I’d come across them many times, and while always cognizant of their presence, I’d always considered landlocked salmon more of a novelty fishery rather than something you spent a lot of time pursuing. Naturally that all changed if I was camped on the bank, in which case its bright red meat was a delicacy, and I’d make plans to include the piney woods version of surf and turf wherever possible …
In most of the venues I’ve caught them it was evident that it was a put and take fishery with most of the fish schooled to a size, somewhere between 12” and 14”, which makes a great pan sized meal but fails to invoke images of smoke filled pine lodges and leaping silver fish.
Just up the road from me is a lake filled with Kokanee, and while it was rumored the next state record was imminent, they were still talking a fish under five pounds …
While I wondered just how big some of these fish would get – and could they resemble real salmon in size, I was surprised to learn a fly fisherman had bagged the world’s largest – at 26 pounds, 12 ounces.
Naturally a world record had to be on some ratty home tied fly, absent any real genteel properties like married wings or jungle cock. Real fisherman know all that art and color is reserved for the glossy magazine covers, and only world’s record prove their addiction to bacon rind …
Taken on an unknown Mysis Shrimp pattern, minus the bacon rind and the rest of the feathers as well.
Deep down I was hoping it was something horribly old fashioned, with yards of bright colors and tinsel, and we’d all be rushing to the fly shop as it called for something completely esoteric … alas, no.
I couldn’t help but notice that your article on “A graphite rod with the curves of a woman”, lite up France like no other blog before. This seems a good thing. Maybe your next blog might be about reels that suggest the female form. It’s just that the Israelis didn’t respond to bacon rind at all.