It’s hard for mere mortals to comprehend trout season is actually a galaxy-shaking event.
Scientists struggle so, using all their intelligence and ingenuity to discover just how truly miraculous this creation is and when a fact, measurement, law, sub-atomic structure or any of those things needful for all to work together so perfectly, they then deny the God who created what they discovered. But, that’s people for you.
Now, the Earth is 92.96 million miles from the sun and completes its orbit every 365.256 days. During this interval the good old globe has traveled 584 million miles.
And you thought April 14 was just the first day of trout season, when in reality it could be viewed as the completion of a critical cycle needed to bolster the mental health and happiness of all those known as trout fishermen. Why it’s a vaccine for the soul and a miracle pill of happiness and, yes, you know who is really behind it as well. Our Maker loves to make us happy.
For the most part we control our own happiness by making correct decisions and trout season is no different. Let’s take a peak at some of the decisions that will help make the first day as sweet as possible.
Other than buying your fishing license to avoid trouble with those tasked with protecting this wonderful natural resource, if I had to choose one thing that is most important, from my own experience, it would be fishing line.
When I look back over all the years, those days that were most frustrating were days with decayed line or too little line. On one occasion I lost a trophy trout in Marvin Creek when last year’s old line snapped. The old 4 lb. was just rotten and even more rotten was the fact it was the first hit of the season. Couldn’t have been a small trout I broke off on, no, it had to be a big one. In my case the smallest mistake in the hunting and fishing sports always seems to bring about the biggest disappointment.
Fresh line is able to take the sudden stress placed upon it when a big fish surges or dives into rocks or limbs. Your knots are stronger and fresh line is better able to take the compression of crimped sinkers as well.
Another bad line day took place at Potato Creek. The previous fishing trip I’d broken off several times and didn’t have a full spool. Potato’s a wide creek at the bottom and I couldn’t cast far enough to reach a pod of trout. Not fun. Now I always carry an extra spool of line with me.
The first day fluorocarbon line may not be needed, but trout can be very cagey and the lighter the line and the less visible it is in the water the better. Line is the only connection between you and the fish, so make sure that connection is a good one.
Second in importance is perhaps your reel. Make sure it is oiled and working smoothly. If the bail is catching, the pickup pin too far out or in, the handle cranky or the gears grating your casting accuracy and ability to control your retrieve or drift are compromised.
I’ve noticed during a retrieve that your mind’s easily distracted by the slightest catch in the reel. You’re coiled like a mousetrap, ready to strike at the slightest hit or nibble. That finely tuned concentration is constantly interfered with by any snag in handle or gears. You’re ready to strike at the slightest hit, yet you keep telling your brain not to strike when the reel malfunctions. When a fish does strike you hesitate, reel or fish? Too late, you miss the trout and your blood pressure soars. Check that reel before you hit the stream.
Hook size can be an important factor often overlooked. The larger the hook size the more force is required to drive that hook home. Most UL outfits using 4 lb. test simply don’t have the backbone and power to set a #4 hook. You’re much better off staying with size 10’s, 8’s or a very sharp, thin #6.
In fact, I don’t think UL’s actually do set the hook. The strike only starts the point in, it’s the ensuing battle finishes driving the hook past the barb. Because of this I simply quickly tighten up on a hit and after three or four seconds give a couple sharp tugs when the line is tight to ensure a good hook up. I miss more trout trying to set the hook hard than I catch, especially using salmon eggs.
I prefer a long, light action rod for several reasons. One, a longer rod allows greater distance without whipping the tip, snapping off your bait. You need a softer, lobbing type of cast for bait fishing and the long rod permits this, a five-foot rod doesn’t. Longer rods keep more line off the water and permit a more natural drift. I also like the feeling of power a long rod transmits to your hands when fighting a nice trout as well.
Don’t forget to check your waders, remember sunglasses, a hat, your license, a bait box, ice box and drinks. Most of all remember what a privilege trout fishing is and savor the experience.