The wetside adventure III I forgot to post

Wetside Adventures III

 This may not interest anybody  but
Dec. 8th   7:30 am
I’m sitting at the Riverside Café in Mt. Vermin checking the river flows looking out the window, it’s pouring down rain the wind is howling. The TV above me is saying we have another storm coming in and are looking at flood watch all over the PNW. With record breaking levels of rain already, and more predicted for the rest of the week.
River Flows
Skagit has jumped from 5.12to 6.98 at Rockport just needs to be down to the 5’s
Stillaguamish  jumped up  4200 to 6620         Arlington
 Skykomish     jumped up   3630 to 6840          Gold Bar
Guess I go back to Lil Ruthie’s and twist some bugs.
1:30pm Still raining so off to the Skagit River Brewery for lunch and beer, If you go try their Skagit Brown (god stuff) food is good to.
For the next six days all it did was rain and more rain. No Fishing. I did more time spend my time eating breakfast at the Riverside Café for some awesome bisques & gravy with hash browns on the bottom.   Skagit River Brewery for  lunches and some of the finest brews around.
The day before we left I meet up with one of the OCFFC members that now lives in Anacortes, Patrick Smedile at the Rock Fish Grill for lunch. Good to see his.
We had the big storm follow us all the way over the mountain and the snow held off till we hit our driveway

The Christmas Eve Present

It was the day before Christmas
 I was out of cash
 All the presents were paid for
 So down to the river
All icy and cold
To stand in the water
With my Spey pole
Flinging a fly
Hoping for the pull
From the top of the run
Working down stream
Fling after fling
 Almost the bottom
Deep in the seam
I get a good pull
The pole gets a bend
My reel starts to sing
The battle begins
Tug-A-War for sure
Slowly I collect back my line
It seemed like hours
But really was a short time
To my hand comes
A really wide tail
This Christmas present
Came from the Pacific
All the way back from the sea
I thanked him for
The pleasure that we just spent
I set him free
Back to the wild
On to his travels
I leave the river
All happy and content
By Putmbac 1215

Wetside adventure part II

Saturday 12/5 Stillaguamish River    

I put calls out on Fri. to see if anybody I knew was up to doing River fishing in the rain, wind and hi water. Shawn couldn’t make it work. Dan doesn’t fish the rivers no more, gave no reason. ( musta fallen down once or twice and is scared I figured ) wouldn’t say. Jon was getting off at 7:30 am and needed to sleep, but would meet me for breakfast at Denny’s off the I 5 next to the Stilly. Jamie was up for it but couldn’t make it till Monday.

8am it was just getting light out the rain was coming down and I pulled into Denny’s parking lot. Wanda, Jon’s wife pulled in right behind me and parked next to me. Surprise to see her!! She had just talked to Jon he was running late with the traffic and the heavy rain. Jon showed up about twenty minutes later and he looked beat. Rough nite at Boing.

I guess it was getting close to 9:15 Jon was ready to fall asleep sitting at the table. We said are good byes and I headed off to the water.

The Stilly at Big rock just east of the I 5. The rain had let up just a little and long enough for me to get into my waders with- out being soaked, Winston put together, I walk thru the silt muck and get down to the river and it’s CRAP. I walk back out find a deep water puddle to rinse off the muck before getting back into the truck with rod broke down and in the front with me. Up river we go Stop at Haller Park to check the river, just as bad. Continue up 530 along the North Fork of the river get past the slide from a couple of years ago.  Man that was something to see just how much slide away. I found a spot that I fished many years ago it was full of trees and debris. Keep moving east and check out the Sauk.

 Sauk River. 1PM

   My first stop on the Sauk was before the Sulattle dumps in the rain once again let up. I grabbed my rod and headed for the hole. The water looked real good and fishy from the road above, the wind was calm and it didn’t look like anybody had been on the old trail to the hole yet, but there was a truck parked just up on the road.  My old trail had grown over quite abit, but I made it to where the hole use to be the river had changed and shifted the bar was now up river. I made my way up and found a guy Tim working the water with a float and jig he had pulled out a nice wild hen SH he said about a hour ago but nothing since. And he was about to leave. He also said. “That one of his Bud had pulled out a couple of big Bulls out of here in the last few days

.

    I dug into my box found a fleshy looking fly tyed it on and pitched it out in to the flow after 7 or 8 swings, I moved down to get by a boulder in the water and just as my line went behind it Boom a hard take and dogged down no movement just head shaking, I kept the pressure on and slowly moved down river. He moved into the current and and took a short run down, then back out of the current but closer to me I moved down a little more and was able to retrieve line and then another short run at me I back up as I was reeling and soon felt the shooting line to head connections made it thru the first few guides, then a couple more, with the pressure at the right point I laid the rod to the up side of the river and got another big move. The leader was out of the water, I could see the Bullhe turned and saw me and took another short run but he was spent. I was able to he down river from him and bring it to hand. NICE Bull about 30 inch long and maybe 12 lbs.  My wet day is not shot. I went back up to the top of the run and worked my way thru 3 more time with nothing.

Time to move on down River. I came to Government Bridge and saw that the gravel bar was still out of the water the river is still fishable. COOL! I jumped out put the rod back together and went out on the bar. The water was pretty dirty but not brown. After an hour nothing and it was getting late. I pulled the Winston all the way down wiped it off and put it in its tube for the day. Wrap the Nautilus. Pulled off the wading gear. Poured a hot cup of coffee from the thermos and headed to Rockport to check on the water heath. Color looks good a bit high if it doesn’t rain to hard tonite I just might fish it tomorrow.  

