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Post by bellarj on Jun 13, 2007 18:00:14 GMT
After fishing for Salmon for more than 40 years (god am I that old?!), I can truthfully reveal that losing fish does not get any easier with the passage of time! Even now, I have bad dreams (until I wake up and realise it wasn't a nightmare, it actually happened!) about a spring fish that I hooked on the Ayrshire Doon on 12 April 199x, which got snagged and came off, leaving my fly firmly anchored to the snag.
Being a true scot, I decided it was worth risking life and limb to retrieve the fly, so forded the river so to do - when I eventually reached the snag (in mid-stream), I took hold of the cast(sorry, "leader" to you modernists), and ran my fingers down it to retrieve the fly, only to find the fish's nose in my hand, with the fly still firmly attached to its mouth.!
I then recommenced to play the fish, and eventually brought it across the surface, to the point where it was well and truly cooked and ready for the net. A real triumph of achievement over adversity - until i realised that i didn't have the net with me!
To cut a long story short (the very telling of this story has re-rubbed salt into the wound!), after three hashed attempts to hand-tail the fish, the top joint of my rod broke, the nylon caught on the fracture and sliced through, the fish sunk back into the stream, and my world collapsed!
In desperation, I spoke to one of the angling greats, Bill Currie, with whom I had a passing connection, and his words of wisdom and comfort enabled me to find the will to carry on living! He say "ok it's been a traumatic experience, but take strength insofar as you have hooked a rare creature (i.e. a springer), have played it, but that same rare and noble creature has got the better of you, no shame in that".
At the time, somewhat ingraciously, i thought to myself "yeah Bill, it's easy enough for you to take that attitude, seeing as how you have probably caught 10,000 salmon compared to my 150 or so, but nonetheless I accept the wisdom of his words!
If you are still with me on this one, I managed to get the rod repaired (for those of a technical bent, it is a Sharpe's Aberdeen 12 foot split-cane - note to modernists, split-cane is a material which although heavier than your new-fangled carbon enables you to keep in contact with your fly and with any fish that has a sniff at it), and the very same rod has since accounted for another 50 plus fish, albeit with a few more tragedies along the way, but I'm too emotionally drained to write about those for now..............!
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Post by ianw on Jun 13, 2007 20:50:14 GMT
Hi Guys, I'm new to the forum and only an occasional Salmon fisher. Its doubtful if I would have any useful input on your subject and I am here to pick up tips for when I do manage to go after Salmon to increase my chances. I do however have lots of experience with Trout & Gray ling and whilst I was reading this thread I noticed Silver Stoats comments on knots. Some years ago I came across a knot by Doug Swisher called a swirl knot which I have used continuously on Mono and Co-Polymer lines without any problems (very little experience with Fluorocarbon). This knot has the advantage of being easy to tie in the dark and is very useful on droppers as it uses very little nylon and the standing nylon used to tie the knot is reclaimed for the dropper once the knot is tightened.  Throw an overhand loop in the nylon (a) and pull the leader through to form loop b. Moisten and pull loop b to tighten loop a. Pass the fly through loop B and moisten the knot. Keep hold of the tag end so the second knot forms between the fly and knot x and pull on the fly to tighten the knot. Pull on the leader/dropper to slide the knot against the fly. I checked out the animated Uni knot and I feel that this is tied incorrectly. Once the line is passed through the eye of the fly it should be wrapped around the leader say 4 turns and then the overhand loop formed. The line should then be passed through the loop the same number of turns (4). This may seem redundant but when the knot is tightened by placing a finger in the loop formed by the fly eye and the knot is run up the leader it will form a barrel knot with the end exiting alongside the leader without the single strand overlying the knot as in the animation. It should look like a rod whipping with both ends being overwrapped by the knot. Sorry I don't have a drawing for this. Unfortunately this technique should be used for the double grinner for which the illustration you linked is closer to the real knot. Sorry that this is such a long first post, I'll behave now. Best regards, Ian |
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Post by paulsewin on Jun 13, 2007 22:11:47 GMT
Hi Guys, I'm new to the forum and only an occasional Salmon fisher. Its doubtful if I would have any useful input on your subject and I am here to pick up tips for when I do manage to go after Salmon to increase my chances. Hi Ian, If you've read a few of these threads you'll have noticed how one observation starts a whole new discussion. Don't feel intimidated by some of the very detailed posts you will find written by many contributors. These guys know their stuff but they haven't stopped learning either, that's what makes them so knowledgeable. They are always willing to listen to new ideas. If you don't understand something, just ask. The people on this forum are very generous with their advice which is all based on their practical experiences. For the benefit of all of us, share your experiences, you'll be surprised by the reaction you'll get. I've never seen this knot before, thanks for that. Tight lines, Paul |
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Post by ibrox on Jun 13, 2007 23:05:58 GMT
Don't you mean "yours" Al  |
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Post by paulsewin on Jun 14, 2007 17:39:37 GMT
Don't you mean "yours" Al No AA, not this time. Alan and I were sharing a private joke and I'm delighted to say he's quite right. |
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Post by ibrox on Jun 14, 2007 18:12:18 GMT
Might I suggest you keep your private jokes private, Alan's "our" comment implies everyone on the forum and I certainly don't agree with that  . I am not trying to antagonise anyone, just putting a point across. |
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elwyman
