Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum
Fishing in British Columbia => General Discussion => Topic started by: Every Day on April 15, 2020, 10:24:07 PM
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Hey everyone!
I've taken a pretty long hiatus from writing and publishing photos and the like. In all honesty, there was never really a plan to do anything this year either, but I've had a decent amount of spare time on my hands (haven't we all), and I'm rather enjoying looking back on this past season's memories and photographs. I've found myself reading my Quest for 20 blog occasionally, and sometimes I regret not writing blogs for other seasons, so I started throwing this one together. It was definitely a season to remember in many regards. Despite all the doom and gloom around steelhead (especially early season), I had a rather entertaining year and found fairly decent numbers of fish. I also explored a number of trout fisheries that I thoroughly enjoyed.
One note is that this season's blog will be much more writing heavy than my past publications. I fished alone a lot this season, and rarely busted out a camera other than my phone, and only when it was suitable with the fish's health in mind. In years past, I've often fished with friends or Kitty every trip out, but situations change, people move, etc, so I found myself exploring on my own a lot. Hopefully my writing is good enough to get some people hooked without the extras. Of course, there were days where I was out with Kitty and many of those days will have photos accompanying them. These first two are fairly picture/media heavy, so enjoy!
(https://outdooraddictions.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/colour-and-distortion-full-length.jpg)
Catalogue and Conquer - Part I - Egg Eaters (https://outdooraddictions.wordpress.com/2020/04/16/catalogue-and-conquer-part-i-egg-eaters/)
(https://outdooraddictions.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/rod-filming-lift.jpg)
Catalogue and Conquer - Part II - Ice Fishing (https://outdooraddictions.wordpress.com/2020/04/16/catalogue-and-conquer-part-ii-ice-fishing/)
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Both write-ups very enjoyable, with excellent photos as always.
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Both write-ups very enjoyable, with excellent photos as always.
Thanks!
Threw up another one tonight. I'll try and aim for one every couple of days or so to keep people entertained ;D
(https://outdooraddictions.files.wordpress.com/2020/02/spoon-buck.jpg)
Catalogue and Conquer - Part III - Losing Spree (https://outdooraddictions.wordpress.com/2020/04/19/catalogue-and-conquer-part-iii-losing-spree/)
As always, feel free to comment ideas, questions, etc! Enjoy!
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Enjoyed vid and story.
What are the odds yous would catch going thru ice incident.
And what are the odds the end result been much worse.
Either wet head to toe or.....
Nice looking fish .
Comment about preparing /eating meal is the guarantee to get a fish idea.... Isn't that the truth !
1st time ever. Fish on ...fork sticking out of mouth.
Kitty speakth with fork tongue ! ;D
4% power on IPAD .
Will check other story later....after zzzzzz.
But seen some smiles so the positives out weight the negs. cold etc...
Nature ...fresh air ...and better fishing on day 2 ! Better that way. Could of been good fishing first day and slower on day 2. :)
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Thank you Dan. Your blogs are fantastic.
In this days it is rare to read something real, entertaining, exciting and educational all at the same time.
Most of us will never see what you seen, wade where you wade, and fish where you fish. Thank you for sharing.
And I haven't even mentioned about the pictures yet.
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Once again thanks to everyone for the kind comments and for reading/ following along! Here's another one (less picture heavy and more "story telling").
(https://outdooraddictions.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/chrome-doe-brighter.jpg)
Catalogue and Conquer - Part IV - High Water Hiding (https://outdooraddictions.wordpress.com/2020/04/22/catalogue-and-conquer-part-iv-high-water-hiding/)
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Another one, this one with a few more pictures than the last couple! Enjoy!
(https://outdooraddictions.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/winter-steel-rb.jpg)
Catalogue and Conquer - Part V - An Extended Weekend (https://outdooraddictions.wordpress.com/2020/04/23/catalogue-and-conquer-part-v-weekend-date-and-a-snow-day/)
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Really enjoyed the High Water Hiding write up.
You described it so well.
