Local trouting
Trout fishing this summer was on the back burner. Family obligations made chub fishing easier, as it was more accessible with everything else going on.
I did not want to check new rivers or new patches. I just wanted to trout fish again. I knew what to expect from this river and this patch. Plenty of trout, but not much size. The standard is around 30 cm.
I did not care too much. The river is not far, and I just wanted to trout fish again.
At the end of summer, the mornings are a bit chilly. They have a fresh feel to them. After about a 40-minute drive, I am at the spot. I change and prep my gear while having a bite to eat. Sandwiches and tea hit the spot. A day of fishing awaits.
I prep the Saurus Trout Spin U-Effects 56UL and pair it with the Daiwa Luvias Airity. I start with the ZipBaits Rigge 46S, my favorite lure this summer. Not just for trout, but for chub as well. The size and shape seem perfect for these predators.
I start casting and slowly move upstream. I get my first sightings of fish in the fast-flowing patches. Small ones. They jab at the lure but do not hook up.
I keep moving. Soon enough, one of these trout bites the lure properly. I reel it in, take a quick shot, and release it.
I approach a more overgrown patch. A sinking lure and twitching will just get it stuck in the weeds. I change to a Smith Camenusi. The idea is to cast a bit farther and reel the lure through the weeds.
As I reel, a wave follows the lure. A big trout, but no bite. It seems like it missed the lure completely. I know the fish did not feel the hooks. The tip did not even move.
I cast again. And again. On the fourth cast, the trout hits and hooks up.
It tries to dig into the weeds for a second. Then it changes its mind and goes downstream. I slowly reel it in and land it.
Beautiful example. I did not expect anything bigger than 30 cm today, but this 40+ cm beauty was a pleasant surprise.
Rarely am I content with a trip this early on. I continue with the Smith Camenusi.
Thirty minutes pass, and I reach a picture-perfect trout spot. Large branches hang over a deeper section. The current digs into the bank, with tree roots visible.
Places like this are hit or miss. The miss usually happens after casting into a low-hanging branch. Then you have to do the wade of shame to get the lure back, ruining the spot in the process.
The cast has to be perfect.
And it was.
The lure lands. I start reeling. Another wave comes from behind. Exactly the same bite as before. All I feel is the weight of the trout at the end of my lure for a split second. Then another wave as the trout realizes it is not biting into something alive.
And that is it.
Fifteen casts later, I accept defeat and wade on.
I wade for another three or so hours. I catch a couple more smaller trout, see a dead deer in the water, and get stared down and barked at by some local mutts.
Pretty much it.
A good, quick outing.
With diesel prices going through the roof, driving 100–150 km and returning home empty-handed just sucks. I guess I will be ending the season by trying to find spots and rivers closer to home.
