Trip Report
How Climbing Ruined My Fly-fishing Trip: An Eastside Story
Monday November 9, 2015 6:07pm
There wasn't supposed to be any climbing. This trip was about three dudes, a 4WD truck and some brown trout. This trip was gonna be all flannel and iron skillet, not Gore-Tex and Jet-Boil. But strange things happen when you go to the Eastside.
top left corner top right corner
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner

I have been taking an annual alpine trip with these two buddies every Fall for 21 years. We have climbed all over the Sierra and have had some stellar adventures, but this year we wanted to mix it up a bit. We vowed to avoid any cardio. We wanted no approach. We wanted nothing more than three days of car camping and some fishing and a nip of scotch or four around a campfire at night. Then repeat. We didn't want to see other climbers or talk about epics or our latest proj. Little did we know we'd be doing a whole lot of all three before the weekend was over.


We had never fished the legendary trout waters of the Lower Owens River, and after The Chief got me all fired up about chubby Browns here on The Taco, the plan was set in stone. We packed firewood, hip waders and lawn chairs. No rack. No tent. No chalkbag. Nobody would get altitude sickness this year.

We left Fresno Friday morning at 4:59 am.
top left corner top right corner
The bed of my truck.  Waders, check.  Coleman stove, check.  Half cord...
The bed of my truck. Waders, check. Coleman stove, check. Half cord of firewood, you bet.
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner

By 7:30 we've got Mojave at our back and we're shootin' up 395 with Merle Haggard cookin' out a country tune and the lofty Sierra drawin' nigh off our port side.
top left corner top right corner
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner

Playing the old, "pull away then stop then pull away" when your buddy gets out to take a leak never gets old does it?
top left corner top right corner
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner

We text The Chief when we hit Lone Pine and he says he'll meet us at the fly shop in town when we hit Bishop. Never met him but his stoke for all things trouty is contagious and his offer to put us on some pescado has us all fired up.
top left corner top right corner
drink in the view boys....we can look all we want but we don't have to...
drink in the view boys....we can look all we want but we don't have to go up there this trip....isn't that a nice change.
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner

A quick stop at Taco Bell to fuel up on carcinogens and we're headed toward the water. We can smell the brook trout...hear em callin' our names. We are barellin down the gravel path near the Happy Boulders when up on the hill to the North a pack of Padbacks comes into view. I bellow out a mating call as we drive by at 60mph on the gravel road. "SENDITBRAH!!! SENDITBRAH!!! SENDIIIIIIIIT?!!!" A female from the pack stops and turns our way. Her ears twitch in the desert air, looking for a mate....but the pack keep moving up the game trail.

top left corner top right corner
I've never seen more LA licence plate Subaru's at one pull-out in my l...
I've never seen more LA licence plate Subaru's at one pull-out in my life than Saturday at The Happy Boulders
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner
Soon we're past them and we're parked and packin' and rackin for action.
top left corner top right corner
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner

The river is stunning. The sky is an azure only seen in postcards and the sage fills our nostrils with an intoxication reserved for the Eastside. We are punchdrunk and ready to wet our lines as The Chief charges ahead.
top left corner top right corner
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner

He points out honeyholes and hollers and riffles like a kid showing off his playground to out of towners.
top left corner top right corner
"When they start poppin on BWO's and 16Baetis's you better start strip...
"When they start poppin on BWO's and 16Baetis's you better start strippin' along that bank cause its gonna be a feeding frenzy man. A feeding frenzy." -The Chief
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner

We wader out into the cool crisp Owens water and the chill squeezes our road weary thighs like a tourniquet.
top left corner top right corner
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner

I'm gonna stop typing now and let these photos speak for themselves. Lets just say it was like a fairytale out there and I'm regretful I've waited 40 years to do this.

top left corner top right corner
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner

Wow.
top left corner top right corner
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner

Whoah.
top left corner top right corner
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner

Boom.
top left corner top right corner
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner

Yup.
top left corner top right corner
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner

The day drags on as the action waxes and wanes. We catch some, we lose some, we laugh, we holler and we want the day to never end.

top left corner top right corner
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner
top left corner top right corner
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner
top left corner top right corner
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner
top left corner top right corner
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner
top left corner top right corner
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner
top left corner top right corner
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner
top left corner top right corner
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner
top left corner top right corner
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner

Eventually The Chief comes around a corner and tells us he's caught 12 to our two or three each and he eases back into the water and puts on a clinic for us.
top left corner top right corner
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner
top left corner top right corner
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner

Eventually there's nothing to do but sit down in the grass and let our heartbeats thump in time with the revolution of the sun in the sky and our blood to slow down in our veins to match the perfect rhythm of the stream at our feet. And then take a nip off the ol Macallan.
top left corner top right corner
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner
top left corner top right corner
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner
top left corner top right corner
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner
top left corner top right corner
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner

We shake hands with the Chief and watch his rig dissagppear into the West as we plan to head into town to do three things.

1. Shop for camping food.
2. Buy more flies.
3. Find a campsite for the night to repeat today's magic for the next three days.

But none of that happens.....here's where things get weird.

We pull past the main drag in town and we see THIS:
top left corner top right corner
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner

It turns out THE FALL HIGHBALL is in town and Bishop is crawling with climbers. The streets are full of tradmasters, boulderers, sportos and Wall rats. Every third person has on a nanopuff hoody and Five Tennies or a Touchstone Climbing shirt. Our fishing paradise has turned into a meat market where overweight Wall Vets salivate over skinnyfit Prana tanked hotties in yoga pants miming their latest proj on the stone wall outside Rusty's tavern.

We soon find ourselves inside The Mountain Rambler Brewery rubbing elbows with over a hundred climbers.
top left corner top right corner
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner

We feel displaced. Awkward. Out of sync. We are climbers at heart and have been coming here for more than two decades to get our alpine fix, but we are in Troutmode, and we're feeling disoriented.

Before we know it we have paid 20$ for REEL-ROCK movie passes, raffle tickets and free beer for two days from New Belgian Brewing Co. Our Fishing weekend is slipping away and we can feel it.

photo not found
Missing photo ID#433965

We go watch the movie in the crowded downtown theatre. It's average if you ask me but we have a blast and are soon back at The Mountain Rambler. We hook up with some old friends and the place is packed and we meet some new friends and the irony of us trying to avoid climbing while in Bishop in the Fall does not elude us.

The next day we wake up early and fish a little bit, then we head out to the Milks to check out the scene. The place is a zoo.....an absolute loony bin but the energy is fun.
top left corner top right corner
Does waking up on the Eastside while your coffee percolates on the tai...
Does waking up on the Eastside while your coffee percolates on the tailgate ever get old?
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner

top left corner top right corner
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner
top left corner top right corner
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner

Scantily clad Socal socialites scream and holler and fall off stuff while camera shutters clack away and people scream and yell "Tsaaaaaat!!!!" which is really boulderspeak for "LOOOK AT MEEEEE!" and dogs wander all over the place and dudes cuss and act surprised to fall off stuff six number grades harder than their actual skill level and everybody walks by and caresses the opening holds of Evilution and the Mandala and posses roam the countryside looking at their guidebooks and asking strangers "Is this the Ironman Traverse" and cars line the dirt pullout like a parkinglot at Disneyland and we simultaneously make fun of the scene and join right in and though we are dressed for fly fishing its full on awesome.

top left corner top right corner
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner
top left corner top right corner
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner
top left corner top right corner
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner
top left corner top right corner
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner
top left corner top right corner
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner
top left corner top right corner
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner

Our tips are shredded in 40 minutes and our approach shoes won't let us send anything harder than V7, so we retire back to the truck to pull out Jason's new toy. He is a venture capitalist down in LA and sits on the board for a little company called 3D Robotics. And he's been itchin to fly this baby. Aw yeah.....that's right. It's DRONE TIME yall.