And nice Kitty started landing fish.
If the monkey stayed too much longer she may of put the rod to the side and jumped into the pool to catch one by her hands..... :o
As a fishing couple you both have passion ...that's a gimme. (love of sports fishing)
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Really enjoyed the High Water Hiding write up.
You described it so well.
And nice Kitty started landing fish.
If the monkey stayed too much longer she may of put the rod to the side and jumped into the pool to catch one by her hands..... :o
As a fishing couple you both have passion ...that's a gimme. (love of sports fishing)
Thanks AB! I'm glad that one was described well (High Water Hiding), as it didn't have a ton of photos. It's always good to know I can keep people reading even without media involved.
Another new blog is up (another one with more photos since it was from days with Kitty):
(https://outdooraddictions.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/bullet-buck.jpg)
Catalogue and Conquer - Part VI - A Never Ending Adventure (https://outdooraddictions.wordpress.com/2020/04/27/catalogue-and-conquer-part-vi-a-never-ending-adventure/)
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ran into you guys twice this year on different rivers, good write ups.
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Just read Part 1. Well written, well photographed and frequent mention of my favourite little salmonid. What's not to like?! :)
Will savour the other parts later.
Nice job, ED
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Just read Part 1. Well written, well photographed and frequent mention of my favourite little salmonid. What's not to like?! :)
Will savour the other parts later.
Nice job, ED
Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed! I've personally really started to enjoy rainbow fishing, and find myself doing it more and more - cutthroat too, but that will be written about a little later!
One more blog up:
(https://outdooraddictions.files.wordpress.com/2020/04/chunky-cutty.jpg)
Catalogue and Conquer - Part VII - Relearning (https://outdooraddictions.wordpress.com/2020/05/01/catalogue-and-conquer-part-vii-relearning/)
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thanks Dan! Wonderful photos & narrative.
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I've uploaded another one! Enjoy your Monday everyone (if anyone even keeps track of days anymore)!
(https://outdooraddictions.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/loop-side-view.jpg)
Catalogue and Conquer - Part VIII - Cutthroat Chronicle I (https://outdooraddictions.wordpress.com/2020/05/04/catalogue-and-conquer-part-viii-cutthroat-chronicle-i/)
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One more blog for people to read to start the week. I'll continue to try to finish it going forward, probably won't be done till mid June this time around. Hope everyone is well and enjoying the reading!
(https://outdooraddictions.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/20200220_151102.jpg)
Catalogue and Conquer - Part IX - Road Trip (https://outdooraddictions.wordpress.com/2020/05/11/catalogue-and-conquer-part-ix-road-trip/)
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I know we're well past the end of winter steelhead season now, and that I've started these relatively late, but here's another one (with likely 10 more or so to come). Hopefully everyone is enjoying the reads rather than watching all the news on covid. Enjoy Part 10!
(https://outdooraddictions.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/spoon-buck.jpg)
Catalogue and Conquer - Part X - Deja Vu/ (https://outdooraddictions.wordpress.com/2020/05/16/catalogue-and-conquer-part-x-deja-vu/)
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That silver-gold 2/3 oz R&B spoon is money in clear, cold water.
Keep those write-ups coming!
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I like what you've done with your nails, too.
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Another new one. Enjoy the read!
(https://outdooraddictions.files.wordpress.com/2020/05/blackout-black-and-white.jpg)
Catalogue and Conquer - Part XI - A Long Wait (https://outdooraddictions.wordpress.com/2020/05/26/catalogue-and-conquer-part-xi-a-long-wait/)
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Glad to see the rod is working for Kitty :) That is a stunning photograph Dan!
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Glad to see the rod is working for Kitty :) That is a stunning photograph Dan!
The rod is fantastic Dave! The 8 wt is definitely suited best for steelhead in the faster water or bigger water. Still is as light in hand as the 7 wt, but way more power.
You did a fantastic job on the build. Everyone who's seen it really likes it. Thanks in regards to the photo, turned out exactly how I wanted.
