If theres anyone who understands an obsession with high end graphite rods its me, I'd even go so far as to say that a high end rod that's been reeled and lined up right is nothing short of a work of art!
But high graphite rods will not guarantee fish, its kinda like those who spend a small fortune on a shotgun yet shoot more birds on their old beat up favorite and our trip today was proof of that.
Fishing has been tough as of late, spring chinook are winding down and summer run steelhead are still in no great numbers. So to fish this time of year and say you'd rather not use bait, no matter matter what the brand of your rod is or how perfect your cast is can make for a long day.
Today I fished with Chris and Mary Ann. Chris is a dedicated fly fisherman, who like me, has an appreciation for rod builders with history, in this case RL Winston. Chris ties impeccable flies, his casting is enviable of nearly anyone who has picked up a fly rod and has a passion that has carried his love for the sport to nearly anywhere a fish will take a fly. Marry Ann on the other hand is one of those people who loves to fish but most of all is along for the ride, rain or shine, and though loves to fly fish admits she's willing to use what ever is fish are biting, in this case a bobber n jig rod.
We spent a long day on the water, Chris changing rods and techniques, cast after cast hoping, praying, even willing for just a tug to give a little faith that you know what you're doing. We hit just two fish the entire day and those went to Marry Ann who was fishing a bobber and jig with an old weathered Lamiglas float rod.
We who fish are always in search of that magical lure, that custom rod or secret scent that will produce fish when nothing else will. When really the secret to catching LOTS of fish is to simply go where there's lots of fish!
