A bad day fishing.....honest

C

ChuckofWagon

Active member
Joined
Jun 8, 2024
Messages
106
City
SW Pa
Decided to do some fishing this am at a stream about an hour away. Now, I'm disabled and cannot walk far or well and never without a cane. So, I have some "vehicles" that provide me great help\assistance.

So, I get to the stream, unload my transport (winch off my truck) and then realize I left my rod "carrier" at home. The rod carrier protects my rod from me being really stupid and catching the rod on trees, brush, etc. Ok....I've done this before so no big deal. I setup the rod, and as I'm backing away from the loading ramps, I notice the front section of my Orvis rod "pops" off. So, I figure the fly line caught something to cause this. I then get off the vehicle.....and it wasn't a fly line thing. Somehow the rod tip caught the ramp and the last 3" of the rod just snapped off.

Well, this rod was a gift from my wife. I never would have purchased a Helios....but I will say it's a very fine rod to cast. Very, very fine.

So I proceed to clip off my fly....which dropped to the ground never to be found again. I just tied that d@&n fly yesterday...it never saw water!! So, I always have a backup rod\reel and I get out my shorter Redding butter stick and reel.

I get to the stream side and one wheel of my machine finds a hole. Now, I noticed the hole, but didn't give it much thought. The machine tilts. (No worries....nothing happened...but enough tilt to cause me to break a sweat) There was a very nice young fellow happening by and he assisted me in getting the machine "un-holed". I won't even address the stupidity of mine that caused that piece. (That stupidity was a separate thing from the broken rod stupidity)

So, I then moved to a section of the stream where the side is flat to the water.....no ledge. I haven't fished with the shorter rod in some time.....so for the next hour I proceed to miss 4 nice trout. Why? As the trout took the fly and I went to set the hook.....I don't have the same length and cannot "pull" the same amount of fly line taunt. Short rod syndrome. And you think after just the first miss I'd have done better.....but no, even more stupidity.

After miss #4.....it was time to go home.

Fortunately, I registered my Orvis rod back in 2016. I went to their website, put in my data, and in 3 days I will receive a new section #4 (tip section) for my rod. The cost was $63. I'd say it's great service from Orivs. But then......the cost of a Helios has this kind of event built into it.
 
ChuckofWagon said:
Decided to do some fishing this am at a stream about an hour away. Now, I'm disabled and cannot walk far or well and never without a cane. So, I have some "vehicles" that provide me great help\assistance.

So, I get to the stream, unload my transport (winch off my truck) and then realize I left my rod "carrier" at home. The rod carrier protects my rod from me being really stupid and catching the rod on trees, brush, etc. Ok....I've done this before so no big deal. I setup the rod, and as I'm backing away from the loading ramps, I notice the front section of my Orvis rod "pops" off. So, I figure the fly line caught something to cause this. I then get off the vehicle.....and it wasn't a fly line thing. Somehow the rod tip caught the ramp and the last 3" of the rod just snapped off.

Well, this rod was a gift from my wife. I never would have purchased a Helios....but I will say it's a very fine rod to cast. Very, very fine.

So I proceed to clip off my fly....which dropped to the ground never to be found again. I just tied that d@&n fly yesterday...it never saw water!! So, I always have a backup rod\reel and I get out my shorter Redding butter stick and reel.

I get to the stream side and one wheel of my machine finds a hole. Now, I noticed the hole, but didn't give it much thought. The machine tilts. (No worries....nothing happened...but enough tilt to cause me to break a sweat) There was a very nice young fellow happening by and he assisted me in getting the machine "un-holed". I won't even address the stupidity of mine that caused that piece. (That stupidity was a separate thing from the broken rod stupidity)

So, I then moved to a section of the stream where the side is flat to the water.....no ledge. I haven't fished with the shorter rod in some time.....so for the next hour I proceed to miss 4 nice trout. Why? As the trout took the fly and I went to set the hook.....I don't have the same length and cannot "pull" the same amount of fly line taunt. Short rod syndrome. And you think after just the first miss I'd have done better.....but no, even more stupidity.