Sunday 12/6    A NO FISHING DAY

    It rained hard all night long at 6am I checked the river flows up on the Skagit at Rockport the flow jumped up from 5.20 to 6.10 overnight, But the Skykomish was still looking good. I made a call to Ray up in Sultan to see if he could give me any kind of a report.

Ray: Lots of hatchery some natives, weight range from 6 to 10 lbs on the hatchery fish and some natives in excess of over 15 but few and far between. I wouldn’t recommending coming and swinging a fly on the weekend just way to many gear guys to deal with. The last weekend he was there  must have been over 40 – 50 guys working the 100 yds close to the hatchery, and if you get caught crossing the train trust to get into the ponds count on having a $500. fine. I told him thanx for the info and asked if he was free from work on Monday or any other day this week? Nope headed for Mexico on Tuesday and won’t be back until the rain stops or the first of March. He wished me the best of luck and hoped that we could get together some time in the spring.

Monday 12/7

    I pick up my good Buddy Jamie in Everett, He called into work said he was feeling to well to come in and he was going to take a fishing day. His boss understands

.

  Jamie told me. “Best not to leave Mt. Vermin. (Yup vermin not Vernon,) at least until 8 am otherwise I’d be in traffic all the way.” So I left there at 8 and he was ready when I got to his house.  We quickly loaded up his gear and we were off heading up the Snohomish River past Monroe and up the Skykomish to the Reiter Hatchery

.

    9:20 we pull into the parking area and find a open spot.  We walk down to see if there is any room for me to swing a fly among the gear flingers. Jamie stayed while I went and suited up and by the time I got back Jamie had already hooked his first and was just landing it as I walked up.  I found a spot down river open enough for me to swing had to get out in the current pretty far started out with a black Woolly Bugger with a purple hackle wrap. Swung this for a while then went to a Skykomish Sunrise and before long got my first tug in close to the weeds, but no hook up. After a few more swings the tug and take. Game on I tried to work my way back to shore from being in the heavy current and more than waist deep water. Watch the rod bend and the reel drag I set off the reach shore the SH took a run at me I keep up the tension, he headed out to the heaver current, I brought him in closer, 10 feet from shore and still in thigh water I slip on a rock and almost fell in rods still bent and out of the water he jumps. Not just once or twice, but four, now five times he’s piss off and doesn’t like being pulled around. He takes another long run out into the current, I almost fall again. My Nautilus was doing its job well. I make it into knee deep water I feel the running line and the first connection past the tip into the other guides I see the leader the Winston is bouncing and held high the connection to the intermittent tip is thru the tip now move the fish up above me thru the brush sticking out of the water go to grab the tail and gone.  It’s OK was a wild Buck maybe 30 inches long and 12-13 lbs. I got my fly back didn’t have to get my hand wet all was good no great lost. We spent another hour or so up there. Jamie had another hit and no hook ups I didn’t try that much the current was a bit strong for me I will admit. I got my thrills with the one.

  We bugged out and headed back to Everett for lunch at Scuttlebutt Brewery. They had moved since I was last there into a nice fancy new building the menu has grown the beer is still the best in town and the food is awesome.                        

Dec Wetside Adventures

Wen, 12/2
2 inches of snow here in Omak, more expected with a new PNW storm.  We deiced to leave early to beat the storm. We needed to be in Mt. Vernon for pre op. on Friday the 4th. We made the drive with on incidents; the traffic really sucks on the Wetside.by the time we got to Index we were into the rain and everybody trying to get home from work. Interstate 5 was bumper to bumper, rain coming down from Everett to Mt. Vernon it was close to an hour and a half. We pulled into Lil Ruthie’s.
It had been raining since the first of December, with more rain predicted for the rest of the week. I called my Buddy Wayne when we go into town, to see what kind of fishing report he could give me. Nota hadn’t been to the river since the last time I was there in August. He also told me that I needed to get his Discovery Pass in order to fish most of the spots that the tickets were being handed out and that all the best fishing spots were being patrolled pretty heavy up and down the river.
Thursday 12/3
Yup! More rain and windy to boot, steady wind from the north northeast with gust to 45mph. I called Wayne 8am no answer,  again at 8:30 still no answer finally at 10 o’clock Toni answers she just got up. I asked if I could come by and get their D Pass, and to see if Wayne wanted to go up river with me, I’d be there in 20 minutes.
When I got there Wayne was just getting out of bed and didn’t want to go in the rain and wind. Told me the river was to blown out for him.
Now its almost noon by the time I get up to Loretta Creek,  and yes the wind is blowing, but not that bad the sky is dumping liquid sunshine I get suited up, string up the Winston. Where I was standing this time compared to when I was here in August I was now in waist hi water where in August it was ankle deep but the water still had the light green tint with a good two or three feet of visibly to it. Fishable
With a Barbie Special tyed to short 7ft leader, MOW head on 540g Skagit I stripped out about 45-50 ft of running line and gave it a fling I made it just past the outside seam. I tried this for a while then got hung up on a piece of wood floating down stream and was broke off. I guess I was there just about an hour when I got my first tug and hook up. A very nice, Dolly. Then hung up again, and broke off. Retie on another Pink and purple thingy and gave it a fling. On the fifth fling I got the real tug that I was looking for, but it happened on the strip in, I relaxed my stripping gave it some slack and it was hit again this time hard. Set the hook deep hard, my rod bent and the game was on. Twenty five / thirty minutes later and a great game of tug a war. I move my rod up river and lower to my hand the tail of a Ugly Chum, maybe close to 13/14 lbs. big teeth and shaking it’s head. The hook is broke off on a tooth and I let him keep my fly.
I hadn’t noticed but the wind had pick up quite a bit while I was workin the Chum. By the time I got back out into the current and casting again the wind was blowing much stronger and getting hard to cast. I gave it a few more as I worked back to shore and Hooked another Dolly.
I didn’t notice but there was a guy in a truck watching me and when I released the Dolly he honked his horn and gave me the thumbs up. I stripped out some line to straighten it out on my reel and as I reeled it back in I had a smolt almost as big as my fly. So 1 Chum and 2 Dollys not bad for the river being blown out.
    