top left corner top right corner
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner

We literally pull it out of the box, attach an I-phone and a Go-Pro and it's mission ready.
top left corner top right corner
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner

We scream like schoolgirls as it lifts off on her maiden voyage. It is un, freakin, believably fun.
top left corner top right corner
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner
top left corner top right corner
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner
top left corner top right corner
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner

The thing is amazing. It can hover seamlessly 400 feet above you. It can follow you (I ran around in figure 8s and it eerily hovered right behind me like a hornet following me). You can program it to fly a coordinate line and shoot film like a steady cam. You can tell it to go up and circle you and film you on a swivel servo while you stand still. And a third grader can fly it. Its wild. And it's on my Christmas list.

The wind picks up, we head back into town for the night's festivities. We care nothing about fishing anymore and we're just letting the weekend have its way with us. Back in the warm comfort of The Mt. Rambler, I get a Facebooktext from a Bigwall buddy of Mark Hudon and we hook up and hang out for the night. He and Mark just got off Genesis and within a couple free beers we're making plans for Zodiac in Spring. This dude invented The Alfrifi!
top left corner top right corner
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner
The Allfrifi is taking El Cap by storm! Get yours Now!
top left corner top right corner
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner

And speaking of Allfrifi, we bump into David Allfrey and we swap his stories of Baffin with our story of nailing the entire first pitch of the Nose when we were in high school......well into the age of friends and free climbing. We get free hats from the American Alpine Club, free stickers and cool beer mugs and I buy an 850Down sleeping bag from the guys at the Brooks Range tent for below wholesale because he didn't want to take it home and he felt bad that I had been sleeping cold for the past 20 years of mini-expeditions. The laughs continue into the night and we meet legends and locals and has beens and nobodys and we drink way too much free beer and win no raffle prizes whatsoever.
top left corner top right corner
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner

We stay up way too late and we're too tired to fish the next day but sleeping one more night under the stars in the bed of my truck and waking up to a camp fire under the warmth of the sun and a windless desert sky is good for the soul.
We gorge ourselves at Jacks, then its time to hit the road.

top left corner top right corner
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner

My posse falls asleep on me by the time we hit Big Pine and I have the open road to myself.
top left corner top right corner
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner


So, our trip didn't exactly go as planned, but man we had a blast. Lemme give you the rundown of our 72 hour Troutfest 2015.

Lifelong friends on a three day expedition to the Eastside? CHECK.
No Approach? Check.
Fishing legendary trout water for the frst time? CHECK.
Meeting new Supertopo friends? CHECK.
Film Festival? CHECK.
Bouldering? CHECK.
Free Microbrew? CHECK.
Party like rockstars with a few hundred of our clan? CHECK.
Fly a drone? CHECK.

oh yeah....at some point we drove way out on some BLM land for a little gunplay.
top left corner top right corner
And yes, we picked up all our sporting clay trash and spent shell casi...
And yes, we picked up all our sporting clay trash and spent shell casings.
Credit: micronut
bottom left corner bottom right corner


So overall, I'd say the expedition was a success. Make it to the top. Come home alive. Come back as friends. We may never climb another mountain again. I can hardly wait till next year.


Until next time,

See you around Supertopo.

Micronut,

Out.


  Trip Report Views: 3,497
micronut
About the Author
micronut is a trad climber from fresno, ca.

Comments
rottingjohnny

Sport climber
Sands Motel , Las Vegas
  Nov 9, 2015 - 06:31pm PT
Did you fit in a round of golf and how did the chiefs choppers look after 20 years of Navy dential work...?
Mungeclimber

Trad climber
Nothing creative to say
  Nov 9, 2015 - 06:37pm PT
overweight Wall Vets salivate over skinnyfit Prana tanked hotties in yoga pants miming their latest proj on the stone wall outside Rusty's tavern.