After miss #4.....it was time to go home.

Fortunately, I registered my Orvis rod back in 2016. I went to their website, put in my data, and in 3 days I will receive a new section #4 (tip section) for my rod. The cost was $63. I'd say it's great service from Orivs. But then......the cost of a Helios has this kind of event built into it.
Click to expand...
I admire your persistence! Keep at it.
 
I had a terrible day this winter. I sometimes put my rods fully rigged in the passenger foot well of my Tacoma and run them through the cab and out the rear sliding window. It’s a risky game because if I happen to hit the rear window button it’s off with my fly rods heads. Well I hit the button in an early morning haze of multi tasking…I went home and retrieved my small Brookie stream rod and still got to catch some natives but man my spirit was down. Bad fishing days exist. I too quickly got my rod tips replace from Echo and Redington. It’s a good feeling when you know the rods will be ok.
 
Andrwhite610 said:
I had a terrible day this winter. I sometimes put my rods fully rigged in the passenger foot well of my Tacoma and run them through the cab and out the rear sliding window. It’s a risky game because if I happen to hit the rear window button it’s off with my fly rods heads. Well I hit the button in an early morning haze of multi tasking…I went home and retrieved my small Brookie stream rod and still got to catch some natives but man my spirit was down. Bad fishing days exist. I too quickly got my rod tips replace from Echo and Redington. It’s a good feeling when you know the rods will be ok.
Click to expand...
I have a Tacoma I gotta try that. Surely it’ll work out for me.
 
ChuckofWagon said:
Decided to do some fishing this am at a stream about an hour away. Now, I'm disabled and cannot walk far or well and never without a cane. So, I have some "vehicles" that provide me great help\assistance.

So, I get to the stream, unload my transport (winch off my truck) and then realize I left my rod "carrier" at home. The rod carrier protects my rod from me being really stupid and catching the rod on trees, brush, etc. Ok....I've done this before so no big deal. I setup the rod, and as I'm backing away from the loading ramps, I notice the front section of my Orvis rod "pops" off. So, I figure the fly line caught something to cause this. I then get off the vehicle.....and it wasn't a fly line thing. Somehow the rod tip caught the ramp and the last 3" of the rod just snapped off.

Well, this rod was a gift from my wife. I never would have purchased a Helios....but I will say it's a very fine rod to cast. Very, very fine.

So I proceed to clip off my fly....which dropped to the ground never to be found again. I just tied that d@&n fly yesterday...it never saw water!! So, I always have a backup rod\reel and I get out my shorter Redding butter stick and reel.

I get to the stream side and one wheel of my machine finds a hole. Now, I noticed the hole, but didn't give it much thought. The machine tilts. (No worries....nothing happened...but enough tilt to cause me to break a sweat) There was a very nice young fellow happening by and he assisted me in getting the machine "un-holed". I won't even address the stupidity of mine that caused that piece. (That stupidity was a separate thing from the broken rod stupidity)

So, I then moved to a section of the stream where the side is flat to the water.....no ledge. I haven't fished with the shorter rod in some time.....so for the next hour I proceed to miss 4 nice trout. Why? As the trout took the fly and I went to set the hook.....I don't have the same length and cannot "pull" the same amount of fly line taunt. Short rod syndrome. And you think after just the first miss I'd have done better.....but no, even more stupidity.

After miss #4.....it was time to go home.

Fortunately, I registered my Orvis rod back in 2016. I went to their website, put in my data, and in 3 days I will receive a new section #4 (tip section) for my rod. The cost was $63. I'd say it's great service from Orivs. But then......the cost of a Helios has this kind of event built into it.
Click to expand...
Don't worry dude, I've had days just as bad and I'm not disabled.
I too admire your tenacious character to continue fishing.
 