Member
A nice autumn day on the Conwy
Posts: 1,035
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Post by elwyman on Jun 14, 2007 19:14:13 GMT
After fishing for Salmon for more than 40 years (god am I that old?!), I can truthfully reveal that losing fish does not get any easier with the passage of time! Even now, I have bad dreams (until I wake up and realise it wasn't a nightmare, it actually happened!) about a spring fish that I hooked on the Ayrshire Doon on 12 April 199x, which got snagged and came off, leaving my fly firmly anchored to the snag. Being a true scot, I decided it was worth risking life and limb to retrieve the fly, so forded the river so to do - when I eventually reached the snag (in mid-stream), I took hold of the cast(sorry, "leader" to you modernists), and ran my fingers down it to retrieve the fly, only to find the fish's nose in my hand, with the fly still firmly attached to its mouth.! I then recommenced to play the fish, and eventually brought it across the surface, to the point where it was well and truly cooked and ready for the net. A real triumph of achievement over adversity - until i realised that i didn't have the net with me! To cut a long story short (the very telling of this story has re-rubbed salt into the wound!), after three hashed attempts to hand-tail the fish, the top joint of my rod broke, the nylon caught on the fracture and sliced through, the fish sunk back into the stream, and my world collapsed! In desperation, I spoke to one of the angling greats, Bill Currie, with whom I had a passing connection, and his words of wisdom and comfort enabled me to find the will to carry on living! He say "ok it's been a traumatic experience, but take strength insofar as you have hooked a rare creature (i.e. a springer), have played it, but that same rare and noble creature has got the better of you, no shame in that". At the time, somewhat ingraciously, i thought to myself "yeah Bill, it's easy enough for you to take that attitude, seeing as how you have probably caught 10,000 salmon compared to my 150 or so, but nonetheless I accept the wisdom of his words! If you are still with me on this one, I managed to get the rod repaired (for those of a technical bent, it is a Sharpe's Aberdeen 12 foot split-cane - note to modernists, split-cane is a material which although heavier than your new-fangled carbon enables you to keep in contact with your fly and with any fish that has a sniff at it), and the very same rod has since accounted for another 50 plus fish, albeit with a few more tragedies along the way, but I'm too emotionally drained to write about those for now..............! Good post bellarj - reminds me of a sea trout I hooked one night last season. It felt like a decent fish but it made a run and dived into a snag on the far side of the river. I decided to wade across the shallow tail to retrieve the fly, only to find a 3lb sea trout attached to my dropper fly, with the tail fly hooked in some weed. The fish was just lying quietly alongside the weed bed, and I netted it out. |
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Post by ibrox on Jun 14, 2007 19:36:37 GMT
As I said I was NOT trying to antagonise anyone, I was just putting my point across but since you ask..... You rattled my cage by implying everyone has come round to your way of thinking, with your "our" comment, surprisingly I ain't. I'll stick my oar in where and when I like it's a public forum not your personal soapbox. You asked and I answered, now is that all 'O' GREAT ONE, as I'm rather busy. |
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Post by ibrox on Jun 14, 2007 21:57:09 GMT
I'm not interested in whether people deviate from a particular thread or not.
I just don't like the fact that you think the forum is yours to control and your the only one with an opinion.
Wind your own neck in and get over it Wee man!
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Post by ibrox on Jun 14, 2007 22:12:58 GMT
My opinion is my opinion and in my opinion you are a control freak.
End of.
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Post by kenziemac on Jun 16, 2007 12:02:39 GMT
Way to go Strood.
But I bet you do remember everthing about that day for the rest of your life.
I lost my first 5 salmon and can think back now and remember every detail of those 5 days, whereas I have to be reminded about some of the ones I have caught.
Just don't give up, the take, to my mind at least is one of the most exciting moments you ever get to enjoy in life.
What the guys above say is all true, but we still get beat from time to time despite our best preparation and efforts.
Just try to keep doing what you were doing, I hope the next 4 stick.
Kenziemac
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Post by ianw on Jun 16, 2007 15:04:29 GMT
Hi Dave,
Yes that does illustrate what I was trying to explain. If you look at the last frame of that sequence you see that the knot has rolled over itself and the tag end is bound by all the turns. On the animated sequence it shows a single strand passing over the bindings which I feel is incorrect.
It may make little difference in freshwater applications as to which method is used but when I tie my Sea traces I feel that the single strand passing over the bindings could be subject to abrasion, especially in the surf, and this could cause the knot to undo.
Best regards,
Ian
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Post by fluffforfun on Jul 31, 2007 11:35:22 GMT
Similar thing happened to me Strood. I was fishing the Teviot 3 weeks ago when I lifted into my first fish. The way you described how the fish reacted to being hooked was exactly the same - but when it jumped it shook the hook  Unsure if it was a salmon or sea trout but estimate it at about 9lb as the ghillie I was fishing with hooked a 9lb salmon which was roughly similar and let me play and land it. The day certainly got me hooked and raring to go again. Oh, and to add to the day, at about 7pm an owl (barn owl I think) spend about an hour flying up and down the river past me and into woodland. Isn't fishing great..............? |
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Post by strood on Aug 12, 2007 11:07:38 GMT
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Unsure if it was a salmon or sea trout but estimate it at about 9lb as the ghillie I was fishing with hooked a 9lb salmon which was roughly similar and let me play and land it.
