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Stimbo
Trad climber
Crowley Lake
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Sep 12, 2017 - 08:30pm PT
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Looking forward to more pics of you guys holding stimbo's fish
Too funny! My fish was the rainbow in the middle photo but one of the "nuts," micro or macro, I am not sure, nearly got a huge brown to hand. The flows are still on the high side and once a big fish makes a run downstream, the game is usually over as you can't run it down along the bank. Oh well, there were some nice fish caught though. It was a blast meeting those guys. When are you coming over?
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limpingcrab
Trad climber
the middle of CA
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Sep 12, 2017 - 11:14pm PT
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I don't make it to the east side often but from how much fun those guys said they had I may have to change that.
One thing I do want to know in the meantime, how do you tie such a beautiful clinch knot!?!?
They were sending some pictures of all the fun to make me jealous and I zoomed in and noticed this. I believe you rigged this when making fly selections for one of the spots. #impressed
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micronut
Trad climber
Fresno/Clovis, ca
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Sep 13, 2017 - 10:26am PT
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Limpingcrab,
When Stimbo first showed up and told us how to rig up, I was in such a hurry that I just cut off my old thin 7.0 leader/tippett, slapped some knots on some 4.0, tied on a dropper and a weight and headed out. When Jim saw my hokey-pokey set-up and started cutting stuff on and re-tying it for me streamside I was mortified of what I must have looked like to him. He had no plans to babysit that day but ended up doing just that. It was like a dad primping his teenage son before walking out the door to prom. He must have felt like he was in for a long day after seeing our initial attempts at a dry/dropper set up.
The next day however, I took my time with some new leader and tippet, tied pretty, well-dressed knots and set up my rig like a gentleman to make him proud.
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micronut
Trad climber
Fresno/Clovis, ca
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Sep 13, 2017 - 10:29am PT
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I took these pictures to show him later to make him proud. Glad you noticed my handiwork.
To answer your question Crab, it's key that you spit on the knot and get it nice and wet as you cinch it down. I used to do that for years but had gotten away from it and Jim reminded me how crucial it is.
He needs to post up that fancy nonslip knot that he uses at the end of his fly line to attach his dropper/nymph. It allows the dropper to slide around on a little loop. The thing is wicked magic.
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guyman
Social climber
Moorpark, CA.
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Sep 13, 2017 - 11:03am PT
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Bishop bound after work on Thursday.......
I think we have a boat lined up (Its working now) for Crowley.... Fishing reports show some big fish going for Perch Fry and Callibatis Nymphs.
Question for the pro's here (limping you can answer also)
I know of two ways to rig for wet flies... (The Chief showed me) If stripping a Fry its one fly only right? If Callibatis do the two flies, with the Callibatis on the bottom, right?
And I have the dropper descriptions listed up thread... thanks a million.
Other wise it will be spinning rigs with lures and or bait (uggg)... We went to Crowley about 4 weeks ago and got limits of 18-22 inch BOW's ...on worms and power bait-- good for a fish fry.
I am looking forward to getting some trout like this on the Fly rod.
Saturday.... planning on going to some of my favorite spots with dry.
Sunday.... do a little climbing, drive home.
Thanks for any hints.
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G_Gnome
Trad climber
Cali
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Sep 13, 2017 - 11:12am PT
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And you didn't invite me?!
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guyman
Social climber
Moorpark, CA.
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Sep 13, 2017 - 11:16am PT
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want to go?
I know you need some advance warning for work... this was last second...like yesterday.
come along- 3 days to work over our favorite water ... LJ and Katie are going for some hunter safety class on Saturday.
I love this thread!!!
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limpingcrab
Trad climber
the middle of CA
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Sep 13, 2017 - 01:20pm PT
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Oh dang, that knot was you!? Definitely #impressed.
I usually lick the line a little, next time I'll try a big fat loogie.
Guy, I can't help you with that stuff, haven't really fished those patterns or in lakes at all for that matter.
step up the action on that fly use a Duncan loop I remember you mentioning it before and totally forgot to try! Will do.