On Friday the 4th

 We had re-op. and that was at 11:30 am. So after dropping off Ginny at Ruthie’s and the rain and wind blowin, I decided to take the drive up to Bellingham and check out the Confluence Fly Shop.  I had met Scott a couple of years ago while at the Fly Fishing Show in Lynwood. Scott was there in the shop twisting up a couple of flies when I walked in. He looked up, smiled and said Hello Putmbac good to see ya on this side of the mountains.
The shop has a good lay out, great products like Rods from Sage, Echo, Redington. Reels from Able, Echo, Redington, Sage, Solitude. Lots of tying materials and hooks, vices. Lines from Rio and Airflo.  Full line of Simms. They also do casting lessons in single hand and spey. They'll get you dialed in on the right shooting head with your casting style. Recommend what flies to use for the body of water your headed out too.     Do a blog, and a great fishing report. They have some good guides that know the waters, from the Nooksack, Skagit, Sauk, and also do a report on the Vetter in BC. They cover the lakes like Pass and Ross.  I was impressed with their knowledge, friendliness, wanting to help other with what they know and show others what a great sport that we love and enjoy. I will be seeing more of them in the future for any of my needs, and be glad to support them with my $$$$ everytime I go over Fish or just to see friends.

Yea it's been awhile. With my computer down and trying to figure out all the new technology gives me a head a ache.  So I'll try to recap some of the fishing 5hat has been done.
Gary and I hit the Met one more time, Miller's then up to Burma just after we got are first good rain not a lot of fish most had moved up river. I fished the Arrow a couple times picking up a couple of wild fish. The it got real cold and the river was freezing over.
Now its Dec. And I'm over on the wetside we have Doctor appointments and the Skagit, Stilly to o fish.

Fished the Skagit on Thursday up Laretta Co. Did 1ulgy Chum and 2 big Dollies then the wind picked up and bugged out almost got hit by a fallen tree just missed the back of the truck by inches.
Now Sat. And headed to the Stilly.

1 wild fish

Well Gary and I headed out to the Miller on the Met again, after us having a slam dunk day last Thursday only to get a lot of practice casting in. It was dark went we arrived overcast and the parking lot was empty one other rig there.

I got 1 wild fish after maybe an hour and nothing after, John and Greg from Brewster showed up about 30 minutes after the sun came up. John low holed Gary and on his first few cast pulled out a small Hatchery fish and then shortly after that pulled in another. It was a good day for John. The other Greg worked the same water over and over with nothing.

Gary worked the same water as he did on Thursday with nothing.

We ended up leaving and headed up to the Burma Bridge. Got out of the truck and stood on the bridge for a few minutes. Saw some beat-up Chinook and that was it. Headed back up and check out the Chillwist, Tommy and someone were there and had been there all morning with nothing, not even a bump. We swung by and I showed Gary a couple of other places, but didn’t fish.

I think with the rain we received yesterday most of the fish holding on the lower Methow have moved up river. Got back to the house about noon. Maybe I’ll go back out later today. 

SH Day 3 / 4

Back up to the canyon after making a call the night before. I was told that I could shoot the three other dogs just don't shoot the hound.

Well i did't have to shoot the dawgs but I was prepared to do so and I packed my 38 with me, just in case they came around either getting to or from the water. Dark thirty again suited up and loaded for dogs. Rod ready from parking to fishing less than 15 minutes. I worked over 300 yards of good water for over three hours changing flies. the sun came up over the hill side. saw a couple of fish boil as I was tearing down my rod. But it was still time to go eat, twist some flies, shower and do some chores.
Two o'clock I went on a scouting trip down river a ways to check out some old waters that I never got to fish last year, with the river so hi.
The hi waters of last year really did change the slot, there is lots of Chinook in now spawning. so until the river comes up I'll just leave this spot alone for now.
 My neighbor Bill flagged me down as I was pulling in and asked if I could take him up to a private spot for him to fish for a while.  ( Bill doesn't fly fish tho I have tried to teach him many times, I did teach him a few years back to use corkies.)
     I did take him up, He keep casting over my line, so I switched places with him so that he was above me, and on his third drift thru bang fish on for him. I pulled in my stuff and helped him get it to shore getting my feet wet, slipping on the wet rocks to my knees. But we got it in small little buck shy of 5lbs. But his first SH in over two years.

