{Tidal Potomac Fly Rodders} Re: Tips for this newbie on catching bigger fish

Agreed -- I used to work for a gambler who would hit up the St. Louis casinos regularly, and he'd occasionally win big and share it around (which was cool for a kid as young as I was at the time)..and boy was he happy when he did.  A happy gambler is a sight to see.  

The illusion is that he didn't tell you about the 50 other trips he made before winning something ;).  Fishing is very much the same, only more dirty and slightly more fiscally responsible.  

Point - This past Saturday Beth and I had the best day of fishing either of us have ever had, period -- we stopped at 100 combined at 2:30 (I know because it was so unreal I looked at my watch and noted it) and called it a day.  Fantastic experience, but it may be another X months before we have a day like that again, and I'll be "that one weird guy" casting in the grass near our place for X weeks over and over, etc. in the meantime.  It's all about putting time in, getting better at your presentation (and approach in our case), and some luck of being there at the right time.  

No doubt this winter will provide many 2-3 fish days and the occasional skunking, and days where we get skunked and rained on in 40 degrees -- but that's the way it is and it beats sitting on the couch.  

Keep at it and it'll happen to you.  Big fish are a fun thing -- and I've gone "snagging" in Missouri (Paddlefish or "spoonbill" if you're a local) and hooked some fish pushing 80 pounds.  I suppose the larger SW fish are a thrill, but I've not done that.  Other members here certainly have -- I've seen the pictures!

That said, solving the mystery and getting that one tricky "devil" to bite is just as rewarding to me.  Sometimes that might be a 5" sunfish feeding on midges on the Shenandoah -- so I don't discriminate.  I love catching fallfish because they talk to you, and I'm happy catching creek chubs if they're around.  

Gene

On Monday, October 20, 2014 2:36:27 PM UTC-4, Terry C wrote:

My son and I went fishing yesterday down to Mossy creek.  At the end of the day he was disappointed he didn't catch a huge brown trout that Mossy is famous for.  I reminded him that he had caught somewhere between a 78 and 96 inch of brown trout  if you added up the total of his 13 fish landed. Then he smiled.  Its not about the number, size, species,  go enjoy the day and time on the water.  As the years click by the numbers, size etc.. will add up.  

On Sunday, October 19, 2014 10:29:30 PM UTC-4, Jamie Carracher wrote:

I started fly fishing back in May after taking the introductory classes at Orvis. I enjoyed those classes so much, I bought a rod and have gone out at least once a week ever since. On my first day by myself, I caught a little perch at the Tidal Basin and thought: this isn't that hard! And then I didn't catch another fish for six weeks.

I've really improved when it comes to casting (thanks for the tips at the Tidal Basin, Todd!). I also have caught a lot more fish. On a recent trip home to Ohio, I caught a sizable rock bass and a 15 inch or so smallmouth (my biggest catch yet). That was cool.

Here in D.C., I haven't had much luck catching decent sized fish. I'm using a 5 wt with floating line and flies like the woolly bugger and clouser minnow. I don't have a car, so I normally go to the Tidal Basin, C&O Canal or the river up by Fletcher's or Chain Bridge (let me know if you ever fish any of these places, would love to meet up!). I don't have waders yet because it seems silly to buy those when I'm mostly catching little bluegill.

I'm guessing my biggest problem is my floating line. Should I be using sink tip or even full sinking line? Is a 5 wt good enough? Is it easier to fish the river on a boat? Thanks for any tips!

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