That's odd, I didn't see you guys? ;)

j/k, wasn't there, but looks legit.
Mark Hudon

Trad climber
On the road.
  Nov 9, 2015 - 06:52pm PT
Ha! The Best Ever!
Mike Bolte

Trad climber
Planet Earth
  Nov 9, 2015 - 06:54pm PT
excellent TR like always. Some nice shots in there too.
Fritz

Social climber
Choss Creek, ID
  Nov 9, 2015 - 07:11pm PT
A great trip report.

Trouts to climbing,

Good old boyz to groupies,

Funsters finding the most fun!

I loved it all!
The Chief

climber
Down the hill & across the Valley from......
  Nov 9, 2015 - 07:15pm PT
Ha Ha... It was my pleasure.

Next time.... up up up high. That is if I am still around in Bishop.









But then there's the Upper O in January. Anytime. Boom!
limpingcrab

Gym climber
Minkler, CA
  Nov 9, 2015 - 09:06pm PT
Ok, it looks like you had fun and everything and that's cool. But, you had THIS
for three days and you only fished a little!?!?!?!

WTFudge bro. WTFudge
phylp

Trad climber
Upland, CA
  Nov 9, 2015 - 09:22pm PT
Stellar!
GDavis

Social climber
SOL CAL
  Nov 9, 2015 - 09:26pm PT
10/10

Lemme know if y'all make it down to Josh this season, I'd love to meet up.
crankster

Trad climber
No. Tahoe
  Nov 9, 2015 - 09:33pm PT
Looks like good fun.
Delhi Dog

climber
Good Question...
  Nov 9, 2015 - 09:41pm PT
Fun read nutman!
thanks for the share :-)
PAUL SOUZA

Trad climber
Central Valley, CA
  Nov 9, 2015 - 09:46pm PT
We are barellin down the gravel path near the Happy Boulders when up on the hill to the North a pack of Padbacks comes into view.

LMAO!!!


Very nice man! Glad you had a stellar weekend. Cheers!
'Pass the Pitons' Pete

Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
  Nov 10, 2015 - 05:51am PT
Great writing and photos! Sounds like you guys had a blast. Did your wrists get sore from fighting such monster browns? ;)
NutAgain!

Trad climber
https://nutagain.org
  Nov 10, 2015 - 05:53am PT
What a nice read to start the day! Thanks for letting your cup of stoke runneth over to our greedy lips.
skcreidc

Social climber
SD, CA
  Nov 10, 2015 - 06:04am PT
Noice!! Video stoke, add some beer, then BAM!! Good work getting distracted by rocks fellas.
skitch

Gym climber
Bend Or
  Nov 10, 2015 - 07:46am PT
Yo Nut: did you pick up any good tips from Chief? What are they?
guyman

Social climber
Moorpark, CA.
  Nov 10, 2015 - 08:32am PT
nice TR...

Bishop is called "Vacation Land" for a reason.

You should have brought along the dirt bikes and the skis.... for full measure.

BrassNuts

Trad climber
Save your a_s, reach for the brass...
  Nov 10, 2015 - 08:43am PT
Classic, looks like a great time! Best line of the TR "Our fishing paradise has turned into a meat market where overweight Wall Vets salivate over skinnyfit Prana tanked hotties in yoga pants miming their latest proj on the stone wall outside Rusty's tavern." Bwah hahaha! Cheers.
rincon

climber
Coarsegold
  Nov 10, 2015 - 10:22am PT
Looks like around five bridges section. I used to fish around there a lot about 30 years ago. Thanks to LADWP it still looks the same.

Micronut you forgot to wear a button down checkered shirt like the rest of your crew!
JEleazarian

Trad climber
Fresno CA
  Nov 10, 2015 - 10:28am PT
I love it! Your trip reports have yet to disappoint, Scott.

