The bite was violent…immediately fly line was spinning off my reel.ZZZZ…zzzzZZZZ. Things are moving fast; the fish is headed for the far horizon. In order to land this fish, my line needs to be free of bite marks from other fish, the knots need to be perfect, and the hook needs to penetrate a hard, bony mouth. Depending on the type of fish, the fight could last 20 minutes and take 300 yards of line. Other fish make a short run, then look for a rock to wrap your line around. The first few minutes are the most exciting. Some fish will bite off your fly, while others will end up in your net. Sometimes everything goes well, and while you are attempting to land the fish on the boat, it can all go bad in a sudden move the fish makes, one last dive, and breaks your rod over the gunnel.
Losing fish and breaking equipment happens especially when you are saltwater fishing. I fish enough days that sometimes it happens. My usual rod break happens as a casting error, on a windy day, a heavy clouser fly will accidentally hit the fly rod close to the tip. Nothing breaks at the time, but later, playing a fish, the spot where the fly hit the rod will break. Just grab a backup rod and keep fishing. One morning I broke two rods, luckily my back up for the back up rod was good for the rest of the fishing trip.
It’s good when you can fish with family and friends who have long memories about some of your fishing misadventures. In October, some of my Desert Fly Caster buddies fished several days at La Pinta the Second Estuary. At the end of the day, we would get together for a bite to eat, have a beverage, and tell fish stories. Classic stories were told about some fishing guides’ lack of luck with girlfriends. Dave falling out of a panga trying to rescue a fly out of a tree. Guys hooking giant Manta Rays and getting towed out to sea. Having a fabulous fishing day until the Dolphin crashed the party and ate all of the fish. When the Dolphin left, there was only a fish oil slick on the water.
Hope to see you on the water fishing soon. Vince Deadmond contact information vincehasgonefishing@outlook.com 480 818 1796.
