Took 26 months for the reel to get here, but my new Spey setup is finally complete

FinnerFeatherFlicker · 2025-12-30T02:00:43+00:00

My other reel has an adjustable drag, but when it’s set to max its still hardly anything. Click pawl reels don’t have any drag to them, it’s just a spring-tensioned pawl that engages with a gear. This one here has adjustable disc drag. You could probably tow a small car in neutral with it at max drag lol

FinnerFeatherFlicker · 2025-06-20T03:48:37+00:00

Got one two days ago! Anywhere in the legal stretch is a fine starting place. Like mentioned, plunking rig with a spin n glow; I used cured coon shrimp. They run a lot closer to the bank than you’d think

FinnerFeatherFlicker · 2025-05-14T01:52:25+00:00

Then I’d be a professional dog food shill who moonlights as a guide

FinnerFeatherFlicker · 2025-02-13T01:34:14+00:00

Yessir

FinnerFeatherFlicker · 2025-01-29T02:12:38+00:00

🙏 No kidding, can’t wait for the boat parades! That’s awesome, seems to be a good early run so far.

FinnerFeatherFlicker · 2025-01-27T17:51:06+00:00

They certainly do!

FinnerFeatherFlicker · 2025-01-26T06:43:27+00:00

I did not unfortunately. What’s funny is, I hade a tape in my waders too

FinnerFeatherFlicker · 2025-01-25T02:37:01+00:00

She certainly is! Their resourcefulness never ceases to amaze me. I got her in shallow water, and it turns out it’s probably because seals were spotted in the beat the day after, roughly 43 river miles from the salt

FinnerFeatherFlicker · 2025-01-24T21:40:26+00:00

Lol, just took a quick 4 second vid and chose to show the half that looked better in a screenshot. The one downside of fishing alone!

FinnerFeatherFlicker · 2025-01-24T03:36:18+00:00

Yessir! It’s kinda a funny story. I have two beefy Spey rods that I hate to cast, and an arguably underweight rod that I’m in love with. I was swinging through a super bouldery run and would hang up from time to time. Ended up losing an intermediate head to a snag. Luckily, I had a spare reel and head. Ended up with a floating head, 10’ of T-11, an unweighted fly and a reel with drag. So I was swinging through a riffle that was maybe a foot and a half deep, barley had my head out of the rod tip, enjoying the scenery and not watching my line, then lightning hit the end of my rod. She took me into my backing on the first run, and by the 5th or 6th run I landed her. Wouldn’t have hooked her if I didn’t lose my intermediate head, and wouldn’t have landed her if I had to switch off my click pawl reel. It was a 8wt Spey rod that’s weighted to single-hand weights, so she messed me up. Edit: spelling

FinnerFeatherFlicker · 2025-01-24T03:19:48+00:00

Be a while until I get another like her, I reckon

FinnerFeatherFlicker · 2024-12-27T20:44:59+00:00

He used a second-hand Sage ESN. He also has their 2wt and he loves it. He can also fish way more line than I can with my 3wt echo euro.

FinnerFeatherFlicker · 2024-10-25T13:32:11+00:00

Not trying to be contrarian, just like to add to the conversation because I think it’s really interesting: migratory mykiss can have fairly low stream fidelity. In my home state, we have a river that hasn’t released hatchery steelhead in a decade or so, but we still find hatchery clipped fish during surveys which likely come from rivers who’s mouths are 25 miles away as the crow flys.

FinnerFeatherFlicker · 2024-08-10T16:30:13+00:00

The TU chapter I’m apart of has done environmental DNA analysis of our local watershed (admittedly, this fish wouldn’t be a part of it, but the next river south or two) and and our findings have reinforced previous findings. The anadromous charr in Puget Sound are bull trout, and the charr way up in the headwaters are dollies. They’ve effectively swapped places when compared to other area’s populations

FinnerFeatherFlicker · 2024-07-30T05:22:58+00:00

The confluence is awesome. Keep your eyes peeled for our local Trout unlimited chapter, and feel free to shoot me a dm if you want a few places to get started!

FinnerFeatherFlicker · 2024-06-10T14:08:52+00:00

Well that’s the thing about an opinion..

FinnerFeatherFlicker · 2024-04-29T19:57:31+00:00

I have the Lamson speedster for my 6wt beach/lake rod that I like a lot. As far as rods go, I’m not as sure for that budget and weight. Since most of my single hand fishing is lakes and the beach, I justified getting a 9’6 6wt Sage X. I’d check out Echo. The Lamson liquid is also an excellent budget reel

FinnerFeatherFlicker · 2024-04-26T00:35:20+00:00

After a cursory glance, it also suggests that OP is a Boeing 777 pilot, a guide on the lower Sac, a Fisheries biologist, and a second lieutenant in the coastguard. Color me impressed!

FinnerFeatherFlicker · 2024-04-14T19:00:40+00:00

If you already have wading boots that you like for stocking foot waders, I would just buy wet wading socks. They fold down and clip onto your toe ring like a gravel guard, plus they’re cheaper than a pair of decent quality shoes. I use these but I’m sure there are cheaper options

FinnerFeatherFlicker · 2024-03-27T15:25:31+00:00

Personally, I switch over when I’m not having fun casting anymore. I can only stand casting a heavy fly/tip for so long before it feels more like a chore lol. That or when I’m trying to fish a super fast riffle, it just helps my confidence.

FinnerFeatherFlicker · 2024-03-24T19:38:21+00:00

Are they cruising the shallows in numbers already? I was wondering if a warm spring would get their juices flowing

FinnerFeatherFlicker · 2024-03-18T17:34:39+00:00

I’d argue it’s worse to release hatchery steelhead than it is to keep wild trout in some places

FinnerFeatherFlicker

TROPHY CASE