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Some mid week reading for you all:
(https://outdooraddictions.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/kitty-huge-buck.jpg)
Catalogue and Conquer - Part XII - Cutthroat Chronicles II (https://outdooraddictions.wordpress.com/2020/06/03/catalogue-and-conquer-part-xii-cutthroat-chronicle-ii/)
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Some mid week reading:
(https://outdooraddictions.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/20200310_102017.jpg)
Catalogue and Conquer - Part XIII - The Bump (https://outdooraddictions.wordpress.com/2020/06/11/catalogue-and-conquer-part-xiii-the-bump/)
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I see from that chromer photo that you've rigged your 4" worms with the hook at the bottom, but flipped the worm so it's head down. Is this the "only" way you fish them, or do you mix it up?
In the article, you mention you've gone to circle hooks exclusively. Can you tell us a big more [brand(s) and size(s)] and how your hook-up and/or landing ratios have changed since giving up J-hooks? (I'm hoping the answer is "Not very much" as I have about 100 pre-rigged worms with #1 Gamis and Owners, and really don't want to change them all.)
Nice story, again. If I didn't know better, I'd guess you were fishing VI of thirty years ago.
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Beautiful cork on that custom pin rod, BTW.
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I see from that chromer photo that you've rigged your 4" worms with the hook at the bottom, but flipped the worm so it's head down. Is this the "only" way you fish them, or do you mix it up?
In the article, you mention you've gone to circle hooks exclusively. Can you tell us a big more [brand(s) and size(s)] and how your hook-up and/or landing ratios have changed since giving up J-hooks? (I'm hoping the answer is "Not very much" as I have about 100 pre-rigged worms with #1 Gamis and Owners, and really don't want to change them all.)
Nice story, again. If I didn't know better, I'd guess you were fishing VI of thirty years ago.
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Beautiful cork on that customer pin rod, BTW.
Personally, I always fish worms head down now. Back when I used to experiment, I always found the head down out fished tail down. It makes sense, as head down creates a lot more movement.
I've gone to circle hooks on 4 inch worms, trout beads, and roe bags (when fishing bait is allowed). Circles don't work well with 6 inch worms or roe chunk in my experience, but with beads and 4 inch worms they make a world of difference. On the worms I use a size 1 gammy, on beads I use a size 4.
With circle hooks, I hook up at least 50% more fish on beads, and my landing rate is typically about 90% overall now as a whole (worms/ beads/ bags). In a good year with standard hooks I sit around 75% landing rate, bad years 60%.
The rod is definitely beautiful. Another wonderful Dave Barnes build!
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I should also mention that I dabbled a lot with circles on spoons. I found that on early season fish or summer runs, they worked extremely well. They also work very well on browns and bulls. Any fish that hit hard and turn with it really. The key is they need to turn.
On picky late season fish, or when I'm not fishing metal on the swing (as in twitching them, rolling them, or retrieving them) I'll stick with sickle style. You tend to miss fish a lot on circles when they are just nipping it/ swiping it/ mouthing it.
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Those are crazy high hookup and landing rates on beads. How far up are you pegging your bead? (I'm a 1" - 1 1/4" incher myself.) My theory on beads is that the fish are sucking them in (inhaling), tasting and spitting (exhaling) in one or two breathing cycles lasting 2 seconds tops. The pegged bead is in their mouths (the hook as well, or just outside) and they turn their head to taste/spit, on the way out, the combination of the turned head and the fisherman beginning his hookset causes the hook to embed just inside/outside the jaw. (Or the fish hooks itself on the turn.) You do much more sight fishing than I. I'd be very interested in what you actually see as opposed to what I think happens.
And just to be clear, you aren't setting when fishing the circle hooks: you're just reeling up tight? (This is why I couldn't fish circle hooks on spoons. I've got 30 years experience in slamming the rod back every time I feel a strike (or some other disturbance in the Force).
Finally, a #4 Gami octopus can be a tiny creature depending on the style you select. Can you provide a product number for that critter?