It's overcast a bit warm at 55 and the water temp is 54. Doctor Dave hooked a wild buck last night.

Now its day 4
       I met up with Gary and Scott up river above Tonasket the water looks good.
With Scott being fresh and hadn't hooked a metalhead yet we gave him the best water. His casting has. improved 100% with the little lessons I had given him.and him getting in lots of practice.
 We pounded the water till 10 with nothing not even a bump. It's a bit early I think for many fish up this hi in the river.

          I need to twist up some more DDPs to skate along with some Curbfeeler  for the Met

                The three of us Dave Gary and I are headed back to the Met tomorrow.  

   

SH day 2

      I headed up to the canyon so that I was there at daybreak the wind was blowing and there was a pack of dogs that gathered as I pulled in to park. Three were hound dogs, and the other 3 were just scruffy lookin. The biggest one of all the meanest lookin showed me nothing but teeth as I started to get out of the truck. I opened up the door and he lunged at me snapping and growling. I pulled my legs back in closed the door waited a few moments and started out again same thing. Too early for a dog fight.

     Then headed down to the Arrowhead it was just getting light out and I didn’t need my headlamp. I suited up pieced the Winston together put on the Nautilus. Tied on a DDP booby fly and headed out the water is low and clear. I head up river and half way across in knee deep water I strip out my usual 15 to 18 strips and get ready to fling my fly. Just at the edge of the ripple as I’m stripping in I get a rock, haven’t really done a cast yet, and bang my line goes tight. The head shake and my line is ripped through my fingers to the reel. Turn out to be a wild buck about 8lbs.

   Thirty minutes later half way thru the swing just about the same place the tickle and tug.  Lift the rod set the hook and out of the water comes one mad acrobatic crazy peel some line heading cross river up and out of the water again my running line is just about gone. She slows and I’m able to gain line back, just about to the Scandi head she takes another short run, shaking her head. The long rod is bent and she is holding tight in about 2 foot of water. A few moments later I’m able to move in beside her grab my leader place my rod between my legs and grab her by the tail. The hook is buried deep in the center of her lower jaw. I need my hemos to remove it we struggle I go down to one knee in the water as the river is flowing past me I can feel my side getting wet. The hook out finely and I hold her by the tail she is beautiful bright and maybe 7lbs.

    Even tho I’m a bit wet down to my wading belt and slowly down my leg. I work my way back towards shore swingin the booby and get a take at the edge of another ripple. I lift the rod set the hook and the game begins again only this time it doesn’t last very long, first good pull and then nothing, my line come sailing back the rod straightens back out, loose line.

Should have checked the leader. 

   Tie on another fly fling it out, on the fifth or sixth cast another take only this time it’s heavy and doesn’t want to move at all. I know its not a rock, rocks don’t shake, it’s could be a stick, but I don’t think so  then It moves out of its hole and into the stronger current I can see its back and dorsal fin Chinook Damit anyway. I battle it for close to 30 minutes finally able to drag it up onto shore. Pull my hook get a bloody finger and push it back into the water I turn around to look at my fly and get a splashing as the big Chinook hen swims away.

     I have to cut this short I need to head up river to meet up with Gary and Scott. Today is Scotts day to Hook and Land his first Steelhead Can’t wait to get that picture for him.            

Steelhead opener on the Met.

   It’s still dark thirty with our waters already on, we pull into the parking lot only to find the lot just about completely full. There is just maybe enough room to park Doctor Dave’s small car.

   The three of us have our headlamps ready, to assemble our rods, it only takes a afew short moments to be ready to walk down the dark hillside through the brush and into the River, across we go, the water level is low and really the only thing one could see is the movement of other headlamps.

     As we get to the south side of Miller’s Crossing all we can see is the flicker of headlamps moving along the rocky shore on the other side.

     Dave, Gary and I stop just before the second groups of rocks. This looks like a good spot between a set of lights from the other side. I set my sling down, string up my Winston Spey with my Nautilus. It has a Skagit 410 gr. head on it, I leave it for now put a 12’ long leader on another 2ft of tippit, and yup I tye a Disco Dolly Parton on Just to show Gary that even the Metalheads like it.

        Gary take a reading of water temp 46 a bit cold to skate a fly. I think, but I’ve got to do it skating is the ultimate rush for me,

   We hear a splash either someone has fallen into the river or a fish jumped. It looks like a prison break with headlights all of a sudden scanning the surface of the water. Just a FISH.

Dave heads out into the water about 20 feet below me and starts casting his single hander.       It’s still too dark for me. Then the splash in the water again. Another fish but this time someone has it hooked. Someone yells FISH ON. And you can tell everybody is heading closer to the edge on the rocks across river, and the splashing of the ones on the south side heading out into the water, the waders.

     I gave it just a few more minutes to get just a bit lighter so at least I could see the tip of my rod. Move my way out into the water, strip out the shooting head and maybe 40 feet of running line with a roll cast. I have to step out a bit farther so that my line is out past Dave for my retrieval, I take 5 or 6 steps out recast send the line and bug back out nice straight cast mid swing the tickle the tug and the lift of the rod and fish on.

Fifteen minutes later the sky is lite up and I can see clearly now, First SH of the year a Buck, No adipose fin, Hatchery, Keeper. Maybe 7 lbs. Bonked and recorded, hook and line checked, bac out into the water.

