mircetich
01-22-2007, 09:56 AM
You ever have one of those days when you think it will never end?
Well I had one of those yesterday and I am still recovering from fishing! Well it all started about 6am when I met my good friend Ben at Papa Joes for a country breakfast slathered in gravy...need that for a day of rowing. During breakfast there was much anticipation and discussion about big steelhead to be had on the might Van Duzen (but not so mighty running at 350).
Well after a wonderful breakfast, commaraderie, and one for the gipper talk I was ready for my first float of the year down the VD. We put in just below Grizzly Campground and within the first 500 yards, Ben hooked a beautiful 36" wild hen, landed it and we both had the feeling it was going to be a great day. Well we were elated with the weather and the intention of having a good float down to Fischer Rd, (about 9 road miles). We park on a long run between Grizzly and Swimmer Delight and we both managed two fish each, same as the first, almost cookie cutter, 34-36 inches, two were wild and two were hatchery, chrome bright and hot as the day is long.
We cooked coffee and make our way down river, passing through a very narrow strech, about the width of the boat, I point the oars forward, all is going well and at the bottom the right oar catches a submerged stump, is ripped out of my hand, rotates up and around clocking Ben in the head and breaking his Sage XP in two places.
All is not lost though, he is ok and I have a spare rod in the boat but we both were remarking how skinny the water is becomming. We get through swimmers delight and the best water I have seen this year turns to some of the ugliest frog water I have ever seen.
To end a long story, there were four places between Swmmers delight and Fischer Rd that we had to portage the boat because trees were lying across the river, what was 9 road miles turned out to be 12 river miles, 7 of which were below Swimmers Delight. The water got so shallow, that I think we pushed the boat more than rowed it, and the boat took an absolute beating, my compliments ro RO Drift Boats for making such a sturdy product.
We managed fish, beautiful, bright, gorgeous fish but what a harrowing, exausting day.
The coastal rivers here are reallys starting to ramp up.
Best wishes
Jon
Well I had one of those yesterday and I am still recovering from fishing! Well it all started about 6am when I met my good friend Ben at Papa Joes for a country breakfast slathered in gravy...need that for a day of rowing. During breakfast there was much anticipation and discussion about big steelhead to be had on the might Van Duzen (but not so mighty running at 350).
Well after a wonderful breakfast, commaraderie, and one for the gipper talk I was ready for my first float of the year down the VD. We put in just below Grizzly Campground and within the first 500 yards, Ben hooked a beautiful 36" wild hen, landed it and we both had the feeling it was going to be a great day. Well we were elated with the weather and the intention of having a good float down to Fischer Rd, (about 9 road miles). We park on a long run between Grizzly and Swimmer Delight and we both managed two fish each, same as the first, almost cookie cutter, 34-36 inches, two were wild and two were hatchery, chrome bright and hot as the day is long.
We cooked coffee and make our way down river, passing through a very narrow strech, about the width of the boat, I point the oars forward, all is going well and at the bottom the right oar catches a submerged stump, is ripped out of my hand, rotates up and around clocking Ben in the head and breaking his Sage XP in two places.
All is not lost though, he is ok and I have a spare rod in the boat but we both were remarking how skinny the water is becomming. We get through swimmers delight and the best water I have seen this year turns to some of the ugliest frog water I have ever seen.
To end a long story, there were four places between Swmmers delight and Fischer Rd that we had to portage the boat because trees were lying across the river, what was 9 road miles turned out to be 12 river miles, 7 of which were below Swimmers Delight. The water got so shallow, that I think we pushed the boat more than rowed it, and the boat took an absolute beating, my compliments ro RO Drift Boats for making such a sturdy product.
We managed fish, beautiful, bright, gorgeous fish but what a harrowing, exausting day.
The coastal rivers here are reallys starting to ramp up.
Best wishes
Jon