Saks gone fishing

[Nix]

So I found this and I think you should try out that new line in summer time...and see how it acts then...

I hadn't considered that, Ray. Perhaps the Nanofil might work better at temps over freezing? 

But.....in warm weather....it's pure fly fishing for me.     (Actually, I think I'm going to break out a fly rod and try a different section of the river here soon; it just hasn't been that cold this Winter!)

Wet wading in a mountain stream is a great way to cool off! 

[Greg Jones]

The Swisschamp played a small role in tying a simple mouse pattern, the Olive is deadly in low light or stained water

[Nix]

 

[Rapidray]

So I found this and I think you should try out that new line in summer time...and see how it acts then...

I hadn't considered that, Ray. Perhaps the Nanofil might work better at temps over freezing? 

But.....in warm weather....it's pure fly fishing for me.     (Actually, I think I'm going to break out a fly rod and try a different section of the river here soon; it just hasn't been that cold this Winter!)

Wet wading in a mountain stream is a great way to cool off! 

I like that ideal! 

[Rapidray]

The Swisschamp played a small role in tying a simple mouse pattern, the Olive is deadly in low light or stained water

And a nice tying area you have there! 

[Nix]

My tying desk is a huge mess..... 

[Rapidray]

My tying desk is a huge mess..... 

(Image removed from quote.)

That’s a good one!

[Greg Jones]

The Swisschamp played a small role in tying a simple mouse pattern, the Olive is deadly in low light or stained water

And a nice tying area you have there! 

Thanks Ray

[Greg Jones]

My tying desk is a huge mess..... 

(Image removed from quote.)

I have to keep it neat so I can see what the cat took 

[Nix]

I left one of my materials boxes open once.

The Terrier thought that it would be great fun to play with my hackles..... 

[Rapidray]

The Swisschamp played a small role in tying a simple mouse pattern, the Olive is deadly in low light or stained water

And a nice tying area you have there! 

Thanks Ray

[Rapidray]

My tying desk is a huge mess..... 

(Image removed from quote.)

I have to keep it neat so I can see what the cat took 

Those cats can be very resourceful 

[Rapidray]

I left one of my materials boxes open once.

The Terrier thought that it would be great fun to play with my hackles..... 

Oh no....I hope it was the $8.00 hackle and not the $32.00 hackle. 

[Nix]

I left one of my materials boxes open once.

The Terrier thought that it would be great fun to play with my hackles..... 

Oh no....I hope it was the $8.00 hackle and not the $32.00 hackle. 

Uhhhhh....just a sad end to this tale....... 

[Rapidray]

I left one of my materials boxes open once.

The Terrier thought that it would be great fun to play with my hackles..... 

Oh no....I hope it was the $8.00 hackle and not the $32.00 hackle. 

Uhhhhh....just a sad end to this tale....... 

Oh boy, you must really love him! 
Thats good! 

[Nix]

Good day out on the river. 

Access trail:




Looking down:





It was a cold day. The truck thermometer read 8ºF (-13ºC) when we pulled off the road to park. It did warm up a bit, but clearly stayed well below freezing.




The rod and guides iced up all day long. This caused a lot of headaches....and cold fingers. I had to de-ice the guides every couple of casts. I was tempted to use my Swiss Champ's awl at one point, but didn't want to damage the inner surface of the guides. So I just used my fingers and a little hot breath.

The new (and stretched) 6# monofilament did very well overall. I don't think I was able to cast quite as far as I could with the Nanofill, but the mono seemed to be better behaved and tougher when lures got stuck on rocks (the Nanofill was 8# test, but seemed weaker in terms of shear strength and, maybe, knot strength.). I only lost one lure, and that was clearly lodged down deep in some rocks.

I did have a couple of bad tangles, but I think this was due to iced-up guides. I could hear the line grinding against ice in the guides. I think that in mid-cast the line would snag on some ice at the tip, suddenly slow, and then tangle down at the reel. Otherwise, the monofilament was working really well.




Of the Swiss Champ's tool set I used:

-- Scissors: these got used to trim knots and cut out tangles. They saw the most action.
-- Pliers: these got used to de-barb hooks, remove hooks from fish, and, a couple of times, remove a hook from my gloves.
-- Toothpick: this got used to help pick apart a tangle in the line.
-- Main blade: used to open a snack bar for lunch.

The morning started off slowly, but I found the right combination of lure and retrieval speed in the afternoon. I lost count of the rainbows after the eighth was landed. These were modest trout by Missouri standards, measuring 10-14". Nice fish, though.

My fishing buddy hooked "the biggest trout I've ever seen" on a worm. He said it threw the hook as he tried to play it. Trout on the Missouri get pretty big, so I would have like to have seen that one.