      I was maybe 20 minutes later my next fish Wild, then another Wild. A hatchery my fourth. (but it got away while I was removing the hook, I really didn’t want to stop fishing. It’s not even 8 o’clock yet.) Then I lost a couple of fish, Don’t know what went wrong they were on one for just a short time the other almost completely in and bang gone.

My day 9 Steelhead hooked, 2 lost, that I never saw, 5 Wild. 1 Hatchery I keep, and the hatchery that got away.

       Gary had a great day fishing above the pipe catching, landing more then 10 wild fish and two keeper. Dave also did good don’t know his numbers but I saw him with at least 5 and he had one to bring home.

We were back in the car heading home by shortly after 10 and I was home by 11:15. Gary needed to be home no later them 1 he had a game to officiate, and fish to take care of.

Thanks Guys let do it again some time during the week, Dark thirty again, is fine with me. 

The last lake of 15

  Well from my last post Steelhead opens on Thursday the 15^th so that is where my energy will be for the next couple of months. then Rocky Ford Ck. I will get some time in for Chums on the Wetside and maybe some more Silvers.

Gary and I finished out Lake Season doing a good friends private lake. It has G. Browns, Bows, Tiger, and some fresh triploid Brooks.  

      Gary came close to a Grand Slam, he didn’t land that Tiger. That really didn’t matter all the other were big and powerful and I know he had a great time.

I on the other hand I did get a grand slam hooking and landing all four. I don’t write about this lake much because it is private and the owner want to keep it that way without having people come knocking on his door.

      This is the lake that I test most of my flies on to perfect them, from the Disco Dolly Patton (booby) my crawdads patterns, Damsels both dries and nymphs. Along with many others.

The fish are big, some are real fighters and some are like boots full of mud and just hold you down. Many will run and take you into your backing. As Gary found out yesterday. He hooked a Bow well over 6lbs. on a small Caddis dry. I was very proud of him holding his composure until he had it in the net.

      The wind blew but not bad and we got in our fix for the year. I have caught many Steelhead smaller than the fish in this lake.

So on to other fish stories, and tells.

Happy Steelhead Season I wish you the best of times in the 2015-16 season.

 Keep the Wilds in the Water, & Keep your Hatcheries

Fishing to open for hatchery steelhead, rainbows on upper Columbia River and selected tributaries

Action: Allow anglers to retain hatchery-origin steelhead and rainbow trout marked with a clipped adipose fin on the Columbia River below Wells Dam to Chief Joseph Dam and the Methow and Okanogan rivers on Oct. 15, 2015, and the Similkameen River on Nov.1, 2015.

Species affected: Hatchery steelhead and rainbow trout

General rules:

1. Mandatory retention of hatchery steelhead, identified by a missing adipose fin with a healed scar at the location of the clipped fin.
2. Daily limit of two (2) hatchery steelhead; 20 inch minimum size.
3. Daily limit of five (5) hatchery rainbow trout of less than 20 inches in total length, identified by a missing adipose fin with a healed scar at the location of the clipped fin.
4. Anglers must stop fishing when a daily limit of two (2) hatchery steelhead are obtained, regardless of the number of hatchery rainbow trout obtained.
5. Selective gear rules and night closure are in effect for all steelhead fishery areas, except the use of bait is allowed on the mainstem Columbia River.
6. Steelhead with an intact adipose fin must be released unharmed and cannot be removed from the water prior to release.
7. Release all steelhead with a floy (anchor) tag attached and/or one or more round ź inch in diameter holes punched in the caudal (tail) fin.

Locations and effective dates:

1) The mainstem Columbia River from the powerlines crossing the Columbia River approximately ž mile downstream of Wells Dam to 400 feet below Chief Joseph Dam; Oct. 15, 2015, until further notice.
2) The Methow River from the mouth to the confluence with the Chewuch River in Winthrop; Oct. 15, 2015, until further notice. Fishing from a floating device is prohibited from the second powerline crossing (1 mile upstream from the mouth) to the first Hwy 153 Bridge (4 miles upstream from the mouth).
3) The Okanogan River from the mouth to the Highway 97 Bridge in Oroville; Oct. 15, 2015, until further notice.
4) The Similkameen River, from its mouth to 400 feet below Enloe Dam; Nov. 1, 2015, until further notice.

Reason for action: Hatchery-origin steelhead in excess of desired escapement are forecast to return to the upper Columbia River. The fishery will reduce the number of excess hatchery-origin steelhead and consequently increase the proportion of natural-origin steelhead on the spawning grounds.

Other information: Anglers should be aware that fishing rules are subject to change and that rivers can close at any time due to impacts on natural-origin steelhead. Adhering to the mandatory retention of adipose clipped steelhead is vital in allowing the fishery to continue and to provide the maximum benefit to natural origin fish.

Information contacts: Ryan Fortier, District 6 Fish Biologist, (509) 997-0316; Jeff Korth, Region 2 Fish Program Manager, (509) 754-4624.

Skagit River Silvers

Skagit River Oct. 1

I hit the lower Skagit today around Mt. Vernon with my leaky Simm’s waders. The ones that I just use with my pontoon boat. The water is not cold and my wader only leak when I’m standing in water deeper than my crouch. The river is so low that a didn’t have to go out that far to be into the fish.

