Tuna 2023
- Thread starter SilverFly
- Start date
Does that mean it’s also been a long ass time since you’ve seen that connection in the light of day, i.e. going out and then winding back in?It's been so long since I've put the line on my tuna fly reel I can't even remember what connection it has
Yeah I think the last time that setup hooked up was in 2021. It's been deployed since then but isn't very productive.
Everyone knows you can’t fly fish for tuna anyway. Absurd!
I feel that way most days out there, haha. Had a trip in mid August last year where my friend I brought got on the fly rod every single stop. Didn't get a single hookup vs the 12 I put in the boat with my jig and my other friend's 6 jig fish.
I feel your pain
I have no pain
I like fly fishing but I think I would've picked up a jig rod after watching 10 fish come in the boat before I hooked up on fly, let alone 18. In reality, it might be more like 2 or 3. Because tuna on jigs are FUN.
Not a popular thing to say in these parts, but I legitimately enjoy it more. The 12wt still goes just to switch things up if the opportunities arise... but jigs, to me, is tops. So many different ways to go about it, but the surface twitching type presentation is pretty hard to beat.
Couple squids for good measure, single hook this time. Last season the deckhand had a heck of a time getting the double hooks squid out 
I like the lower one more, easier to tie with bucktail too instead of the PITA composite loops and synthetic blending on the top one.
I like the lower one more, easier to tie with bucktail too instead of the PITA composite loops and synthetic blending on the top one.
Well that was fun! Great crew out there yesterday including @Cabezon, @Tallguy, @Bagman, @Nick Clayton, and Captain Chance and deckhand Tommy.
30 of the 33 (34? who's counting at that point) fish boated were via fly rods. Tallguy managed to boat three on jigs while I was working on one of the larger fish of the day on the 12wt so either my technique is super inefficient and the worthy subject of many jokes or jigs and conventional tackle are just a faster way to whip a tuna. Super thanks to everyone for letting me be the +1 and teaching me the ways of blue water fly action. Extra thanks to Nick for the loaner rod and the hot "fly du jour".
30 of the 33 (34? who's counting at that point) fish boated were via fly rods. Tallguy managed to boat three on jigs while I was working on one of the larger fish of the day on the 12wt so either my technique is super inefficient and the worthy subject of many jokes or jigs and conventional tackle are just a faster way to whip a tuna. Super thanks to everyone for letting me be the +1 and teaching me the ways of blue water fly action. Extra thanks to Nick for the loaner rod and the hot "fly du jour".
BTW, back in April, Capt. Chance took Mitch (Mark of ARSC's brother) and I steelhead fishing. I'd never been before. Mitch has been going his whole life, and managed to land this 39" beast for a personal best. I got a smaller one and figured I might as well retire from steelheading while I'm ahead.
ThatGuyRyRy
Life of the Party
Live the colors on this fish
JayB
Life of the Party
If all goes well I'll be heading out on Sunday, so I've got a few basic questions for anyone that cares to chime in.
-Are most people running two rods to switch between trolling and casting? I have a cheapo 12wt backup rod but don't think I can swing/justify a second 12 weight reel, so was thinking of stringing up a Behemoth 8-10 for use on the backup. Would that be a passable for the job at max-drag or just get spooled?
-Any particular tricks of the trade for bringing back the catch other than a big cooler with lots of ice? Probably nothing much more to it than that, but if I have the good fortune to bring anything home I'd like to keep it in optimal condition and do what I can in the field to make the in-home prep for the freezer as clean/efficient as I can.
Thanks in advance for any input.
-Are most people running two rods to switch between trolling and casting? I have a cheapo 12wt backup rod but don't think I can swing/justify a second 12 weight reel, so was thinking of stringing up a Behemoth 8-10 for use on the backup. Would that be a passable for the job at max-drag or just get spooled?
-Any particular tricks of the trade for bringing back the catch other than a big cooler with lots of ice? Probably nothing much more to it than that, but if I have the good fortune to bring anything home I'd like to keep it in optimal condition and do what I can in the field to make the in-home prep for the freezer as clean/efficient as I can.
Thanks in advance for any input.
Hi Jay
Most people bring a second for back up mostly. When someone hooks up the boat will come to a slide stop, bait will be thrown out and whoever not hooked up should start casting. There's no time to go to the cabin to get the second rod ready
I don't remember exactly but my drag was set almost full, probably around 90% of max drag.
There will be 4 of us on Sunday, one in each corner of the boat. 2 anglers by the transom should point their rods straight out back, while anglers further up behind the cabin should point their rods out to the sides to maximize the spread of lines and prevent tangles.
Coolers with ice is sufficient to bring fish home.
I prefer to have the deck hand fillet my fish on the run home, totally worth the fee. That way you can store more fish in the coolers.
JayB
Life of the Party
Thanks!Hi Jay
Most people bring a second for back up mostly. When someone hooks up the boat will come to a slide stop, bait will be thrown out and whoever not hooked up should start casting. There's no time to go to the cabin to get the second rod ready
I don't remember exactly but my drag was set almost full, probably around 90% of max drag.
There will be 4 of us on Sunday, one in each corner of the boat. 2 anglers by the transom should point their rods straight out back, while anglers further up behind the cabin should point their rods out to the sides to maximize the spread of lines and prevent tangles.
Coolers with ice is sufficient to bring fish home.
I prefer to have the deck hand fillet my fish on the run home, totally worth the fee. That way you can store more fish in the coolers.
Buy sea ice in WP if fishing from there.
If camping or in a cabin, vac seal Day 1's catch and put it on the sea ice.