[Rapidray]

Good day out on the river. 

Access trail:

(Image removed from quote.)


Looking down:

(Image removed from quote.)



It was a cold day. The truck thermometer read 8ºF (-13ºC) when we pulled off the road to park. It did warm up a bit, but clearly stayed well below freezing.

(Image removed from quote.)


The rod and guides iced up all day long. This caused a lot of headaches....and cold fingers. I had to de-ice the guides every couple of casts. I was tempted to use my Swiss Champ's awl at one point, but didn't want to damage the inner surface of the guides. So I just used my fingers and a little hot breath.

The new (and stretched) 6# monofilament did very well overall. I don't think I was able to cast quite as far as I could with the Nanofill, but the mono seemed to be better behaved and tougher when lures got stuck on rocks (the Nanofill was 8# test, but seemed weaker in terms of shear strength and, maybe, knot strength.). I only lost one lure, and that was clearly lodged down deep in some rocks.

I did have a couple of bad tangles, but I think this was due to iced-up guides. I could hear the line grinding against ice in the guides. I think that in mid-cast the line would snag on some ice at the tip, suddenly slow, and then tangle down at the reel. Otherwise, the monofilament was working really well.

(Image removed from quote.)


Of the Swiss Champ's tool set I used:

-- Scissors: these got used to trim knots and cut out tangles. They saw the most action.
-- Pliers: these got used to de-barb hooks, remove hooks from fish, and, a couple of times, remove a hook from my gloves.
-- Toothpick: this got used to help pick apart a tangle in the line.
-- Main blade: used to open a snack bar for lunch.

The morning started off slowly, but I found the right combination of lure and retrieval speed in the afternoon. I lost count of the rainbows after the eighth was landed. These were modest trout by Missouri standards, measuring 10-14". Nice fish, though.

My fishing buddy hooked "the biggest trout I've ever seen" on a worm. He said it threw the hook as he tried to play it. Trout on the Missouri get pretty big, so I would have like to have seen that one.

Wow...beautiful photo’s and love that frozen guide tip! I am glad you decided against using the awl! Whew! Nice to hear you are back on a catching streak. 

[Nix]

 

[Greg Jones]

Great account Nix, you're making me eager for our open water season, our ice is kind of sketchy so I'm staying off it, keep sharing 

[Nix]

Our ice is improving.

Talking with a buddy about going night fishing for Ling.  Never tried that before.

[Aloha]

Wow what scenery Nix.   

[Nix]

 

[Rapidray]

Ling? Have you ever had that before? How does it taste if you have? 

[Nix]

I think Ling are more properly called 'Burbot'. Apparently the are active at night in Winter, but fairly dormant in Summer. So they are somewhat uncommon for the average fisherman. Hence the idea of sneaking out onto the ice at night to catch a few.

I've never eaten one, but understand they are great eating:

Ling are incredibly good tasting, and are often referred to as “poor man’s lobster.” When I get the chance to cook a few, I prefer to cut them up in chunks, batter them with buckwheat and flour, and deep fry them in oil. They taste amazing. I’ve also heard of people steaming or boiling the meat and dipping it in butter like lobster.

Now you now the motivation for sitting out on some ice on a Winter's night.... 

[Rapidray]

I think Ling are more properly called 'Burbot'. Apparently the are active at night in Winter, but fairly dormant in Summer. So they are somewhat uncommon for the average fisherman. Hence the idea of sneaking out onto the ice at night to catch a few.

I've never eaten one, but understand they are great eating:

Ling are incredibly good tasting, and are often referred to as “poor man’s lobster.” When I get the chance to cook a few, I prefer to cut them up in chunks, batter them with buckwheat and flour, and deep fry them in oil. They taste amazing. I’ve also heard of people steaming or boiling the meat and dipping it in butter like lobster.

Now you now the motivation for sitting out on some ice on a Winter's night.... 

Pour mans lobster...I’m in. Thanks 

[Greg Jones]

 

[Nix]

Got a new reel to use for ice-fishing:




Champ assisted while loading the spool with some hefty 10# flouro. 

Going for Ling on Friday evening. We'll be out on the ice in the dark.  I've found that it's nice to set up some gear before hand, as opposed to trying to tie knots and find small pieces by flashlight, using cold fingers......




Tied a few drop shots and a couple of Carolina rigs for use fishing for Ling on the bottom.   

[Greg Jones]

The Sedona's a nice reel Nix, sounds like a fun night 

[Rapidray]

Shimano makes excellent fishing reels...I used to use the bait casting all the time! 
I would like to try out their fly reels but they are very proud of them!

[Nix]