HoboWithAFlyRod said:
I have a Tacoma I gotta try that. Surely it’ll work out for me.
Click to expand...
Dear Andr and Hobo,

Spend less than $ 10.00 and buy a 4"x 4"PVC coupler and put on the sill of your sliding window and close the window to hold it tight. https://www.homedepot.com/p/Charlotte-Pipe-4-in-PVC-DWV-Coupling-PVC001001400HD/203390815

You can spend another $ 15.00 or $ 20.00 and build a closed cell foam holder for it to fit between the truck cab and your truck cap if it has a slider. You can spend less than that if you just need to seal of your trucks sliding window. https://www.amazon.com/Polyurethane...-15-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9tdGY&th=1

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂
 
ChuckofWagon said:
Decided to do some fishing this am at a stream about an hour away. Now, I'm disabled and cannot walk far or well and never without a cane. So, I have some "vehicles" that provide me great help\assistance.

So, I get to the stream, unload my transport (winch off my truck) and then realize I left my rod "carrier" at home. The rod carrier protects my rod from me being really stupid and catching the rod on trees, brush, etc. Ok....I've done this before so no big deal. I setup the rod, and as I'm backing away from the loading ramps, I notice the front section of my Orvis rod "pops" off. So, I figure the fly line caught something to cause this. I then get off the vehicle.....and it wasn't a fly line thing. Somehow the rod tip caught the ramp and the last 3" of the rod just snapped off.

Well, this rod was a gift from my wife. I never would have purchased a Helios....but I will say it's a very fine rod to cast. Very, very fine.

So I proceed to clip off my fly....which dropped to the ground never to be found again. I just tied that d@&n fly yesterday...it never saw water!! So, I always have a backup rod\reel and I get out my shorter Redding butter stick and reel.

I get to the stream side and one wheel of my machine finds a hole. Now, I noticed the hole, but didn't give it much thought. The machine tilts. (No worries....nothing happened...but enough tilt to cause me to break a sweat) There was a very nice young fellow happening by and he assisted me in getting the machine "un-holed". I won't even address the stupidity of mine that caused that piece. (That stupidity was a separate thing from the broken rod stupidity)

So, I then moved to a section of the stream where the side is flat to the water.....no ledge. I haven't fished with the shorter rod in some time.....so for the next hour I proceed to miss 4 nice trout. Why? As the trout took the fly and I went to set the hook.....I don't have the same length and cannot "pull" the same amount of fly line taunt. Short rod syndrome. And you think after just the first miss I'd have done better.....but no, even more stupidity.

After miss #4.....it was time to go home.

Fortunately, I registered my Orvis rod back in 2016. I went to their website, put in my data, and in 3 days I will receive a new section #4 (tip section) for my rod. The cost was $63. I'd say it's great service from Orivs. But then......the cost of a Helios has this kind of event built into it.
Click to expand...
Dear ChuckofWagon,

I'm sorry for your troubles. There will be better brighter days I'm sure just keep plugging away!

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂
 
Cougarbaby said:
A d%$#m Beaver ruined it for me today ,slapping his tail ,keep at it better days ahead
Click to expand...
I had a beaver do that to me one time in Venango county. Scared the crap out of me, because I didn't even know he was there initially. It was on a pretty large, long pool with a big rock ledge on the far side of the creek. I think he might have had a den within the rocks. I've read they'll slap their tails as a warning.
 
This was a great post. Thanks for sharing!

We have a lot of showing off in the fishing community. It’s nice to see real posts that accurately reflect a bad days fishing.

It would be cool to have a thread…
“ What went wrong today”
Or
“My latest Skunking”
Confession’s of a zero trout per hour survivor.
 
Last edited:
5footfenwick said:
This was a great post. Thanks for sharing!

We have a lot of showing off in the fishing community. It’s nice to see real posts that accurately reflect a bad days fishing.