John
dee ee

Mountain climber
Of THIS World (Planet Earth)
  Nov 10, 2015 - 11:05am PT
I guess it's not all bad.
bpope

climber
Mountain View, CA
  Nov 10, 2015 - 11:29am PT
Pure stoke, straight from the veins of Micronut -- got me psyched on me east side thanksgiving-fest!
portent

Social climber
your mom's house
  Nov 10, 2015 - 01:13pm PT
Great tr, F@#% THAT DRONE THOUGH...
chainsaw

Trad climber
CA
  Nov 11, 2015 - 11:59am PT
I started avoiding the crowds in Bishop by flyfishing about ten years ago. Been flyfishing about 43 years. Pointers: cast from shore and only enter the water to cross the stream. Wear Teavas and ditch your waders to go fast. Casting from shore is tricky and mending line upstream of your target rock or riffel is essential. You will catch mutch bigger fish this way by not disturbing the water. Some say even the electrical impulse of your heartbeat alerts trout to your pressence. Hence you should approach quickly and quietly. Expect to catch the alpha fish on first cast or not at all. Cast only into prime water to avoid catching baby fish which alerts the big ones that a predator is near. Avoiding waders etc will improve your stealth immensely. Of course always start below the target and move upstream. Smoke lotsa bowls in between fish so they dont get pounded. Elkhair caddis and copperheads are great. Scuds work too. Dont use tiny leader as it gets buggered and presents poorly. I pull alot of fish out of lower owens on 4x 6.4 lb test Rio. The key is to avoid casting over your target exposing leader. Instead, try to cast so that your fly is all they see. Lastly, timing is key. Warmer temps in the second quarter of the moon (waxing) seem to produce the most fish. If all else fails try black leaches. Last of all, dont buy dryflies in town. They all have the wrong body color. Your elkhair caddis body must match the color of the bottom. The more you hide your fly with camoflage, matching the local sand or gravel, the more it resembles the local hatch. Thus you will catch more fish with subtle grey tan bodies and very small hackle. Deer hair that is slightly brown works great if you dont mind the hassle of.tying them. Avoid bleached elkhair and use #18 blond hackle on #14 hooks. I caught 24 browns in two short days on this pattern at the happys recently. Consider barbless hooks at all times. This requires a soft tippet and gentle handling of fish on retreival. But its good for the fish and you wont be wearing those hooks all day in your skin if you stick yourself! Happy fishing at the happys. Also beware of steer carcasses there. They can give you warts if you get stuck by briars near the water.
skitch

Gym climber
Bend Or
  Nov 11, 2015 - 03:14pm PT
Chainsaw: thanks for the tips!

You must not get to fish much water if you only fish from the shore, by it must work cause you're catching a whole hell of a lot more fish than I do.
The Chief

climber
Down the hill & across the Valley from......
  Nov 11, 2015 - 10:33pm PT
I started avoiding the crowds in Bishop by flyfishing about ten years ago


Tip: Think out of the proverbial box, Shoot downstream, go deep and get on the water early. 0700.

That wader comment makes No sense. Most of the runs I fish are so over grown with reeds and Russian Olive that the only way one can fish em is by wading into them from upstream a good 50-100 yards and some even longer. Maybe that is why I do not encounter any crowds and hook up at a min of two dozen 12-14"ers regularly with an occasional 18" CutBow.



Dont use tiny leader as it gets buggered and presents poorly. I pull alot of fish out of lower owens on 4x 6.4 lb test Rio.

4X tippet? NEVER. Nothing bigger than 5X and most commonly 6X. I hooked up on this 19" Fat CutBow Hen two weeks ago on 6x that was was over 70' downstream, deep in a 15' hole and around a bend. Brought her in with no issue.

I have over 100 days on the LO thus far this season. Last year, 139 total. It's exactly 12 mins from my driveway. Only once this year have I encountered anyone else in my secret holes. Last year, I can't remember encountering anyone at my favorite spot.

If you can shoot from the bank with ease, so can all them crowds.

Last tip... size 18 weighted Soft Hackles laced with .25mm Flashbou and let em ride down stream 30-60'. Then tug softly, BAM!

