mvdaog Posted November 19, 2008 Posted November 19, 2008 Man, just totally ignore all the negative shi*.... don't let it ruin your high man. I will tell you personally I've never smiled and had my heart get a fuzzy feeling like your post did. Does that make me a oncorhyncusexual, the fact that I feel the joy and excitement and sentimentality when I read through that story? Especially hearing your first experiences (basically)... I really enjoyed it and like someone else mentioned, I am ecstatic that you and others are practicing catch and release its a million times better for the fish. They'll all live to preserve nature as well we can with all the bull in the ocean and outlets thats happening. And you know what? I know the photos aren't 2008 excellent digital quality, but I really love them, I think more actually. They remind me if you were looking through a 1970's fishing book, with some old camera's taking photos of what things used to be like. I actually think those photos are amazing just how they are and for some wierd reason that I can't put my finger on, the old-style, old-looking photos suits your first awesome experience way better. More genuine or authentic somehow. More, again I'm getting a bit dramatic, but sentimental. Anywho, thanks a million for that post. Can't wait to do some locums up there when I get a chance in the falls to come after school is done. The post really made me remember all those days you have on the rivers that for some reason or another are just special. Quote
Guest KnottyGirl Posted November 19, 2008 Posted November 19, 2008 AMEN to that Mvdaog... Hawg, I LOVED your post, you rock! I'm just sorry it had to be tainted with a few negative comments, which is one of the reasons I have yet to post any photos. Quote
Mykiss Posted November 19, 2008 Posted November 19, 2008 The people on the "band wagon" of negative posts should maybe just take a look at what this board is intended for...LEARNING..Brian (Hawg) posted a great story with a few "suspect" pictures..Comments where made regarding the pictures and to Brian's credit says he will take the advice given. If people can get over the negative posts there has been some good posts..The honorable "foot" of water theory is a great start for landing fish in...which progressed to Brian (Whistler) chiming in regarding landing steel by your lonesome(no easy task) and again providing good information to those that have not done this deed before. Taking pictures of steel by yourself provides a even greater challange that I have never found a way to do with out putting the fish in a bad position..So I choose not to take pictures of fish when fishing alone. As Brian(Whistler) says you can tell how long a fish as been in a "pose" for by the amount of water dripping off the fish...very tough to get a "pose" without a camera man. That is my choice. Maybe I am lucky to fish with others but I have seen many solo fisherman land a fish that could be the fish of a life time and choose not to take a photo for that reason. I have also helped "tail" steel for others that are solo and take photo's to help not only the angler but also the fish. If this makes me a ass well so be it I can live with that. But remember this is not a brown from the bow that is not even native to the system. This is a steelhead that has more challenges than Carter's got pin's. I'm out. Quote
DutchDryfly Posted November 19, 2008 Posted November 19, 2008 it is pretty simple the PROPER way to land fish for catch and release is to slide them toward the bank upstream of you in a foot of water.As the fish slides on it's side through the water grab the tail while it is still in the water. I wouldn't recommend going for the tail unless the fish is on it's side. You will notice that once you have the fish on it's side it will stay that way as long as you keep it swinging(moving).Fish flopping on rocks and sand can be avoided this way and you will look like a champ to others in the vicinity. Dragging fish up onto the beach is not only dangerous for the fish but can prove to be a little hazardous for the offending angler depending who isin the immediate vicinity . As for playing fish they should,obviously, belanded as quickly as possible by 'putting the wood to 'em' and using 10lb-15lb maxima.As for pictures I agree that keeping fish out of the water is never good. I always would want to see water dripping of the fish if it is held above the water signifying that the angler kept it in the water until just before the photo was snapped. I post this not to lecture but as directions for those that maybe haven't figured it out yet. As for fish handling I have to say that in my experience BC Steelheaders are as good as anyone with the fish. It does seem that many of our Euro friends lack in this regard, probably based on what is acceptable back home. I know that I have 'learned' more than a few of them. Rob, beaching fish is never acceptable. Brian Brian, If you read my post carefully , I wrote beaching them in LOW WATER. By beaching I mean to get them in water to low for them to swim, I never said drag them up on the bank. So keep them in the water but flipped on the side. It has not be exact a foot of water, fish can handle rocks under water great. Look at them when they are digging redds or trying to find food, they can handle some rocks as long water is on those rocks. I am not even going to adress your issue with European anglers, I have seen many anglers from all over the world handling fish bad, even BC residents. Quote
