On Wed, 13 Aug 2008 21:06:00 +0100, "W. D. Grey"
wrote:

I fished like this on a four fish ticket point and had great sport seing
the chasing rainbows. My neighbour angler commented how unlucky I had
been not hooking anything:-)

Something similar happened to me. I was fishing a productive hole on
the Rapid, with a fellow waiting for me to finish/move on. Before he
arrived I had landed and released many nice brookies and salmon. The
point on my Goddard Caddis broke off but I continued to fish and set
the hook on another ten or fifteen rises before I left. Of course the
you chap that was watching assumed I had missed the takes.

At dinner that night, he was telling the story about the old guy who
couldn't set the hook, and when the old guy left, he went down to the
pool and took ten fish without too much trouble.

As he passed my cabin after dinner I invited him to look at the fly
still tied on the leader. It was then that he realized I was the "old
guy" and that I was only playing with the fish, intentionally not
catching them.

I always enjoy the take more than the fight afterward. A
long-line-release doesn't bother me anymore.

Be well, Bill.

Dave