landin em

[cagifford]

So I think my near death experience in april(lost my spleen in a dirt bike accident) made me go atleast temporarily insane and buy a fly rod(I hate fishing but for some reason I have been having a reasonably good time catchin rainbows on the yakima, go figure).

My question is first how the hell do you get the fish into your hand when you are standing in water up to your belly button, seems like they manage to flip on me about the time i get my hand on the leader and off they go. Should I try walking toward the bank and just drag them into shallow water or is there some other magical trick? I have been fishing in the gap between selah and yakima and with the water as low as it is I have been having decent success hooking into fish between 6:30pm and dark but id like to land them more concistently.

Is the size of the fish caught in any way determined by skill or have I just not "lucked" into anything over 8" or so?

[sirfunkeybut]

I fish below the island near the golf course and the biggest fish I've caught was 18 or so with most ranging from 8-13 so I don't think its skill. Ive been fishing there for 8 years so I think its the being in the right spot at the right time.

[cagifford]

ok thats more or less what i figured, i don't see how a small fish could be that much dumber than a big fish.

Any advice for getting them into my hands and not having them slip off the hook inches from my fingertips?

[NWBREW]

  so I don't think its skill. 

  IT'S ALWAYS SKILL!!  

I would think about getting a good somewhat shallow net then maybe netting them when your a little less then waist deep.

[Lunchbox1981]

ok thats more or less what i figured, i don't see how a small fish could be that much dumber than a big fish.

Any advice for getting them into my hands and not having them slip off the hook inches from my fingertips?

Do you have a net?  If not I would recommend getting a nice little net.  Mine is made out of a clear rubber and it is great.  The flys don't get hung up as bad either.  I will see if I can find an example and post a link.

[Lunchbox1981]

http://www.cabelas.com/product/Cabelas-Wood-Frame-Rubber-Net/712084.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch.cmd%3Fform_state%3DsearchForm%26N%3D0%26fsch%3Dtrue%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3Dfly%2Bfishing%2Bnet%26WTz_l%3DHeader%253BSearch-All%2BProducts&Ntt=fly+fishing+net&WTz_l=Header%3BSearch-All+Products

Here it is.  Just under $40 at Cabela's.  Good luck.

[cagifford]

Ok I kinda figured a net was going to be the answer, I have a feeling its going to take some practice using the net while holding onto my rod and standing in watter up to my belly button but thats ok. I don't seem to have a problem hooking fish, and its cheep entertainment concidering I live 3 minuts from the spot mentioned above.

[Lunchbox1981]

Most nets will come with a bungee type cord that will hook to your vest.  I just let mine drag/float behind me while I am wading through the water.  One hand on the net and one hand on the rod.  You will be supprised how easy it really is.  Best of luck and I look forward to some photo's.