FlashGordon Posted November 19, 2008 Posted November 19, 2008 may as well throw my .02 in the pot just from reading these forums over the last cpl months I would say hawgstoppah is one of the biggest advocates for respect and care of handling fish....here is a good example of why I would get this impression. BUT A thread like this opens the gates for 'conversation' on a a topic and for a lot of people that pick through and it provides some pretty decent information.How to tail fish for example in this case or respect for the species wether it be a bow bow/brown one of those frakin monster steelheads!!...so for new fisherman topics like this really send a message home........it's too bad that such a great story had to be blown to rat sh!t and it really takes away from Hawgs epic fishing trip Hawgstoppah ....I hope you don't think twice about posting like this again and hopefully there will be less heat....tell ya what,take me with you next time and I can net them for you and take pictures and assure everything is done by the 'book'...maybe not even tell a soul but that'd be hard to do.....are you 'allowed' to net them or do they have to be tailed..am I in trouble now? Keep Stopin 'em Quote
beedhead Posted November 19, 2008 Posted November 19, 2008 I have fished with Brian on a couple occasions....I have seen and can guarantee he gives all fish the up most care and respect....And these fish from this post are no acception....Great post and fish Brian....Thanx for the fish porn & Story....Loved it!!!...."Down with the fun suckers"....(I think that was a quote from one of the members this late spring)...LOL... Cheers...Jeff.. Quote
agbff Posted November 19, 2008 Posted November 19, 2008 so uh, how did all those prize fishies taste?! Quote
Hawgstoppah Posted November 19, 2008 Author Posted November 19, 2008 so uh, how did all those prize fishies taste?! Not sure , there still in my freezer :):) LOLOL Oh don't worry about me if there's crap to be taken over these pics and learning to be done it doesn't bother me. The stories still epic, as are the fish. PS.. anyone wanna BBQ?? Quote
Guest Jeremie Posted November 20, 2008 Posted November 20, 2008 ALL IN ALL can someone just fricken understand he was by himself??? God give the guy a break you dont have someone right at your side to take a picture in .02 seconds like all you PURE FLY FISHING GODS who have a problem with this! Anyways nice pics Man good to see they'res still enough to go around this year! Quote
toolman Posted November 20, 2008 Posted November 20, 2008 As DutchDryfly described...a perfect landing... When the fish is brought into the shallow water, it loses its tail power, quickly becomes disorientated and surrenders. I land all of my fish using this method. I can land them faster than waiting untill they flip on their side in exhaustion and then tailing/netting them in deeper water. The species is irrelevant...This is the method I learned 20 years ago when learning to flyfish for Atlantic Salmon/Sea Trout...Atlantics can run up to 50+lbs. on the Restigouche river, where I grew up and this is the standard method used to land these giant fish as quickly as possible, so it should be no problem to use this method for these little Steelies... In this video, the guide attempts to tail the fish, but spooks it and the water is deep enough for the fish to use it's tail to escape. Then the angler quickly pulls the fish into shallow water and it's over immediately...a perfect landing. In the end, it's all Catch and Release, so it's all good whether you use a net, tail them in a foot of water or bring them into shallow water to tail them...Fisherman should use the method that they are most confident and comfortable with. The fish will be fine... Quote
Mykiss Posted November 20, 2008 Posted November 20, 2008 Well trying to comment on how Brian(Hawg) landed these fish on everyones behalf is pure speculation.. Toolman as a matter of fact when you get steel (or anyfish for that matter) in shallow water there belly touches bottom and they don't like it at all..Thats when they go shiat wild and buck around thats not speculation. To debate the proper way to land a fish is irrelevant to this story as again noone was there. Im sure he "landed" them in a proper fashion. The fish in the video basically beached itself by the way not really a landing. But back to point...The issue I have and this is the last post on the issue because I thought this was a dead issue. Is the photos of exposed rocks wet or dry by the Doe's head and the Buck's heads. That is not speculation that is fact in the photos. Now if the fish bucks around and smashes its eye of the rock will it be ok??? Or opens a wound on its head to get infected will it be ok?? Or rubs off the protective slim layer on the exposed rocks will it be ok? Quote
