Longest fight ever

[Deveron loon]

Gents,
Was out on the Deveron the other day and hooked into a fish, but eventually lost it a full 2hrs 40 mins later - sounds ridiculous I know. I estimated the fish to be around the 30lb mark but had been in for a week or 2, which might explain the energy the fish had, either that or it had been on Red Bull all day. It was like a tug of war and it would not budge - had the rod bent double after 2 hours and still couldn't turn it - even took a lengthy run down the pool at this point. All the fish wanted was to do was bore deep and hold in the current. Anyway, I did manage another sealicer of about 8lb, so all was not lost.
Has anyone else had an experience like this or is this just a one off?

[Bogyoch]

Which beat were you on?

[Deveron loon]

Bogyoch,
Was down on Dunlugas and lost the big ane in Wyness point fishing aff the left bank. Couldn't go any lower cause of the tree below me. Had the other fish up in Bogbrae, just above the large tree with the seat beside it.

[sagecaster]

Hard lines!! You must be gutted...

[turrifftackle]

Dunlugas is famous for it.
I will not mention names as the gentlemen concerned still come and fish the Deveron, as well as many other rivers at home and abroad.

They were new to the game about 20 years ago and only had trout tackle.

As the Gillie went home for his tea at 5pm he saw one of them playing a fish. Next morning as he came to work he saw the same chap playing a fish.
Down he went and remarked that they were having a good time catching fish.
Turns out the two blokes took it in shifts to play the fish all night and were still at it over 12 hours later.
The gillie scoffed - took the rod and had the fish on the bank in a flash. It weighed about 12 lb

Frank

[splash]

rossco4000 said:

Gents,
Was out on the Deveron the other day and hooked into a fish, but eventually lost it a full 2hrs 40 mins later - sounds ridiculous I know. I estimated the fish to be around the 30lb mark but had been in for a week or 2, which might explain the energy the fish had, either that or it had been on Red Bull all day. It was like a tug of war and it would not budge - had the rod bent double after 2 hours and still couldn't turn it - even took a lengthy run down the pool at this point. All the fish wanted was to do was bore deep and hold in the current. Anyway, I did manage another sealicer of about 8lb, so all was not lost.
Has anyone else had an experience like this or is this just a one off?

Sounds very much like it was probably hooked in the "jaicket"

[Deveron loon]

Splash,
the fish was very much hooked in the mooth, believe it or no and will stick by my story of events regardless, when it took the flee it's tail broke the surface and could only be described as a spade and i could not budge the F@#ker. Put it down to inexperience but the fact is that i played the fish for that length of time and nothing will change that.
Anyway, next door is having a party and will be joining them, think I will forget fishing for the weekend and get pi@/ed and do battle with the levaithen some othertime. Frank, see you next week.

Cheers,
Ross.

[Bogyoch]

DL
I haven't fished Dunlugas myself. Pity about the big one, but glad to see that you managed to get one into the net. There were a few fish about last week, and on Friday the water was absolutely perfect, but good things can't last forever, as we had 3 feet of mud yesterday.

[Deveron loon]

Here is the one that didn't get away on Thursday.
Think hair of the dog is the order of the day today, why do we do it??

[DAZ]

rossco4000 said:

Has anyone else had an experience like this or is this just a one off?

Yes,I have.

The fight did not last quite as long has yours though!....You had yours on 10 minutes longer that me ...I fought the fish I hooked for 2 hours 20 minutes before losing it to a snag

I won't go into detail again about it,has I have told the story here before.....But you are not a one off mate!.

DAZ.

[Deveron loon]

Ah,
Finally, someone who understands ;D.

[flybox]

Not to be provocatie, springer, but there are plenty of tales of epic battles in the literature. Falkus et al.

Equally, I have a 1920s Hardy's catalogue where two chaps report having caught 70 fish between them in an afternoon in Iceland on 'amazing' Hardy rods. That only gives a few minutes per fish... including catching them!

[elwyman]

springer said:

I don't wish to come across as provocative here, but for the life of me I cannot understand why anyone can have a fish on that long?

Seems a long time, but can't say I was surprised to hear about it without knowing all the details.

I would say at least 4 factors are relevant:

1) The strength of the current and nature of the pool - a deep slow dub on the Tweed would be easier than a fast Spey pool.

2) The freshness of the fish/whether it has been running hard

3) Strength of tackle, mainly the rod.

4) Experience of the angler.

