Big Fish VA - Daiwa Kiyose 43M

by John
(VA)

Have been fishing and catching trout in the 10 to 15in and was itching to catch bigger fish to see what the rod could handle and make one last trip before I go back to work.

After 6 months of hiking and bushwhacking found a stream where I suspected a few nice fish would be holding. On the 3rd cast felt a tug and almost lost my rod; had no idea trout could pull this hard. The rod was doubled down but didn't feel it would break; took 10 mins of play to finally land the fish (22in). Sat down to get my breath back and continued casting after a long break. Lost 3 fish as my tippet broke and twice just before landing as I was fishing with almost twice the rod length of line. Need more practice with landing fish with longer lines.

What a great day and have been grinning like an idiot ever since :).

“The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten” - Benjamin Franklin

"Be sure in casting, that your fly fall first into the water, for if the line fall first, it scares or frightens the fish..." -
Col. Robert Venables 1662

As age slows my pace, I will become more like the heron.