Fly Fishing Nation: Bowhunting With Light Tackle

Bowhunting With Light Tackle
by Stephan Dombaj
feat.: Stefan Franzmann

First day of the month - first chance to take a shot. Hunting giant Rainbows was the name of the game after I located a spot with Sergio a few days before, where migratory Rainbows used to rest. Together with Stefan Franzmann, who travelled souther Sweden with me in May 08 (In Search For Silver Bullets), we hit that spot again. Equipped with finest flytackle (Loop Opti Creek Wt2) and some pretty decent M. Petitjean Nymphs, we experienced not only Trophy-Bow-Hunting at it´s finest, but also Barbel-,Chub- and Browntroutfishing supreme.

(69cm - attached to a 0,14tippet, size 14 Nymph and a 2 Weight Flyrod)

This series is the irrepresable evidence that there are still some hidden treasures, even in your backyard and not only thousand KM. away, where you can experience your personal once-in-a-liftime moment or at least some seasional highlights. Seeing giant Rainbows sipping tinny nymphs subsurface is for sure one of the reasons why some people are perishing by heartattacks while fishing...

But let´s start chronologically: We are in the middle of NRW, on a well know and frequented water. It´s hot but cloudy and the waterlevel is quite low: Time for some action with skating dryflies. Right decision: first cast - first fish! A beautifull 40cm Brownie killed the Stimulator topwater. Afterwards...Stefan´s turn - just the right start up.

(First fish of the day - a sweet 40cm Brownie on a tracking dryfly)

(Come closer...)

(First one)

After a couple sweet Bows and Browns it was time to get the party started. On our way to the hotspot I found a resting fish in the shallows very close to the shore. No doubt that this fish would be cracking the 60cm mark but first we got to get it. Simple plan: getting close to 10 Meters, 3,3Meter leader with a thin 40cm 0,14 tippet and a little size 14 MP Nymph. We have no fightingpictures because we decided to tape that one. Anyway, first cast came directly infront of it´s head to get some attention. One ore two little twitches ans the fish came up. One more. Bang! The head turns and I set the hook. Time for a tango...

(62cm Beauty - clean hookup)

(There she is - Big Mom No.1)

What a decent fish! 62cm (25") a good sparing-partner for a 2weight. Shorty after the release we continued fishing the same pool - with success. Eventhough the other big ones got appreantly spoked, a few Browns slammed on our nymphs:

(Brownie with unweighted Petitjean Nymph)

(Another sweet Brownie)

Next Pool = New Chance? Well, let´s have a look...

Stefan and I split up in order to cover more water. Fortunatly he was in a reachable distance while I screamed his name... I saw a giant trout feeding on the top of the next pool. Easy Cast and easy take. PM Nymph did it one more time. It took me about two minutes to get it close to me on that tinny little 2 weight stick and Stefan documented this Moments:

(Gotcha!!!)

(Serious Big Bow -69cm on a 2weight)

(Massive head - take also a look at the intropic)

(Big Mama)

(A real beauty)

Giant Strike No. II for that day (what makes 4x 60cm+ Rainbows in two sessions!!!) Now tell me that ain´t bad ass! Time to calm down and and get some terrestrial feeders and some Non-Salmonide gold.

(A pretty Brownie on a tracking Hopper)

(One of countless Globug-Rainbows)

(Killing Topwater...)

(Chub Intermezzo)

(Portrait)

(Another Hopper-Killer)

Chubs and Barbel are guite often gathering together. If you locate some actively feeding Barbelschools, be prepared for some true fighting action. Barbel is an ambitious fighter and if you behave calm and discret they´ll bless you with a few nice hookups!