With Spey rod in hand I walked out to just above my knees stripped out about 60-70 feet of running line attached to my Scandi head put on a green tail skunk flip out my first cast. And had a bump, on my third or fourth cast I got the take, set the hook and the game was on. Humpy. Ten- twelve cast later hook set again but this one I lost. Then a few more cast Hook-up and another Humpy. I need to be back to pick up Ginny (my wife) I had time to get in a cast or two before I had to leave.

I hooked another Humpy but it came off just as I was going to release the hook from its mouth. ( Good I didn’t have to touch it ugly SOB) Checked my hook and stripped out some more line. Sent the line and fly sailing it hit the water swings less than 5 feet I feel the tickle and set the hook.

Silver. I could tell the difference right away stronger, more power, and wanted to turn and run down river. He came out of the water twice as the hook buried deeper in the side of his jaw. A boat drifted by for the third time. He was there before me and the guy asked me what I was using. I told him a green butt skunk, He just looked at me weird as he drifted away.

Later on in the day I went to the newest of sporting goods store Dick’s they have less Fly stuff then me. So I took the ride over the freeway to Holiday Market. I found out that my old friend David Sanchez had passed away not more than a couple of months ago Heart Attack. David many will miss you. We had many good times on the water together. May you be in a much better place with bigger and better fishing.

 Holiday had a pretty good selection but the pricing is way hi and since David is not there the two different guys have no clue as to what is what can’t ansured some of the simplest of questions, or tell someone about the products that they have. I asked about Airflo’s Poly Leaders or Rio’s  Spey Versil- Leaders  both of them just gave me a like  ?????? They had no shooting line or Amnesia.   

10/2

Pressentin Creek I picked up Wayne at the Hiway 9 Park and ride at 12:40 and we headed up river to try to teach him the way of the Spey. Yea Rite! After about two hours of showing him over and over and over explaining to him he just can’t get it. Watching fish roll just below the Creeks entrance, I had to wet a line myself. So I left him alone while I lined up my RL Winston, and pitched out Wayne got tangled up. Don’t ask me how, but he did. I stopped got him back on track, and went back to the Winston.

 Found a lop knot in my running line about 50 feet from the 510 Skagit Shooting head I to get out at least 75 to get a good swing. Without having my other reel ( Loop bac at the truck ) I went back to Wayne and tried some more. He could do a short roll cast, but that was about it. I told him about me having a problem with my other line and suggested to him to go down to Loretta Creek for a while.

Loretta Creek the fish can’t get up do to no water flow coming in to the Skagit and they were stacked up there was a couple of gear guys fishing the flinging their jigs and such below I put on the Loop changed out the head. Wayne went up river so nobody could see him struggling with his casting.

I threw out and let it swing the gear guy threw up above me and crossed my line, he did this until he finally caught my line. And when I said something to him he called over his Buddy.

Fishing is no fun if you have to fight for a spot.  Wayne was struggling and I just reeled back in and we left.

10/3

Dark thirty I head back up river to Loretta. Just getting light out as I got there I suited up, strung up the Winston with the Loop. Got out into the water stripped out about 60-70 feet of line with a Green Butt Skunk gave it a good cast, watched a nice Silver jump over the shooting head. I was in the zone.  Four or five casts later the tug, the hook set, the games begin. By 10:30 I had landed six Silvers one about 9lbs. and twice as many Humpys. Two trucks pulled in as I was landing the last Humpy and now there were four more guys hitting the water, all gear so I packed it in.

We need to come back in about 45 days hopefully there will be a Chum season when we return, Gota love the Skagit     

Spey day 2 the dial in

           Just about noon today I met up with Gary and Scott at one of our Steelhead spots on the OK.
Scott is still struggling getting the hang of casting his new Switch rod.he asked me if I could help him dial it in and maybe show him or help him figure out what he is doing wrong.    So I set up a different reel for him to use that the line could be changed.
 When I got there the wind was at 25MPH + Scott and Gary were in the water.

 I went out and  just watched Scott for a while. He is getting better but it's still a battle.I had him come in and I checked his line and reel,
    He is using a fixed line with a 425gr. head attached to the running line. the line that was commented for his rod. Short Skagit style very little taper.

I took his rod and out myself and tried it. It just didn't feel right to me. Sure I could cast it past my shoelaces , but it was a lot of work felt like it was over loading it.

Put no my reel, put on another short Skagit head at 420gr. still didn't feel right.went to a 400gr long taperd  almost Scandi style and it felt much better, setp down again to 380gr. long taper. and was able to throw a 50ft roll cast no problem then a 65ft roll cast even into the wind. slowed down my action and tried a single spey cast EZ.

Got Scott back out into the water and walked him thru a few cast got him to slow it down and before he knew it he was casting farther and straighter then ever before. I know he will be down at the river this next week on his lunch hour flip line how that he knows that he can do it.
I shot some video of him and when we went to have a beer after the river.I showed him his good casting and his bad casting and right away he was able to spot the difference.

With the right line on any Switch or Spey rod one should be able to throw line a long way with very little effort.  But it does that Practice, Practice, Practice,
 
Grasshopper did well today..
                   