As always, tight lines and skinned palms!
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Personally, I always fish worms head down now. Back when I used to experiment, I always found the head down out fished tail down. It makes sense, as head down creates a lot more movement.
if you were old enough to have fished way back in the day when you could fish a rig with multiple hooks, you have known this was the deal.
At one time a common rubber worm rig was fished heads up with your hooks tied in tandem with a hook on the head and one closer to the tail. A pair of 2/0 or 3/0 Mustad 92553 or 92554 were commonly fished back then since there was no Owner or Gamakatsu or even Eagle Claw Lazer sharps in the market place.
Many more times than not when you landed a steelhead the top hook in the head of the rubber worm was in the mouth and the tail hook was hanging outside just flapping around.
I have fished this way ever since the province made it "single barbless hook back in the 1980's
I don't think the comment on head down creates more movement is really a driving factor. In gin clear slow water the rubber worm doesn't appear to wiggle around much at all.
At least from my observation over the years.
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Those are crazy high hookup and landing rates on beads. How far up are you pegging your bead? (I'm a 1" - 1 1/4" incher myself.) My theory on beads is that the fish are sucking them in (inhaling), tasting and spitting (exhaling) in one or two breathing cycles lasting 2 seconds tops. The pegged bead is in their mouths (the hook as well, or just outside) and they turn their head to taste/spit, on the way out, the combination of the turned head and the fisherman beginning his hookset causes the hook to embed just inside/outside the jaw. (Or the fish hooks itself on the turn.) You do much more sight fishing than I. I'd be very interested in what you actually see as opposed to what I think happens.
And just to be clear, you aren't setting when fishing the circle hooks: you're just reeling up tight? (This is why I couldn't fish circle hooks on spoons. I've got 30 years experience in slamming the rod back every time I feel a strike (or some other disturbance in the Force).
Finally, a #4 Gami octopus can be a tiny creature depending on the style you select. Can you provide a product number for that critter?
As always, tight lines and skinned palms!
I actually only fish my beads sliding with the circle hooks. I found pegged missed a lot more, and sliding seems to let the bead ride more naturally, especially if you're rolling it along bottom. There's no worry about deep hooking fish with the circles.
As for hook set, I just reel down until I feel weight and then set as normal. Seems to work for me. I find the key is you do need to reel down first to get it to turn into place. If you just set fast you can definitely miss them. I find most are hooked up and running by the time I do a hook set though.
Your observations for them eating beads is correct. Every time I've watched them eat it, they swim over and just suck em in/ mouth them, give it a couple chomps, and then eject it. A lot of the time, the movement on your float is actually as they let it go/toss it, and your hook kind of briefly catches them and bobbles your float. It's another +1 for the circle as it tends to at least make contact without you doing anything and gives you a chance on the light biters.
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I don't think the comment on head down creates more movement is really a driving factor. In gin clear slow water the rubber worm doesn't appear to wiggle around much at all.
So you think that they just attack the head based on past observations? Whatever the case, I do seem to get more bites from head down! Thanks for sharing that - I never even knew tandem hooks were ever allowed in B.C. Freshwater.
As for the comment on movement, I tend to use really soft plastic worms, or rig them so that well over half the worm is free moving off the line. Even just holding it, it wiggles. It's exceptionally rare that I fish worms in slow, flat water. Almost everywhere I fish them is turbulent, choppy, or fast. I feel with the worm tail "sagging" up above, any float movement or current swirls will bounce that tail around. Rigged the other way there's nothing for water to push against. Very likely over thinking it, but it works for me!
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So you think that they just attack the head based on past observations? Whatever the case, I do seem to get more bites from head down! Thanks for sharing that - I never even knew tandem hooks were ever allowed in B.C. Freshwater.
As for the comment on movement, I tend to use really soft plastic worms, or rig them so that well over half the worm is free moving off the line. Even just holding it, it wiggles. It's exceptionally rare that I fish worms in slow, flat water. Almost everywhere I fish them is turbulent, choppy, or fast. I feel with the worm tail "sagging" up above, any float movement or current swirls will bounce that tail around. Rigged the other way there's nothing for water to push against. Very likely over thinking it, but it works for me!
