Thursday, November 19, 2015

Going Back After Better Trout

Today’s post is the second installment of the Logjam post from last week. I knew last Tuesday when I kept losing all those better trout on the Sipsey I would be making another trip to try to redeem myself. I am one of those fishermen who dissect every trip I make. I left the tailrace Tuesday wondering why I lost more trout than I landed. I surmised it came down to fly rods. My 3 weight just didn’t have the backbone needed to really set the hook as opposed to using a heavier fly rod such as my 4 weight.

 I thought I was completely prepared for today’s outing. I wanted to film some of the action today, so I brought along my Contour Video camera. My first rainbow of the afternoon inhaling my nymph right after I stepped off the metal steps into the waters; camera-ready so I reach up on top of my helmet to flip the switch on. Nothing was happening, after repeated tries, reached in my front pocket and used my camera to record the last part of the action. I need to remember to charge the Contour camera even when it is not in use. The uncharged camera was the only downer for today’s trip.
I discovered these small plants scattered all over the tailrace. All the plants were less than 10 inches tall. They were covered with tiny lavender buds, with leaves similar to a rubber plant. It is a hardy plant because when the generators are running all are covered with the frigid 57-degree water for hours. I am thinking of digging one up and transplanting it in our yard at home.
I like to think this is one of the better rainbows that I lost on Tuesday. Dropping a nymph at least 3 feet deep in fast water got his attention. The colors on this trout were more vivid than most I land.
I continue to be amazed that I am landing trout like this in the Deep South, especially in Alabama!!


14 comments:

  1. Cold water out of the bottom of the dam is a good place everywhere for trout. The Sipsey seems especially good because those are mighty nice Bows.

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  2. Bill we must remember to charge those batteries. I've done the same thing numerous times. The gill plate on that rainbow is beautiful.

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  3. Bill, I stand in the "amazed" corner, too! Those are some beautifully marked up Rainbows on the Sipsy this time of year. Did you have a "hot" pattern? Have you done any streamer fishing this time of year? Thanks for sharing!

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  4. Nice follow-up to the previous post, Bill, with nice rainbows for satisfaction. Not sure about the plant you saw, but it looks like some kind of knotweed, not the Japanese variety, but something less invasive, but hearty.

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  5. Nicely done Bill, those are some pretty fish. Do you really think that the 4 weight was the difference?

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  6. Alan
    Not charging the batteries in the camera makes me say some choice words!!! Thanks for the comment

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  7. Mark
    57 degrees water and constant flow year round keeps the trout healthy for sure. Thanks for the comment

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  8. Walt
    I goggled knotweed and found a number of varieties of the plant. I did find a couple that look similar to the one I found at the tailrace. Redemption for sure as opposed to my first outing. Thanks for the comment

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  9. Mel
    These trout have more color than the average stock trout I land there. I haven't tried a streamer yet; I hope to use one before the year is out. No set pattern, one day it could be nymphs, the next midges and sometimes even dries. Thanks for the comment

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  10. Howard
    Knock on paper, I didn't lose a single trout Thursday. I like to think that the 4 wt. gave me a little more power to set the hook; or it could have been that the trout were in a better feeding mode. I was just glad I was able to land numerous quality rainbow for the 2 hours spent on the water. Thanks for the comment

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  11. I hate a dead battery. I get my camera batteries charged the same day after I use them, or at least try to. Looks like a fantastic outing! Those are some gorgeous trout!

    Oh, and I apologize if I have said this before, but I noticed that your blog roll still has my old blog on it that I haven't used in about a year. My new address is www.carfoutdoors.blogspot.com in case you weren't aware.

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  12. Great looking bows. Sounds like a great day!

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  13. Justin
    One of my better trips this year, hopefully next time the camera works. Will change the address, thanks for the comment

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  14. Drew
    For stocker trout not bad----thanks for the comment

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