I know the 9 weight is too much for yellows in the Vaal. Here is the background. I'm getting an Xplorer Classic II 5/6 weight in February as a gift, so in the mean time I wanted to buy a rod of a different weight for other applications. It was either a 3 weight for light stream fishing, or a 8/9 weight. Decent 3 weights are hard to find at an affordable price, so I got a fairly soft 9 weight in the meantime for when I want to target barbel and occasionally some light saltwater ff when I get the chance. My main target will be yellows though, and there is no way I'm sitting at home thinking about catching yellows just because I don't have the ideal weight rod yet
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Good point Jaco, both fish were double hooked, mouth and dorsal fin. Mmmh, in a stream I guess that makes a huge difference. In a dam its just dead weight that doesn't really fight that much.
Gerrit, I think I'm starting to get the feel for a foul hooked muddy, especially in fast flowing water. There is very little fight, you just feel you are hooked, almost as if on a rock, and then the line starts moving around with little jabs as the muddy kicks to stay in current, and then nothing as the hook pulls out. I noticed that with a properly hooked yellow there is no question once you set the hook. The fish races away at speed, alotta fun indeed. Not sure about a foul hooked yellow though, haven't got one out yet.
I was fishing an 8lb straight leader with 5 lb tippet.
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