On that note, what's the best all around knot for tying on a fly? All I've ever done is the improved clinch. but my Grog Knots app has a bunch of choices.
-Davy
-Double Davy
-Duncan
-Improved Clinch
-Non-slip Mono
-Orvis
-Palomar
-Rapala
-Trilene
Now I'm feeling overwhelmed....
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micronut
Trad climber
Fresno/Clovis, ca
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Sep 13, 2017 - 01:56pm PT
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Ask Macronut.....
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Stimbo
Trad climber
Crowley Lake
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Sep 13, 2017 - 03:34pm PT
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Here is a photo of a streamer tied with a Lefty's Loop, aka Non-Slip Loop. This is a super strong knot that works great not only for streamers but for tiny little flies like midges. The loop lets the fly jiggle around giving it more action. You can Google the knot to see the instructions.
what's the best all around knot for tying on a fly?
I use a simple clinch knot most of the time especially if the tippet material is small. If you are using larger tippet on bigger flies, I go to an improved clinch. But as stated above, I will use the loop for streamers, small bugs like midges or baetis. There are no hard, fast rules.... use whatever you are comfortable with and that you can tie easily with cold fingers, standing mid-stream, on slippery boulders.
Also, make sure your knots cinch together.... good 'ole saliva or chap stick works wonders. I use chap stick a lot if I am tying blood knots. You want the knots snug but there is no need to over tighten. Just make sure all of the loops or coils pull together.
Fishing reports show some big fish going for Perch Fry and Callibatis Nymphs.
Perch Fry have been working great all by itself. Don't worry about weight, just heave it out there then start stripping it in. Hoppers also have been working if there is chop on the water. Hurl it out there into the weedy shallows, let it float for about 10-15 seconds, then strip it in as well. I wasn't having any success with the calibaetis, but it could have been the day. It too, cast into the shallows with something like a Bird's Nest or Muddler Minnow then strip it back. You could try a calibaetis spinner dry, then hang a nymph off the hook bend. Good luck!
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limpingcrab
Trad climber
the middle of CA
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Sep 13, 2017 - 03:51pm PT
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why wouldn't you use the loop for regular size flies (12-16) if you use it for midges and streamers? What's the drawback?
Edit: found it in my app listed as the non-slip mono. Usually the Grog app lists disadvantages but it doesn't have any for this so I'm wondering why I shouldn't always use this or the Duncan loop?
Edit 2: Sorry about stepping on your question and bumping it back a page Guy, someone please advise who knows about that stuff!
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guyman
Social climber
Moorpark, CA.
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Sep 13, 2017 - 03:59pm PT
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Stimbo...... thanks for the lesson.
Back in the Midwest, we would go for Northern Pike. They liked the shallow water in the weeds.... toss out a live chub and keep your eyes peeled for the tell tale wake a pike would make... and get ready.
That Lefty Knott.... thats the one The Chief showed me... for nyphing, he says it lets the little bugger "move like its natural"
That picture of a fly with a line tied to the hook. Thats sort of different, what do you call that?
EDIT: Limping... no worries.
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ruppell
climber
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Sep 13, 2017 - 06:11pm PT
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Lots of good stuff on knots the last few posts. I'm a knot geek and have been for years. For a static loop I use the Rapala knot. It's easy to tie, has a high breaking strength and is bomber. For all other line to tackle connections I use a double improved cinch knot if I can. Sometimes with really small sizes it's hard to get the tippet through the eye twice but I always try. Having two loops through the eye helps spread the load when you hook up. It also makes it more resistant to fraying if the eye has any imperfect edges.
As far as spitting on the line, it does help dress it better but the real advantage is absorbing heat. Mono is easy to heat up and weaken. By lubing the line you keep it cooler.
I've landed a lot of big fish on light tackle. I've also lost a lot of big fish. If the fish shakes the hook, wraps me around a log, or spools me I can live with it. The fish won fair and square. If the fish gets off and all I have left it a broken knot, I'm pissed. It was my job to make sure that knot was good. I failed. I re-tie after every hook up. I hate loosing fish. lol
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rurprider
Trad climber
Mt. Rubidoux
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Sep 13, 2017 - 06:27pm PT
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Muskellunge, now there's a fish...Northern Pike are minnows by comparison.
