Maiden Voyage 2012

[Jgoding]

Well, things finally came together for my brother, dad, and I to float the river last Sunday morning. Got off to a slightly late start but we boated 3 fish. Well, Kevin boated 3 but somehow we all got a picture holding a fish. First fish came about 5 minutes after launching. He said it wasn't that big... well, since we don't measure or have a boga we estimated this fish around 10-12lbs. The picture doesn't do it any justice, it was shaped like a football.



Dad got a large swirl shortly after but things were pretty slow for about an hour and Kevin hooked up again. This fish had a buddy about the same size following it around the whole time. A nice schoolie in the 6lbs range.



Last fish was barely legal and Kevin finally got a picture with one of his fish.



All fish got their pictures taken in about 15 seconds of air time and back they went. We should be out there more but my new hobby keeps me busy too and I haven't taken the time to tie flies or anything.



Hopefully we'll get out again soon. Saw plenty of toads in the 20-30lbs class as well, we just always seem to float right over them and can't get a presentation.

[Bill Kiene semi-retired]

Nice...what kind of a boat?

[Darian]

Jeff,.... Like the photo's and that's a good fish ya' got there.

You're a Bee keeper now??? Must be fascinating to watch 'em. I've been thinking of getting a hive myself. Altho, I have ulterior motives. The Bees might help me get rid of a long time nosy/busybody neighbor....

[David Lee]

The Bees might help me get rid of a long time nosy/busybody neighbor....

D.- Have you considered raising Cobras out back ?

Nice Stripes , Jeff !!

D.~

[Darian]

Hmmm,.... Cobras might be a bit too obvious. Now, a million bees....

[Jgoding]

Oh yeah, neighbors will notice them real quick. Mine lasted a week at the house before my neighbor got all up in arms. Oh well, they reside near work now on some nice acreage. Just got a second hive about 3 weeks ago, I'll post some pics later. Didn't do to bad for the first year. Got a full deep box of honey, with the spring box of honey for the bees. Hopefully we get a fall flow and I can get some comb honey.

Urban bees typically do better though since people tend to grow more flowers and everything is irrigated all the time. Takes some $$ to start up but I could just sit and watch them coming and going all day. Gonna pick up a nice extractor next week and harvest some honey.

Bill, Dad got a Hog Island drift boat last year, pretty nice ride for the American.

[Ed Wahl]

Looks like a nice stripey morning. Congrats.
I always seem to be floating over the big ladies too. Some really big ladies. I'm trying to mark out their holding areas so I can return in low light and cast at them. Hasn't paid off yet, but sooner or later.

Ed

[flyfshrmn]

Bill,

the boat is a Hog Island. It's rotomolded polyethelene and I bough it river ready from the maker in Steamboat Springs. It's a great boat, easy to row, very stable, and nicely equipped. the only changes I want to make are a higher seat (more back support) for the center and add another set of rod holders. I've had it on the lower Sac and the American so far, but don't have enough time on the sticks for anything that requires real white water skills. I would like to try the Feather and next spring we'll definitely do some shad in the American and the Sac. We haven't been out much because of the really high water conditions last year and a number of family deaths this spring. I'll have it back up on the lower Sac at Redding in September/October for the egg bite and try some winter floats there as well when the flows drop.

here's a link to the website: http://www.hogislandboatworks.com/driftboat.html