06-10-2006, 07:43 PM
Flyfished yesterday from my tube in the strongest wind I've yet kicked against. (Glad I wasn't on a pontoon boat!) Caught some nice rainbows in spite of the gusts and became even more appreciative of my "Fat Cat".
Last week on an outing where I left the camera home. (I have a teenage daughter who keeps "raiding" my camera when she needs batteries.) The fish were in that negative, non aggressive mode and with fishing tough I decided to show them something different. Since I am pretty proficient at slinging lead with my 6 weight I decided to hit them on the head with one of Tube Dude' s homemade pony jigs. Thanks for the memories, Pat! I hooked fought and released a 10 pound stillwater rainbow at my flyfishing club. This was on an outing where I was out on my own as my buddy couldn't make it so only me and the Lord shared the experience. Man what a blast! The biggest fish we take there are usually 4/5 pounders with the odd 6 pounder showing up. I didn't really weigh the fish but measured it at 30" and compared it to steelhead that I have caught and weighed in the past. I am convinced this was a double digit fish.
The fact that I caught it on a lure sent to me by a friend thousands of miles away whom I have never met in person made it extra special. Who needs a camera? I have the images of the fish folded in half over-filling my net and then later draped across my "Rubbermaid" tray (inspired my the "Dude" himself) with head and tail extending well past the confines of the tray indelibly stamped on my memory banks.
Thanks for a great site and all the help I have received since becoming a serious "tuber" (no relation to the potato-types) Heck, I remember the days when I used to just get in my tube with one flyrod in hand and one velcro-stapped to the pontoon. Now I have the efficiency provided by my light weight folding anchor and my HummingBird finder, not to mention my vastly improved line tray and work station. (Maybe Rubbermaid and Outcast could cut a deal.) I just love this sport!
Don
[signature]
Last week on an outing where I left the camera home. (I have a teenage daughter who keeps "raiding" my camera when she needs batteries.) The fish were in that negative, non aggressive mode and with fishing tough I decided to show them something different. Since I am pretty proficient at slinging lead with my 6 weight I decided to hit them on the head with one of Tube Dude' s homemade pony jigs. Thanks for the memories, Pat! I hooked fought and released a 10 pound stillwater rainbow at my flyfishing club. This was on an outing where I was out on my own as my buddy couldn't make it so only me and the Lord shared the experience. Man what a blast! The biggest fish we take there are usually 4/5 pounders with the odd 6 pounder showing up. I didn't really weigh the fish but measured it at 30" and compared it to steelhead that I have caught and weighed in the past. I am convinced this was a double digit fish.
The fact that I caught it on a lure sent to me by a friend thousands of miles away whom I have never met in person made it extra special. Who needs a camera? I have the images of the fish folded in half over-filling my net and then later draped across my "Rubbermaid" tray (inspired my the "Dude" himself) with head and tail extending well past the confines of the tray indelibly stamped on my memory banks.
Thanks for a great site and all the help I have received since becoming a serious "tuber" (no relation to the potato-types) Heck, I remember the days when I used to just get in my tube with one flyrod in hand and one velcro-stapped to the pontoon. Now I have the efficiency provided by my light weight folding anchor and my HummingBird finder, not to mention my vastly improved line tray and work station. (Maybe Rubbermaid and Outcast could cut a deal.) I just love this sport!
Don
[signature]