Do you think the plastic smell repels fish? I tried Powerbait worm. no luck so far. the other worm smells strongly.
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Been slacking a little bit. I'll only have a couple/few more to go after this one - hopefully some people are still tagging along this late into the summer!
(https://outdooraddictions.files.wordpress.com/2020/06/that-cheek-though.jpg)
Catalogue and Conquer - Part XIV - Exploration (https://outdooraddictions.wordpress.com/2020/06/25/catalogue-and-conquer-part-xiv-exploration/)
Enjoy the end of week read!
Dan
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Awesome reading and photography. Maybe the trip-of-the-year to date. Can you share the name(s) of the supplier(s) of those mysterious white and UV worms? Thanks.
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Awesome reading and photography. Maybe the trip-of-the-year to date. Can you share the name(s) of the supplier(s) of those mysterious white and UV worms? Thanks.
The white worms I've been using are just old stock clear drift worms. I don't even think he makes that style anymore they are so old.
The UV worms, and a lot of the pink worms I use, were from R&B lures back in the day. He sold his soft plastic company to: https://www.facebook.com/CustomTackleWorks/
He doesn't really have the worms listed anywhere. I just message him on Facebook and he's super quick! The plastics are surprisingly cheap too!
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2020 was a fantastic season, and I'm glad to be reliving it through my photos and journal entries. Hopefully those still tagging along in this series enjoy the next read:
(https://outdooraddictions.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/close-up-big-chromer.jpg)
Catalogue and Conquer - Part XV - Something Old, Something New (https://outdooraddictions.wordpress.com/2020/07/09/catalogue-and-conquer-part-xv-something-old-something-new/)
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Another great entry with the Fishing Kitty and Marky Marc. I was wondering if Marc would be willing to auction his fishing place in your winter line-up? I'm sure there would be plenty of bidders . . . of course, they'd have to hike in blindfolded and fish nekked to make certain they weren't GPS hotspotting . . . but that's a small price to pay to share in the fun.
Keep'em coming!
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Just another enjoyable read
Thanks Dan
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Another new one. This one is a pretty short read with only a few pics. Next one will likely be much longer, unless I decide to split it in two!
(https://outdooraddictions.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/kitty-newrod-1st-fish.jpg)
Catalogue and Conquer - Part XVI - Last Chance (https://outdooraddictions.wordpress.com/2020/07/16/catalogue-and-conquer-part-xvi-last-chance/)
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Like!
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Another one up for reading! One final one to go after this that I'll post soon - just finishing up the picture edits!
(https://outdooraddictions.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/top-down-look-doe.jpg)
Catalogue and Conquer - Part XVII - A Final Goal (https://outdooraddictions.wordpress.com/2020/07/24/catalogue-and-conquer-part-xvii-a-final-goal/)
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The last one of the season (about time I know). It was a great year to look back on - hopefully next year is better for these awesome fish, but I'm not holding my breath based on the summer run numbers I've seen... I'm very grateful to have had another season such as this one. So much water explored, and a number of great experiences shared with my wife and friends. I can only hope that I'll have a few more like this in the future.
(https://outdooraddictions.files.wordpress.com/2020/07/20200417_100420.jpg)
Catalogue and Conquer - Part XVIII - A Finishing Touch (https://outdooraddictions.wordpress.com/2020/07/31/catalogue-and-conquer-part-xviii-a-finishing-touch/)
Thanks for tagging along!
Dan
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A short note to say it was a pleasure reading your journal and drooling over the photos! See you next season.
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A short note to say it was a pleasure reading your journal and drooling over the photos! See you next season.
Thanks for following along! I'll consider writing another one next year. Some years I just don't have the urge to write. I'm starting to run out of room for photo storage on my WordPress without upgrading and spending $$$ as well. We'll see how next year goes!