  My best advice to anyone starting out with any of the longer rods Spey or Switch

          SLOW DOWN THAT LONG ROD HAS LOTS OF LEVERAGE

Lost Lake

 Wens. 9/16 11 am slightly overcast at the lake, no wind at arrival 

Gary & his 90 year old neighbor Bill

    It was a beautiful, sunny no wind in the valley,

 A perfect day to take my 90 year old neighbor to Lost Lake, was calm with a little overcast.  Water was at  58 degrees and we had the lake almost to ourselves, the only other person on the lake turned out to be a friend of Bill’s. Bill put on his favorite deer hair fly and I put on my zug bug and we started out.  Bill has a problem with his shoulder so he cant cast very well, this forced us to troll a wet fly in search of fish.   It wasn’t long before we started getting some strikes.  I brought a nice 12-13 inch brook to the boat when we realized that we had forgotten the net.  This would haunt Bill later.

     As it turned out we were catching four different sizes of  fish in the lake.  We had a few that were about 6-8 inches, more at 8-10 inches, and several at 12-14 inches. Bill did get a fish that looked to be about 18 inches to the boat but he broke off when we tried to get him into the boat without a net.  The fishing was not fast but we had strikes often enough to keep our interest high.  We both had a lot of tugs that did not set , I imagine it was the smaller fish slapping at our flies.  We both changed flies and fly size often but it did not seem to matter.  As the day progressed the wind came up at times making the fishing a little harder.  My wife loves brook trout and I was told to bring some home for diner, by about 3:30 I had enough fish in the 12/14 range to cook for diner 

By about 3:30  Bill was getting tired so we called it a day.  We talked with Ken (the other fly guy on the lake) and he had about the same success as we had.  Overall the fishing was not great (brook trout are fickle beasts) but it was well worth the trip up there. 
                            Thanks Gary for the report, I'm busy buildin a deck. 

Big Green

OLYMPIA - Licensed anglers can now fish without daily catch or size limits on six Eastern Washington lakes scheduled for treatment to remove nuisance fish late next month.

Effective immediately, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) has suspended restrictions on the following lakes

:

Upper and Lower Green Lakes and Rat Lake in Okanogan County.

The no-limits fishing opportunity will run through Oct. 18 on the three lakes in Okanogan County, and through Oct. 25 on the other three lake.

Water temp. 59 air temp 64 lite wind from the south slightly overcast. 10:30 am 2pm

I have the whole lake to myself. Not more than 20 ft from the shore / launch I case parallel to the shore my Punkinhead hits the water maybe on a 45 ft cast of intermediate line sinks less than a foot while kicking Bam first bow of the day 16in and fat. Cool it’s going to be a good day.

For the next 30 minutes still with the Punkinhead nothing but Bluegill, from 3in to 5in. no matter if I let it sink to the bottom before I stripped or stripped right away Bluegill.

  I traded out to type 4 sink line bigger fly #8 Wolly Bugger still nothing just Gillys hitting it too big for the take.

Then all of a sudden while I was digging around in my saddlebag full of fly boxes my # 3 rod is almost ripped from my hand,(  I almost set it down almost.) I had maybe 15 ft of line before my backing on the reel, that was gone in a flash, then this big splash out there I see it up and out of the water not once but twice.  A few minutes later it was in my net, 20 in bow. Pumped it’s stomach full of Chromimids.  I stayed with the Bugger until I made my way to the north end. Switch to a # 16 black and red ribbed Chroni and within minutes I was dialed in to the proper depth and was pulling a bow out on at least every other cast. From 9 inchers to the biggest of  19.

Time passed by quickly and before I knew it. It was getting close to time to get home to do the weekly chores.

 I did bag 6 bows to take to my 80 something friend for him to enjoy. Something I don’t do very often keep fish, I know that he will enjoy each and everyone of them. I hope to get back and grab him a few more.

          I don’t know how many fish I caught today more than my share. But I did share.       

Time to play Spey

The Okanogan  River is still closed, warm and low, but that didn't stop Gary, Scott and myself from going and getting some practice in with our long rods.

Scott has a new Orvis Helios 2  Switch Rod #7 that he has not hadn't the chance to try out.
He did real good with it for just learning how from watching videos, and tiring to get over the single hand motions. Use the left hand as your power and keep your right hand tucked to your body. PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE, you'll get the hang of it.

 Gary has his dinosaur 14' 9 weight that is as heavy as a ancient oak tree, still tapping the furrels together, but he love it.  His first Spey baby. throwing heavy 610gr. shooting heads.

      I on the other hand I brought three rods to dial in, Yes I am a gear guy and love it.
The newest is a Echo Dec H  8136-4 the heaviest of of my Speys set up with 550gr short Skagit shooting head just to shoot my MOW tips. and chase larger Salmon, Chums (big dogs) or Chinooks.

Then I have my Good old Redington RS4 7133-4 this was one of either my 3rd or 4th Spey  I read the reviews found a shop that had one, I put my reel on it went out, tried it, fell in love with it after dialing it in for me with 425gr short Skagit or  410gr Scandi for summer run Steelhead to me this is a GREAT rod. I have landed more Steelhead on this rod then any other and an uncountable number of Steelie on both the Methow and the Okanogan rivers. It's light mildly fast to recover and I can throw lotsa line all day and not be worn out.

