September 22, 2023 - Part II: A new part of the river and some frustration

In this vlog I fish a part of a river that is new to me. I've fished this river for over twenty years, but I've never came to this particular section. To get to this section, you have to hike in a ways. Maybe that's why I never explored it before. The hike was nice, so it shouldn't have kept me away. 

I fished this same river earlier in the day (vlog 361), but miles downstream. It had rained in that session, and this session held the promise of a drier outing. The breeze gave me some fits, but after I changed my approach angle to the lies, it really didn't bother me too much. 

I fish with the Oni Type-I and a #3 fluorocarbon level line. I have said that the Oni Type-I is the best casting rod I own, and I stick by that statement. But casting is one thing, hooking and playing the trout is another. I love how the Type-I casts so effortlessly, and how it allows you to manipulate the line and fly, but I lose more fish during the battle with that rod than any other I have. I don't know why. Maybe it's the flexible tip sections. Maybe it's the overall rod dynamics. Or maybe it's just me. Whatever it is, it's frustrating. 

Also, I like the looks of the bamboo handled version, but I like the feel and control of the foam handled version better. If it came with a cork handle, I'm sure I'd like that version ever more. But it doesn't. 

I fish the Oni Type-I occasionally, but not very often. Maybe I should fish it more, so I could get into a groove and figure out why I lose so many fish. But I have other rods I like, and I tend to fish with them more often. There's only so much time I can spend on the water, and I'll stick with rods that I know and trust.