Over the years I've taken a lot of big fish on flies. Several tarpon in the 70-80# range, several GT's in the 60-70# range, yellow fin tuna in the 35# range, even a sailfish at around 90# though not on a fly. But today was the grand-daddy of them all.

Bill Siler and I headed over to the Sac to go find some stripers. Perfect conditions except for the water being low, no wind, clear day, and the parking lot was only half full.

We launched and began our drift downstream working the rock walls like usual. Not marking much of anything as there had been a tournament the two days before at Kittels in Colusa so the river had been worked over pretty hard.

We got down to Wilkens Sough where it's deep on one side but has a fairly shallow flat on the other. I made a cast, let it sink, and got a small tap. Not a grab, just a soft tap and I set the hook. It still felt soft and heavy for a moment, and I set again a couple more times.

Then I got the head shake and I yelled to Bill "Fish On". First fish of the day are always fun to break the ice on and maybe we found a school. Seconds later there's a big splash 50' in front of the boat and a huge sturgeon comes flying out of the water. And I'm still holding the rod straight out from the side of the boat. Yelling in disbelief "I hooked a sturgeon" and this this isn't small. Bill is yelling "that's over 7' maybe 7 1/2' ". I hang on and Bill takes the boat. Thankfully Bill knows boats and puts us directly at the side of the fish where I can get the most pull and tire the fish. "Don't plan on anything soon" he says as I put all the pressure I can on my 8wt.

The sturgeon goes airborn 6 more times over the next hour. Each time coming 4+' out of the water. Gawd, what a show. I'm still putting all the pressure I can on my rod and my arm are shaking uncontrollably. Each time he jumps, we look to see where he's hooked. He's not fouled at all and has taken the fly directly in his mouth. He ATE my fly, a 3/0 Clouser !

We continue working the fish back and forth across the river. Bill still at the controls helping me to put pressure on this thing. Gradually I get him to come up a little and see the leader. Momentarily, and then he's off again deep. This gets repeated again and again and I think maybe he's getting tired? I know I am. But every time I gain a little he takes off again and now we're drifting more and more downstream toward the mud flats. (Those of you who know the Sac know the mud flats) It gets shallow here and he jumps again with a big splash and heads for deeper water across river. I'm still putting all the pressure I can on this thing and he won't budge.

Over on the far side there are a few sunken trees I'm sure with lines from trollers all tangled on them. Bill says he's either in a hole or hung up on a snag. I'm into my backing now and need to get some line back on the reel. As we move the boat toward him I'm straining for all I'm worth to get some line back and move him out of those trees. In the next moment, there's a big surge and a pop as the line breaks and he gives us a final jump as if saying "FU". It's been an hour and 15 minutes of the most pressure I've ever put on a fish.

It's okay. He won. I have to sit down. My arms are still shaking and I need some Tylenol. As I write this and reminisce a good shot of Maker's Mark is helping too. What a day.
Tony
p/s We did get a couple of stripers too.