toolman Posted November 20, 2008 Posted November 20, 2008 You guys are preachin' to the choir boys...I know how Brian handles and lands fish as I have fished with him many, many times. To suggest that he is unskilled, unethical and is doing it all wrong, is HAWGWASH... Some guys just don't seem to like anglers posting pics of their beloved Steelhead on fishing sites such as this one... If you are looking to lecture, just head over to that other BC Spey site and check out the pics posted...Lots of fish on the dry rocks over there...Should keep you fella's busy for the winter... Now lets watch the video one more time...I see the angler pull the fish into the shallows, where it is quickly tailed.... I don't see any injuries or head slammin going on, as they have the fish completely under control... A quick video still is taken...Fish quickly swims away when released...Looks like a perfect landing/release to me... Quote
Mykiss Posted November 20, 2008 Posted November 20, 2008 Toolman, It seems you are typing angerly at the moment. When angry one should probley not send posts... Why would anyone be concerned at pictures of Chrome if your from BC, Alberta hell even from Pluto for all I care.... That does not concern me(By the way Im from Calgary) and I'm sure it does not concern anyone else respective of where they call home. I am not trying to say that Brian is unethical, unskilled, or doing it all wrong.. I am saying at the moment he took those photo's he put the fish in a bad position. That is all... Maybe next year you go with Hawg snap the photo's with water dripping off the fish and this will be a non-issue. If you really want to break down how to land steel I'll show ya next year if you like. Quote
toolman Posted November 20, 2008 Posted November 20, 2008 Mykiss, it's a deal... fishin' for Steel next fall... ps. I'm not angry at all, in fact I had a big grin on my face as I typed every word... Quote
Hawgstoppah Posted November 20, 2008 Author Posted November 20, 2008 Let it go guys. Fact is.... maybe I did have those fish a bit too close to the rocks... they were so dead tired they couldn't move though... but I can understand the reason behind the suggestions. I assure you they never touched anything dry.... and if they would have started flipping I would have thrown the cheap crap cam I had on the rocks, and worried about the fish Quote
Mykiss Posted November 21, 2008 Posted November 21, 2008 Consider it let go.. This is a perfect photo. And a nice Buck to boot. There I posted a pic Toolman now you can't say I don't like picts of my be-loved Chrome on this site. Quote
gustuphson Posted November 21, 2008 Posted November 21, 2008 Nice report man! Is there any where haven't you fished this year? Quote
toolman Posted November 22, 2008 Posted November 22, 2008 Consider it let go.. This is a perfect photo. And a nice Buck to boot. There I posted a pic Toolman now you can't say I don't like picts of my be-loved Chrome on this site. I catch Broonies on the Bow, bigger n' that...I'm just too modest to be postin' em' on the net like you guys... Wait till Hawg and I come up there to fish with you next year...We'll be schoolin' you in the fine art of "beachin"... Quote
esleech Posted November 24, 2008 Posted November 24, 2008 I bury my catch in the wet gravel on the streambank. Then, I cull the best ones out, depending on how many babushkas are coming for dinner. Bull trout fillets go under the socks for the hike out. Extra "live squirrels" are released, little balsa wood surf boards with trebles go in my secret fly box compartment. Also make note to not use your "baitfish scentstick that looks like chapstick" as actual chapstick. Those are some of my best tips, oh and gargling hydrogen peroxide in small doses is actually safe and great on mouth sores! Quote
PAV Posted November 25, 2008 Posted November 25, 2008 As I was reading these posts I thought it was February but then I realized it's only Nov. damn!!! Nice fish Brian! Quote
maxwell Posted November 26, 2008 Posted November 26, 2008 I bury my catch in the wet gravel on the streambank. Then, I cull the best ones out, depending on how many babushkas are coming for dinner. Bull trout fillets go under the socks for the hike out. Extra "live squirrels" are released, little balsa wood surf boards with trebles go in my secret fly box compartment. Also make note to not use your "baitfish scentstick that looks like chapstick" as actual chapstick. Those are some of my best tips, oh and gargling hydrogen peroxide in small doses is actually safe and great on mouth sores! dude coppin my secrets.. frig off eh.. hoser! Quote
esleech Posted November 26, 2008 Posted November 26, 2008 dude coppin my secrets.. frig off eh.. hoser! HAHAHHAHAHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHHAHA!!! Quote
jksnijders Posted November 26, 2008 Posted November 26, 2008 Anyone notice the cover of this month's Fly Rod and Reel mag? I guess it's safe to assume there will be a few letters sent in response to the pic? Quote
headscan Posted November 26, 2008 Posted November 26, 2008 Anyone notice the cover of this month's Fly Rod and Reel mag? I guess it's safe to assume there will be a few letters sent in response to the pic? You mean this one? http://www.flyrodreel.com/Fly-Rod-and-Reel...-February-2009/ Quote
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