I would be cool to have a thread…
“ What went wrong today”
Or
“My latest Skunking”
Confession’s of a zero trout per hour survivor.
Click to expand...
A trout fishing trip gone wrong thread would be interesting.
 
5footfenwick said:
This was a great post. Thanks for sharing!

We have a lot of showing off in the fishing community. It’s nice to see real posts that accurately reflect a bad days fishing.

It would be cool to have a thread…
“ What went wrong today”
Or
“My latest Skunking”
Confession’s of a zero trout per hour survivor.
Click to expand...
Dear 5footfenwick,

I started a thread with my best screw-up.

I'll post more as it grows in popularity!

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂
 
ChuckofWagon said:
Decided to do some fishing this am at a stream about an hour away. Now, I'm disabled and cannot walk far or well and never without a cane. So, I have some "vehicles" that provide me great help\assistance.

So, I get to the stream, unload my transport (winch off my truck) and then realize I left my rod "carrier" at home. The rod carrier protects my rod from me being really stupid and catching the rod on trees, brush, etc. Ok....I've done this before so no big deal. I setup the rod, and as I'm backing away from the loading ramps, I notice the front section of my Orvis rod "pops" off. So, I figure the fly line caught something to cause this. I then get off the vehicle.....and it wasn't a fly line thing. Somehow the rod tip caught the ramp and the last 3" of the rod just snapped off.

Well, this rod was a gift from my wife. I never would have purchased a Helios....but I will say it's a very fine rod to cast. Very, very fine.

So I proceed to clip off my fly....which dropped to the ground never to be found again. I just tied that d@&n fly yesterday...it never saw water!! So, I always have a backup rod\reel and I get out my shorter Redding butter stick and reel.

I get to the stream side and one wheel of my machine finds a hole. Now, I noticed the hole, but didn't give it much thought. The machine tilts. (No worries....nothing happened...but enough tilt to cause me to break a sweat) There was a very nice young fellow happening by and he assisted me in getting the machine "un-holed". I won't even address the stupidity of mine that caused that piece. (That stupidity was a separate thing from the broken rod stupidity)

So, I then moved to a section of the stream where the side is flat to the water.....no ledge. I haven't fished with the shorter rod in some time.....so for the next hour I proceed to miss 4 nice trout. Why? As the trout took the fly and I went to set the hook.....I don't have the same length and cannot "pull" the same amount of fly line taunt. Short rod syndrome. And you think after just the first miss I'd have done better.....but no, even more stupidity.

After miss #4.....it was time to go home.

Fortunately, I registered my Orvis rod back in 2016. I went to their website, put in my data, and in 3 days I will receive a new section #4 (tip section) for my rod. The cost was $63. I'd say it's great service from Orivs. But then......the cost of a Helios has this kind of event built into it.
Click to expand...
Sorry your day was not so great. Few things compare to the frustration of small, stupid stuff popping up, uninvited. Gonna bet your wife had a hug, smile and refreshment to help get u back on track.
 
Cougarbaby said:
It was a skunk for me because of a Beaver but at least I saw a Bear 🐻 at 25-30 yards ,maybe 150 lbs, hands were wet couldn't open phone fast enough for a picture
Click to expand...
I always see bear when it's not bear season!!! I didn't see this one.....but I did look for him when it was legal.

Look at the time this guy got out of his den!! Must have been hungry!!
863900041360535-60-5-01112025010716-W1014149.JPG
 
Chuck, there are times when I consider missing four trout to be a very good day - which just happened to me on my first outing of the year last weekend. No fish to hand (except for a chub) and three flies lost to the low branches - but I rolled a few and one take was like a flushing commode.
Glad that Orvis will honor the warranty.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest posts

Montana Angler Fly Fishing
Montana Angler Fly Fishing
Harman's North Fork Cottages


Real Time Data From
the USGS Site

Share this page

Back
Top