the orvis knot for the first fly connected.  I have never landed a big big trout fly fishing, 16" is probably my biggest. 

you could always go up to a 4x and see if that works better. 

[AVK]

Usually I set the drag somewhere very close to minimum. If I fish big water and use 2x-3x tippets with big flies I'd set the drag at medium. As for the knots I use, most of the time it is a clinch or improved clinch. simple and reliable. I'll try Orvis knot, they say it's even stronger. Tippet to leader I use loop to loop connection. I think this was the weakest part of my set up last time. There's a lot of friction, and the connection need to be checked all the time (I didn't do this). Normally, I use the lightest tippet possible. When conditions allow, I'd go one size bigger. Coming back to the story of lost fish, after having replayed it in my mind several times, the conclusion is that the major mistake I made was pressing too much on the fish at the very beginning, when he made his first powerful run.
By the way, how do you prefer to tie on your dropper when fishing two nymphs-to the hook of other nymph or to the leader?
 

[jimmy1]

What type reel do you have, is it click and pawl or disc drag. It might have a high start up inertia which can put a lot of stress on light tippet.
I never apply pressure until the fish stops on that initial first run, and make sure my hand is clear of the reel.

[AVK]

Disc drag. But it didn't go that far. Never made it to fight from the reel. I pinched the line too tight before realizing the big one was on. So silly of me!

[Montrose]

When conditions allow, I'd go one size bigger. Coming back to the story of lost fish, after having replayed it in my mind several times, the conclusion is that the major mistake I made was pressing too much on the fish at the very beginning, when he made his first powerful run.

It's been many years since I fly fished, but I think you answered your own question already.  Early season, less than gin clear water and large fish in heavier currents, I'd step the leader up and risk a little line shyness for landing a big fish.

[johnjav]

i tie the first fly on with an orvis knot and a second dropper fly usually a size 18 with a clinch knot. I also am not a fan of break offs because i hate to lose my flies, esp since they are like $2 a hit! This season i will try mirage leaders for streamers and nymphs.  I will use the nylon leaders if i throw a dry fly around (rarely occurs) or targeting SMB or the water is super fast  Thats my game plan this season.  I'm heading up to ausable river in 3 weeks from now, pretty pumped for that.  Will be on the water for 4 days hopefully. Pretty much just hiking/fly fishing and checking out the area.   

I also upgraded my reels to mid-arbor over the stock reel size.  I wanted to try the large arbor but my funds are slowing disappearing so my fishing fund is done for the season besides getting a boat.  I am also holding off on the helios rod.  I'm use to the TLS rod and i feel if i get the helios, i will never use the TLS again, lol. Sad but true!

-john

[AVK]

OK, looking forward to seeing your report on the Ausable trip!

[jimmy1]

I headed to the Esopus today for 3 days. Hopefully I'll have something to report.

[AVK]

I'm going tomorrow with my buddy good luck!

[AVK]

Our trip on Friday 22 wasn`t quite succesful. The creek was high and turbid, not safely wadable. Stony Clove at Phoenicia was muddy, we went upstream to check out some stretches beyond Chichester. there`s a spot where 2 smaller creeks join, I had a nice hit there drifting nymphs. Further upstream it was quite clear, tried both nymphs and streamers, but nothing. In the afternoon we were back on Esopus, upstream of Phoenicia. The water was 44 and we saw small black stoneflies on the rocks. around 3 p.m. some large (size 12-14) mayflies started coming up sporadically, we caught a couple, they looked like BWOs. I`m not quite sure, they are supposed to be size 18-20 in early season. We struggled the currents, found some spots behind large rocks and fallen trees, along the banks where trouts were able to find refuge. I caught only one wild rainbow of 12 inch on a prince nymph, when I finally quit trying with streamers. I didn`t change the line and used sink-tip with fast sinking polyleader. the water was fast and deep, and that was the only way to get to trout hugging the bottom. Unfortunately we had to leave shortly after I caught the fish. Otherwise we would also check out the stretch above the portal. Next time..

[jimmy1]

Avk I think I saw you guys fishing the pool above Woodland Valley along 28 Friday morning. If I knew it was you I'd have said hello. Do you guys have green waders?

[AVK]

Yes, green waders the only thing is that we fished Esopus around Rt28 bridge, Woodland Valley Rd is a little farther upstream. And we fished there in the afternoon, not in the morning. I didn`t see many fishermen around. We noticed couple cars around Emerson Spa on the way back. How was your trip?

[jimmy1]

I think I saw you guys in the village Friday morning near the tube rental. I caught a couple of suckers and one rainbow. Waters just to cold still. After this week with the warmer temps it should pick up though.

[AVK]

Right, we parked there. Yeah, I hope things are changing. Interestingly, my buddy also caught two suckers, they are spawning right now.