Tim
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2A Bourbon Hound 2024
2A Bourbon Hound OG
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I hadn't touched a spinning rod in probably 20 years before last week. I have 7-8 fly rods that get regular use for everything: small stream tiny trout, monster salmon and steelhead, bass....whatever. Well, my buddy convinced me I need a spinning rod and that I'd 'catch more fish' with rooster tails and stink bait vs. hand tied #16 Irresistibles.
So, I popped into the Sportsman's Warehouse and after 5-10 minutes of serious examination and thorough research walked out with a 6'6" Fenwick with a President reel. Spun up with 8# mono and 6# florocarbon tippet. A handful of 1/16 and 1/8 oz rooster tails topped it off. I fish Wild Trout waters that require single hook artificial lures only, so I haven't gone full redneck with the worm dunking. As it is, I had to snip 2/3 of the dang grappling hooks off...things look like Ninjas could swing from them.
I spent 4 days in a row of fishing with the thing on 4 different streams and I can honestly say...I hate it. Yes, I caught more and bigger fish. But, dang, I look like I've got cerebral palsy trying to cast this thing. When I actually remember to flip the dang "bail" open to cast the damn thing, about 1/2 the time my line turns into a rat's nest of frustration. If I DO get a cast out, who the heck knows where it'll land. And...come on man...that big "kerplunk!" of a lure smacking the water has got to chase the trout a mile downstream!
I miss my 3 weight roll casts of a perfectly placed dry fly, the perfect drift over that hole nobody else can see in the middle of the stream....and the gentle sip as the trout takes the fly.
I suppose what I'm really tryinig to say is I don't care if I actually catch the little guys. I leave 'em where I find them anyway. I much prefer the quiet and rhythm of fly casting.
So, I popped into the Sportsman's Warehouse and after 5-10 minutes of serious examination and thorough research walked out with a 6'6" Fenwick with a President reel. Spun up with 8# mono and 6# florocarbon tippet. A handful of 1/16 and 1/8 oz rooster tails topped it off. I fish Wild Trout waters that require single hook artificial lures only, so I haven't gone full redneck with the worm dunking. As it is, I had to snip 2/3 of the dang grappling hooks off...things look like Ninjas could swing from them.
I spent 4 days in a row of fishing with the thing on 4 different streams and I can honestly say...I hate it. Yes, I caught more and bigger fish. But, dang, I look like I've got cerebral palsy trying to cast this thing. When I actually remember to flip the dang "bail" open to cast the damn thing, about 1/2 the time my line turns into a rat's nest of frustration. If I DO get a cast out, who the heck knows where it'll land. And...come on man...that big "kerplunk!" of a lure smacking the water has got to chase the trout a mile downstream!
I miss my 3 weight roll casts of a perfectly placed dry fly, the perfect drift over that hole nobody else can see in the middle of the stream....and the gentle sip as the trout takes the fly.
I suppose what I'm really tryinig to say is I don't care if I actually catch the little guys. I leave 'em where I find them anyway. I much prefer the quiet and rhythm of fly casting.
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