casting practice turns into some reel fishing

So, after a really bad day at work I decided to skip the afternoon run and head out on the water to do some casting practice for an upcoming trip to the keys. Some wind was present and I figured this would also be a good time to throw some of the more “creative” patterns I came up with over the winter, and see if they more or less would hold up to a bunch of false casts and double hauls. I really was not stripping the fly in any manner in which I intended to catch fish. After about 20 to 30 minutes of casting I felt a small hit and sure enough a small trout had found the fly. I more or less just pulled him in, as he was too small to really put up a fight. Over the course of the next 10 to 15 minutes I managed to catch four of his buddies as I was now stripping the line far slower in the hopes of catching fish. All fish were really small with the largest being at most 12". At this point I am thinking of calling it a night, as the sun is going down and the bugs are coming out, but I tell myself one more 80 to 90 foot cast and you can call it a day. Next cast is a long one well over the 80’ mark on my fly line, so I decide work the fly in so that I may also possibly finish with another trout. I had not striped the line 6" when my fly rod started to dance. I quickly knew it was not a dink trout as I was into the backing before I could blink. Once I got the fish to the boat I snaped a pic and sliped him back into the water. I decided not to press my luck and headed home as could not have asked for a better ending to the very quick trip. A good ending to an otherwise sheet day.

“The fastest way to a fisherman’s heart is through his fly.”

Sounds like a good time!Its always fun just blind casting cause you never know what you might hook into. What patterns were you throwing?
Goodluck in the Keys

That’s a good read. I enjoyed that. Thanks.

I’m back and I’ve promised to behave this time.

2005 236 Sailfish
225 Yamaha 4-stroke

Nice red! What kind of rod dat is?

Looks like a Thomas and Thomas TBlue, You back? Great report SG! When are you headed south?

Thanks guys.

quote:
SC_Flyguy Posted - 04/01/2008 : 01:28:47 AM

Sounds like a good time!Its always fun just blind casting cause you never know what you might hook into. What patterns were you throwing?
Goodluck in the Keys


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I was throwing a variation of the shrimp pattern I tied for the last swap. The colors were drastically different, namely chartreuse and hot pink and with a slightly different rattle tied a little farther forward. So far that is my most effective pattern for blind casting. As a matter of fact, John over at Haddrell’s point approached me about the possibility of tying some flies to sale through their store, and this was a variation of one of the two flies he requested.

quote:
TrueBlue Posted - 04/01/2008 : 09:15:40 AM

Nice red! What kind of rod dat is?


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Scotty D is right it is a Horizon II by Thomas and Thomas. I have the same rod in both the 6wt and 9wt and all I can say is it is the sweetest rod I have ever cast.

Scotty, I will be in the Carribean for my honeymoon in June, then hitting up Marathon on my annual trip to the keys at the end of July.

“The fastest way to a fisherman’s heart is through his fly.”

Shadow-

Man, that’s sweet. Nice job, great photo, and thanks for sharing the story.

Forget the rod, Nice Everglades, I havent seen anyone with the blue, especially with the redfish engraveing. N-I-C-E…very sharp…

quote:
FlyGuy22 Posted - 04/02/2008 : 6:31:32 PM

Forget the rod, Nice Everglades, I havent seen anyone with the blue, especially with the redfish engraveing. N-I-C-E…very sharp…


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Thanks, I like it:smiley:!

“The fastest way to a fisherman’s heart is through his fly.”