Consider barbless hooks at all times. This requires a soft tippet and gentle handling of fish on retreival. But its good for the fish and you wont be wearing those hooks all day in your skin if you stick yourself!

They are MANDATORY in the designated "No Limit C&R" year round WBTA from the LOCG down past the Happy's and just before the Sad's. Shawn or Dale, the local DFG Wardens, do check regularly for em as for license's. If your shet is barbed, you get a warning the first time. If busted again, a 100.00 fine and your license pulled.

'Pass the Pitons' Pete

Big Wall climber
like Ontario, Canada, eh?
  Nov 11, 2015 - 06:53pm PT
What a fatty!

Up here on the Great Lakes tribs, we use 13' noodle rods and centre pin float reels to present little hand-tied roe bags to monster silver steelhead.

You guys ever do this?
The Chief

climber
Down the hill & across the Valley from......
  Nov 11, 2015 - 07:27pm PT
Use my 10.9' 4wt and 11.6' 5wt Skagit Sticks regularly on bigger Eastside waters Pete.



Wade Icey

Trad climber
www.alohashirtrescue.com
  Nov 11, 2015 - 08:54pm PT
nice. thanks
micronut

Trad climber
Fresno/Clovis, ca
Author's Reply  Nov 11, 2015 - 09:21pm PT
Chainsaw AWESOME post man. We can all learn from eachother. I usually fish from the bank in sniper mode, but The Chief is right on this one. We often waded 30-40yds downstream in full on canopies of brush that would make those holes otherwise inaccessible. This was my first time really working waders and it felt really empowering to go where we otherwise could not have. And it felt fantastic to be IN the water, feeling its energy and pulse.

Cant wait to return.
skitch

Gym climber
Bend Or
  Nov 11, 2015 - 10:35pm PT
Being waist deep in water feels so rad, more than once I've been tying on a new fly and have a beaver swim 30 feet away.

If you think you can't catch fish wading then go talk to Fred at Von's about Czech Nymphing, he swears he's caught fish at his feet, but that dude speaks fluent Trout.
briham89

Big Wall climber
santa cruz, ca
  Nov 12, 2015 - 08:05am PT
Ya!!! Looked like a rad trip!
The Chief

climber
Down the hill & across the Valley from......
  Nov 12, 2015 - 08:14am PT
Fred at Von's about Czech Nymphing

Fred? We share/have lots in common. ;]

whitemeat

Trad climber
San Luis Obispo, CA
  Nov 12, 2015 - 09:37am PT
Best TRs ever you write! Thanks dog!
Charlie D.

Trad climber
Western Slope, Tahoe Sierra
  Nov 12, 2015 - 10:04am PT
Climbing ruined a fishing trip? The mountain gods work in mysterious ways, it's all good Micronut enjoy your days in the open :^)
Ezra Ellis

Trad climber
North wet, and Da souf
  Nov 14, 2015 - 10:41am PT
Awesome!
rottingjohnny

Sport climber
Sands Motel , Las Vegas
  Nov 14, 2015 - 06:26pm PT
Fred from Vons keeps it reel...good guy...
L

climber
Just livin' the dream
  Jan 18, 2016 - 08:34pm PT
Your writing is like a fabulous drug, Scott.

It makes your readers forget who they are and hallucinate being something they're not.

I gave up fishing 20 years ago, deplore beer and loath crowds, but ten minutes into your TR I'm wishing I was there with you and your buds, casting lines, guzzling brew and squeezing into packed bars and theaters.

You just make it look like so much damn fun! :-)

Many thanks for the High Sierra high.
labrat

Trad climber
Erik O. Auburn, CA
  Jan 19, 2016 - 12:32pm PT
Thanks for the report. Looks like a great time.

Please be careful with handling the fish by the mouth and gills. Much better to hold them carefully from underneath (belly) or by the tail with wet hands. If you cannot keep them from flopping around too much use a soft net designed for catch and release....

Erik
Go