Saturday, February 20, 2016

First Trout For 2016

Finally, I get to fish the Sipsey again; December the 15th.  2015 was my last trip. We had 2” of rain in Jasper Monday and I figured that the generators would be running full blast all week. Wow, was I surprised when I checked the generating schedule Wednesday. Thursday and Friday would be free of generation. I picked Friday, 70 degrees a little overcast and a slight wind would hopefully trigger some activity for me.
Apparently everyone else thought Friday was the day too; didn’t make me no never mind, I was going to fish!!

I was anxious to try out my new Prestige Plus fly line from Cabelas. I also want to see how effective the furled leader works fishing it on a downstream retrieve. I’ve never fished this type of leader, and understand from information I’ve read it really enhances a dry flies drift. I was ready to accept the fact that I would be changing leaders to fish the nymph and dry throughout the afternoon. I won’t complain if it improves my catch ratio.
Nymphs are my go-to pattern on the Sip, so the nymph was tied on and I was off to access 5. All the heavy rains had changed the color of the water to aqua green.
Numerous stockers were brought to hand this afternoon using my 9 ft. 3 weight StreamFlex which made me think at times I was landing 12” trout. I talk to one guy who was landing the stockers using a 6 weight----way OVERKILL!!
A guide trip in progress right below me, four fly fishermen above me and more on up the gorge; plenty of company.
This fatty put up quite a fight before I finally netted it. I thought I was going to lose this fish, because I kept thinking my 6X was going to break with each hard run it would make. 
Unusual markings on this little guy---I am wondering if this is a rainbow, what do you guys think??
The only downer for this trip were the coils I kept experiencing all afternoon forming at my feet; I am going to assume I spooled the line on wrong. I kept hoping I would get a chance to try out my new furled leader but no surface activity was present the entire afternoon. I was told by one guy that the hatch occurred early morning, so guess when I will be back? --------as if I needed a reason to come back!!!
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18 comments:

  1. dead fisherFebruary 20, 2016 at 11:04 AM

    Looks like you had a good day out, Bill.
    The little one is a rainbow with parr markings, common to juvenile trout and salmon.

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  2. Mark KautzFebruary 20, 2016 at 11:39 AM

    We see a lot of Rainbows like that one out here. Ya gotta love combat fishing.

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  3. UnknownFebruary 20, 2016 at 2:05 PM

    That's quite a fat and healthy looking rainbow.

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  4. cofisherFebruary 20, 2016 at 3:15 PM

    Bill, the Sipsey in those pictures looks a lot like Clear Creek. No wonder you love it so much. Glad you got caught up on your trout fishing.

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  5. Bill TrussellFebruary 20, 2016 at 5:36 PM

    Fisher
    First one I've landed with those kind of markings, kind of through me.
    Thanks for the comment

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  6. Bill TrussellFebruary 20, 2016 at 5:38 PM

    Ben
    That rainbow was a whole over from last year, Dale Hollow the hatchery in Tennessee seldom stocks that size. Thanks for the comment

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  7. Bill TrussellFebruary 20, 2016 at 5:40 PM

    Howard
    I did get my fix for the day; we are expecting more rain here this week so generation will take over next week. Thanks for the comment

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  8. Bill TrussellFebruary 20, 2016 at 5:41 PM

    Mark
    First one I've seen on the Sipsey--thanks for the comment

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  9. Brk TrtFebruary 20, 2016 at 7:47 PM

    Nice outing Bill
    That rainbow has parr markings and that's a young fish.
    If they don't stock them that size then you may have a wild streambred rainbow.

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  10. Bill TrussellFebruary 21, 2016 at 9:18 AM

    Alan
    Dale Hollow hatchery stocks the Sipseyt the majority of the time and I suspect there are more swimming in the waters. Thanks for the comment

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  11. rivertopramblesFebruary 21, 2016 at 6:05 PM

    The first trout of the year kind of breaks the ice for the angler, even when there's no ice to break (70 degrees!). The small rainbow has parr markings indicating it's a young one. Nice going, Bill.

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  12. Bill TrussellFebruary 22, 2016 at 8:24 AM

    Walt
    Anytime I can land ten trout or more on the Sipsey; I consider myself extremely lucky. The fishing pressure on this tailrace is heavy; so yes it was a great way to start the trout season for me. Thanks for the comment

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  13. CARFFebruary 22, 2016 at 8:23 PM

    Maybe just give your line some stretches in sections to keep it from coil. Heard a guide say that he does it every morning for his clients before they get to the launch.

    Really nice outing, Bill. How did that leader work out for you...did you notice a difference in your drift?

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  14. Bill TrussellFebruary 23, 2016 at 10:22 AM

    Justin
    I assume this will work on the fly line just as it works with my leader. I didn't get to try the furled leader because there was no surface activity at all--so stayed with the nymph all afternoon. Thanks for the comment

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  15. Feather ChuckerFebruary 23, 2016 at 3:35 PM

    Nice post Bill. That smaller fish is a rainbow. Looks like a juvenile with par marks.

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  16. Bill TrussellFebruary 23, 2016 at 5:20 PM

    Kevin
    I thought it was a rainbow, but thought I would all you guys and make sure. Thanks for the comment

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  17. David KnappFebruary 23, 2016 at 6:36 PM

    Great report Bill. Glad you were able to get out. Those fish look like they grow well in the Sipsey. Small heads and big football shaped bodies are the ingredients for hard pulling trout!

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  18. Bill TrussellFebruary 24, 2016 at 5:26 PM

    David
    The whole overs really makes for a good fight on a 3 or 4 weight; couldn't have ask for a better day. Thanks for the comment

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