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BG
Trad climber
JTree & Idyllwild
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Sep 13, 2017 - 06:40pm PT
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For loop knots, I concur with Stimbo, the Non-Slip Mono Loop is definatley the strongest.
For non-loop knots I go with the Orvis knot- stronger by far than the clinch knot.
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limpingcrab
Trad climber
the middle of CA
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Sep 13, 2017 - 07:00pm PT
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Why not always use a loop knot?
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Stimbo
Trad climber
Crowley Lake
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Sep 13, 2017 - 07:25pm PT
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Why not always use a loop knot?
You could, but for me at least the loop knot takes a little more time to tie and requires a little more dexterity especially with the smaller tippet sizes. If I am nymphing, I will tie the first fly on with a clinch knot, then the dropper with a loop because I want that tiny, bottom fly to have a little more "action." In a two fly rig, once you tie on an additional bug to the hook bend, you lose the advantage of the loop knot as the second fly pulls down on the first. I go with the clinch because it is fast and holds well. With swinging flies for steelhead, the loop is the only way to go. As I think I mentioned, a lot of it is just personal preference and confidence. I am not saying my methodology is the best, but rather it is what I am used to. I can tie a clinch knot in my sleep in a matter of seconds and I know it will hold. The line will usually break or a hook will bend before the knot fails. I think of the clinch, improved clinch, Orvis, etc.. as good, utilitarian knots and the non-slip loop as a specialty knot.
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micronut
Trad climber
Fresno/Clovis, ca
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Sep 13, 2017 - 09:46pm PT
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OK this thread just gets better every week. Since there has been some talk about knots, I would love some input on my inability to land large fish over the past couple trips.
I have spent my life in the high country hooking up very small trout and have never had anything heavier than say a quarter pound on my line until the past year. This past weekend on the East Walker I lost FIVE TOTAL TROUT that were fully on my line and being reeled in with confidence. The first one was an absolute monster after a several minute battle. That one I at least got to my thighs and was fussing with him before I could get the beast into my net. He flopped off and swam away and was so spent he just sat there for a while on the far side of the river. Largest trout I have ever had on my line. The sadness, grief and loss was profound
The Second third fourth and fifth however were very nice large trout. Really big in my book and quite heavy on the line. Probably around 17-19 inches..... two rainbows, two browns. Two of them went airborne at one point and I could see the entire fish dolphining up-and-down as I brought them in. Neither of these were "bites." I had each of them on for at least 10-15 seconds. Rod up high, stripping in line with my left hand, good tension on the rod. Full on fighting mode bringing them in. Both of them got off about half way from where they hit to where I was standing. Again. Sadness and shock.
Any ideas without seeing me in person as to what I might be doing wrong? Like I said. I have zero experience with fighting large fish ( other than bass on big crank baits with trebble hooks which is no big deal) but these were really big and I would've loved to have landed one of them.
Help me VLTLT..... you're my only hope.
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briham89
Big Wall climber
santa cruz, ca
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Sep 13, 2017 - 10:31pm PT
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Help me VLTLT..... you're my only hope.
How high (fast) was the water you were fishing? Were you fishing barbless hooks? What position was the rod in, in relation to the fish and your body when you lost them? Were you pulling in line hard because you were excited with the toad on the end?
All just talking points, I don't really know why :)
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limpingcrab
Trad climber
the middle of CA
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Sep 13, 2017 - 10:45pm PT
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I haven't landed enough large fish to earn the right to give advice, but my percentages improved drastically when I started getting fish onto my reel instead of stripping and giving out line by hand.
As soon as a fish of size is on and the hook is set I slap the bottom of my reel towards me as fast as possible until all the line at my feet is in and the line is taught. Imagine spinning a bicycle wheel by hand by swatting it.
Of all the tips I've got from people who catch big fish, I think that one helped me the most.
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