always be prepared

for the worst. Late this afternoon, in my ever increasing efforts to develop patience and prepare to actually catch   fish  bigger than my hand, I did some more carp sight fishing. Lots of frustrating refusals, scare-offs, and few takes , but misses, in the half-second you get before they spit the fly, in this case an Oregon cheese egg w/red dot.
I was about to give up, when I finally get one to take and I respond in good fashion. Played the around 10 lb'er on 4x flouro, but the battle was over pretty quick and it was in the net and hook removed. I usually just sink the hoop of the net below the carp and let them swim out. Well it swam, but so did the net. I pick it back up and discover that the carp is attached to the bottom of the net. I reach down, the carp thrashes and rakes a darn hook across my thumb! A snagger broke off in its dorsal and left a present. I get left with a nice gash across my thumb and the opportunity to wear a bandage for the next few days. I couldn't believe in practicing for fishing on the SR (patience, patience, and landing big fish)  I'd get a dose of what really could happen with the pin cushions you sometimes land there. Anyone else ever get hooked by one broke off in a fish already?  I've been scratched once on a steelhead, and usually am very careful. I remove  any hooks I see on fish- always have good hemostats handy. War stories? Most flies, hooks you've ever seen in a steel/salmon?

I hope you're up to date on your tetanus shots.
I caught a king adorned with a half dozen pieces of jewelry in the Joss Hole during that prolific run in 2012 (Sept 11-14).  Removed all items before sending her on her way.  All hooks were 1/0 with black sponge. LOL

I always try to do the same by removing any piercings they may have received on their journey up the river. It was discusting when J plugs were legal in the river now that was some bad piercings.

Now that's a war story!  HT-1 Speytard-0  If you're going to use a technique that was refined in areas of long traditions of etiquette and gentile manners, might as well absorb some of that tradition!!!!!
That guy must have been a member of the red light spey pimp club.
That's the only good thing about the  DEC's ruination of the Kiddie Pool by the boat ramp- it took out the  spey pimp conga line. You gotta all jam up on the sand bar. Of course that means that eddy just below it is the prime hold and snag yard for winter steel.  I've counted 3 small stone flies in one steelhead.

Another stumper db , black estaz . Ya know I hardly ever used black estaz , don't think it's even in my box .not saying its no good or don't work but just interesting that I haven't used it . I did try tying some for a thorax because I was to lazy to dub but didn't like the shinny look it gave the fly. I went to a fine pea- kok colored estaz instead . We found big black stones killer for browns and at times well for salmon. I haven't had much luck for steelhead with them like the above fish. Now Jacks little pea fly ,,,, well that's a steel candy :)
Not busting your stones at all , I just find it interesting how some things work well and success for others and , I just looked at it different and over looked that color .
Just as the tread says " always be prepared " with every color
Peace & Tuna ;)

I use black estaz twisted together with black chenille for flash buggers, not the material, it's the method it's fished.  A couple of wraps on a 1/0 and you know what that method is. Haven't used black, but some of my best days have been on large blue estaz eggs.

fichy, you're giving away the secret sauce.