Swattie87
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 3, 2011
- Messages
- 5,535
We're kind of in that winter lull in terms of posting about fishing outings, and I know I haven't posted any pics in a while, so here's a few...
Got out this morning for a few hours before company arrives for the holidays later this afternoon. Headed north (haven't done that in a while either) into Schuylkill County and fished a stream that usually produces some nice fish. The fish were stacked up in the deepest wintering holes already, so after no response to the usual attractor dries in the first few likely runs and pockets I switched to a small BH Bugger and focused on the deep holes. Brought a few nice Brookies to hand on the Bugger, but I will always remember today for the one that got away...
In one of the nicest holes on the stream I was dead drifting the Bugger when I thought I snagged on a rock, so I didn't go through the hookset motion as I didn't want to set the hook into the rock. Well it wasn't a rock, and it turns out I would pay for that lack of a hookset. I played the fish and brought it to my feet to find out it was a 12" range, fire orange bellied, dark olive backed Brookie. It seriously looked exactly like the Brookie illustration on the PFBC site. This easily was the largest wild Brookie I've ever had on my line, and was a true monster for a small freestone stream like this. It was one of those fish that takes your breath away and makes your heart stop for a second (you all know what I mean). Anyway, as is usually the case with fish like this, as I was getting my camera out of my pack, he successfully threw the hook at my feet and swam off. I don't usually carry a net on small Brookie streams like this because it's almost never needed and usually just gets in the way and is one more thing to get stuck in the brush...would have been a good idea today though. Kind of a bummer, as I do enjoy the photography aspect of the sport as well, but it's great to know that fish like this really are out there. I know where he lives...at least for the winter anyway, so the next decently warm day, maybe after a rain, I'll pay him a visit a throw a bigger Bugger through that hole and see if I can catch him again.
Anyway, a couple of pics...this was the second nicest of the day...a nice fish, but a BIG difference...
Got out this morning for a few hours before company arrives for the holidays later this afternoon. Headed north (haven't done that in a while either) into Schuylkill County and fished a stream that usually produces some nice fish. The fish were stacked up in the deepest wintering holes already, so after no response to the usual attractor dries in the first few likely runs and pockets I switched to a small BH Bugger and focused on the deep holes. Brought a few nice Brookies to hand on the Bugger, but I will always remember today for the one that got away...
In one of the nicest holes on the stream I was dead drifting the Bugger when I thought I snagged on a rock, so I didn't go through the hookset motion as I didn't want to set the hook into the rock. Well it wasn't a rock, and it turns out I would pay for that lack of a hookset. I played the fish and brought it to my feet to find out it was a 12" range, fire orange bellied, dark olive backed Brookie. It seriously looked exactly like the Brookie illustration on the PFBC site. This easily was the largest wild Brookie I've ever had on my line, and was a true monster for a small freestone stream like this. It was one of those fish that takes your breath away and makes your heart stop for a second (you all know what I mean). Anyway, as is usually the case with fish like this, as I was getting my camera out of my pack, he successfully threw the hook at my feet and swam off. I don't usually carry a net on small Brookie streams like this because it's almost never needed and usually just gets in the way and is one more thing to get stuck in the brush...would have been a good idea today though. Kind of a bummer, as I do enjoy the photography aspect of the sport as well, but it's great to know that fish like this really are out there. I know where he lives...at least for the winter anyway, so the next decently warm day, maybe after a rain, I'll pay him a visit a throw a bigger Bugger through that hole and see if I can catch him again.
Anyway, a couple of pics...this was the second nicest of the day...a nice fish, but a BIG difference...