Hooking a 30lb fish in heavy water must be a real challenge if the fish uses the current to its full advantage.

If it decides to sulk on the bottom, what do you do - you risk pulling the hooks out if you pull too hard. Get the gillie to throw stones at it seems to be the favoured tactic!

[wilbert]

As a general rule I work on 1 minute per lb of fish but there are exceptions to this. In the same week I landed an 18lb fish in about 4 minutes but then it took me 45 minutes to land a 28lb fish. Both fish were coloured but appeared to be well rested and full of energy. The big difference between to two was that the 18lb fish tired its self out by doing 4 or 5 big powerful runs when the 28 lb fish just sulked above me in fast water with the rod doubled over for 40mins. It was only in the last 5 minutes that the fish moved from it's "lie" and did 3 runs that it tired and was able to be netted. I was knackered at the end of the fight and my arm muscles were pumped solid as I had been stood like a statue for 40 mins without moving just applying as much pressure as a 15' sage can. If the cork ain't bending you ain't pulling hard enough.

Our salmon fly rods are not designed with huge salmon in mind and I would say that anything above 30lbs definitely has the upper hand. Very big fish are rare but more common than you would think its just than most never get landed.

[DAZ]

springer said:

I don't wish to come across as provocative here, but for the life of me I cannot understand why anyone can have a fish on that long?

Springer.

If I did not experience it for myself,I would have to agree with you.I have landed Salmon to over 20lb and taken less than 15 minutes to land them in big water,but this thing was in a different league to them!.....I don't mess around with the fish I catch,I am extremely hard on them.I like to get them to hand as quickly has possible,and release them as quickly has possible,still with a little fight in them if I can.

wilbert said:

Our salmon fly rods are not designed with huge salmon in mind and I would say that anything above 30lbs definitely has the upper hand. .

Certainly do wilbert,especially when you hook one has I did on a single handed 8wt ...I often wonder whether I would have landed it on a double hander

DAZ.

P.S...I would like to state that the fish was not foul hooked,and I have two wittinesses who can verify this.

[rennie]

Fishing Tweed at Sunderland Hall one back end,about 2ft 4ins up and could just get into the Black Strand,wet2 big poly-tip 2"Willie Gunn(Gold body of course) 20lb maxima and size 4 outpoint slung out on my 16ft Powerlite Spey.Hooked a fish after about 6 casts right at the top,very strong take right down the middle heavy double pull, led me a merry dance then settled down to just cruise where it wanted.Slowly worked my way down the pool about 1/2 way where its possible to get onto the bank(stuck in that point tho. cant follow) which I did slowly coz the wading was definitely hairy.My pal turned up to the rescue and with his help got right up on the top of the bank where I proceeded to dish out as much welly as I could,had to really as following had just gone out the window.Eventually got square to this fish after a good 1/2hr and being a good 10ft above the water thought the job was done.After around 45mins the hook pulled,now I don't think this fish was huge at all just very very strong as I never turned its head or pulled it away from its chosen path and I will never know but at the time I thought things were in my favour once I got right above and opposite the fish.Salar never went more than 10yds into the backing (inc. 40yd line) and usually hung midstream and just slightly below me no big runs no hysterics.Oh well maybe thats my claim to fame or lack of it,did get a 10lb fish next run through to ease the pain,as the saying goes Deveron loon at least you did the hard bit and hooked one,best of luck the next time. Pedro.

[Deveron loon]

Gents,
Going back to Elwymans points,
1. the current was a smooth glide, not too fast.
2.The fish was not fresh run, maybe been in a week or 2.
3. The rod was a Norway Speycaster but the fish was hooked on a 12 double.
4. The angler, relatively inexperienced but not scared to give the fish stick.

Several times during the scrap, the rod was bent to the cork and still it would pull back, even 2 hrs into the fight. I seriously could not budge it - in general the fish just sat with it's heed doon and did the odd run. I could not beach the fish but if I had assistance to net it I might have landed it - not so easy on your own, but all goes down to experience.
Going back to Springers point about not taking so long in the fight - if you are 'relativley inexperienced' and have never hooked a fish of that size, the question is, do you take it easy and hope that you land the fish of a lifetime or bully the fish and risk losing it? I'm sure everyone will react differently in that situation.

Ross.

[al44]

I've heard of someone a few years ago playing a fish on the North Tyne for about five or six hours or more. After getting it half into the net on a couple of occasions the fish came off. Estimated about 40lb plus.