Little Rod, Big Fish

There are always options on what rod to use but lately, the trend is towards longer and heavier rods.  One of the most common rods sold is a 9’ 5wt.  Although it has it’s virtues, small rods still have a place for me.  The most often cited reason for a large rod is landing that big one.  Well, I will debate that.  I just recently landed a 20+” trout on a 6’ 2wt rod.  Yes, a 2 wt. 

I was fishing after working the morning with my son and a friend.  I was helping my son some and hadn’t cast in the area yet.  I moved up into some open water.  I knew the water was fast and decided on a dry/dropper rig.  That way if they didn’t see the dry, they might see the nymph.  On the second cast the dry flinched a little and I set the rod.  The light rod tightened up and a rainbow jumped skyward.  It was a good trout, pretty, and a decent size. 

                After releasing the trout and cleaning off the dry fly I scanned for another spot.  There was a log across the current parallel to the flow.  Fishing along logs is sometimes tricky.  If you get the dry too close the fish don’t see it.  I shortened the dropper some hoping it would swing just under the log but not too deep and get snagged. 

                The fly landed inches off the log and it began moving with the current.  In my mind, I was hoping the dropper nymph wouldn’t get hung up on branches.  That’s when it happened.  The dry dove down about 3’ below the surface.  A branch or fish I didn’t know but I set the rod anyway.  The rod pulled tight and quickly I saw a flash…a big one.  I backed up while managing the tension.  Big fish can pull but it is really you doing the pulling.  The trout can only pull on you as hard as you pull on it.  Light rods will protect tippets when fish lunges.  The rod absorbs the force rather than the tippet lessening the chance of a break off. 

                Things happened fast at this point.  My main goal was to keep it from the log.  Soon it was out in open water and I worked the rod to control the trout’s movement.  I grabbed the net and worked the trout to the surface.  I stepped in to net a large rainbow.  It was 20+” rainbow on 5.5x Trout Hunter tippet. 

                This isn’t the first time I have landed a large trout on a 2wt rod.  My largest trout was caught on a 2wt on 6x tippet with a size 18 fly.   I really enjoy catching a large trout on a small rod and especially appreciate how they protect the tippet.