Then I have an RL Winston Boron III 133-4 so lite so fast so accurate it's insane i just need to learn to slow down more to get it to preform right. it has taken me to a different level of Spey. Slower, EZer, more relaxed this is my rod of choice just to skate flies long Scandi line with long leaders. To see and feel  of the take is awesome the control is unbelievable. even with 90-150 feet of line out the sensitivity is unmatched. It never came out of the tube yesterday Pretty much have it dialed the way I want it.

Working  as a guide, and then in the Fly Shop for the two years I had the opportunity to try many different Spey rods, Beulah, Loop, Echo, Bob Meiser, Gary Anderson, Scott and a few other. there are so many great Spey rods out there at so many different price points. it make it hard at time to find the right one.
    My suggestion if you want to get into the Spey or Switch game. Either find a Good Shop that rents rods or has a loaner program, or a friend that has his rod dialed in for himself.  Then watch him cast for a hour or so try to figure out his movements and mimic them. Still the best way is hire a Guide or Certified Casting Instructor. They usually have lots of different lines of different weights to dial you in.
Then  go to a shop play with different rods see what feel rite for you, look in the mid priced range Not the cheapest, you'll out grow it soon, and not the most expensive it will take way to long to dial it in and most of don't have the patience. Also get a good reel spend some money on a reel that feels right on the rod it has to have line capacity at least 150-225yds. of running or shooting ( I like Mirage, It's bright red strong and comes out of the water without a bunch of drag, it's on all my Spey reels I have 250yards  line, Remember that Spey shooting heads are fat in diameter and take up space.                
 My all time favorite Spey rod was stolen out of my truck on the Methow,  Sage One 7136-4 I just hope that the Crackhead DOed and the person that bought it from him knowing that the Crackhead stole it and sold so cheep fell and broke it  and his/her wrist on the to the water.

                                                My thoughts for closing:
Fish often, Be patience, Take a kid or friend, Enjoy your surroundings, Life is full of adventure outside.
                                 Now I think I'm headed to Green Lake
     

Beyond the fires

The Northstar and Okanogan Complex still burn on but are at the point of 30+ containment. We have lost so much beauty that it is beyond belief  . and hard for me to put into words. At least half of the experience of going some where to fish is the scenery.The lush trees and plants the critters and the birds, Rite now there is so much the has been blackened around some of my favorite lakes. Big Blue, I have heard blacked the whole west side. Limebelt all the way around it. Buzzard the same thing. I will be driving out to these places in the near future to give my out of County readers a much better update.

               Today we, Gary and I  met up at one of the lakes that didn't get touched by the fire.

Aeneas Lake: Is not one of my favorites just because of the scenery. Tho it is at times a fun lake to fish and I have had some really great days there. Early spring the Water boatmen is a blast, along with the chironomid fishing both dry line with a bobber (haha) or straight below on sinking line. I had fifty fish days there.

The fish get lesions on them in the warm days of summer and it came early this year with water temps in the mid to upper 70s by mid May. Then again this is not a normal year.

Today the water was 63 and the air at 9am 52 overcast and looked like it could rain on us at anytime, we both packed our rain gear outwith us so of course it never did. the wind did blow tho. a fierce blowing out of the northeast. Gary had his ores and used them I left half of one of mine at home.

I hooked and landed 11 by 1:30 (lost don't want to say how many), and tried for a even dozen getting back to the launch didn't do it. Gary couldn't leave with out his dozen and stayed out to make a quick second pass on the southwest side Getting #12 and picking up two more to boot.

I really do like it when he catches more fish then I, that way he says different thing and make excuse's for doingso.
My arm and legs didn't get sore like I expected, being out of shape from not fishing since Beth some time way back when.

Many, Many thanks goes out to all the fire fighters and the volunteers   So much personal properties were saved by them. It was and at this time still an international effort to stop them. I feel bad for the three fire fighter that lost their live helping and the one still in a Seattle hospital wish him a speedy recovery.
       

Beth and the Beavers

  Gary and I haven't fished this lake at all in the past year. I did come up and fish Big Beaver last year and did a camp out with my buddy Glen L. It started raining so hard that it putout our camp fire and Glean had no rain gear, We heard later that day that it rained over a inch that mourning.

 .    Beth is just one of a chain of lakes in north Okanogan County, She sets in a valley at a elevation of 2780 ft and is and is about 25 acres, the water say pretty cool, and supports a pretty good stock of 10-14 inch Bows and if your lucky you may pick up a Cutthroat, There is a few big fish in the lake but far between.

   Gary got into a couple of them with him landing one that was close to 4 lbs. and he happen to lose a heavy fish that we never did get to see. It sure bent his rod and took some line untill it got into the weeds and broke itself free.

    We only work a small section of the lake due to the winds constant change of direction. At times the wind would blow up and turn the lake in to white caps then die back down. I have been on the lake before when the wind blew so hard that I had to put my Pontoon to shore down lake and walk back to get my truck.

    We fished till 2 so we got in close to 4 hours of  we both put to net 9-10 fish anywhere from my smallest of less then finger size to my best being a 16 in long skinny Cutty. Gary doing about the same tho I know he out fished me again today He did catch the biggest and the heaviest and probably a few more He was ripping lips with his ZugBug.

    Every once in awhile when the wind would die down there were some rises in the shallows probably going after the adult Damsels.

I'm thing of going back sometime next month and do a camp out and spend one day fishin Beth and another fishin Big Beaver, There is also a good trail to hike on the south side of Beth that is just under 2,5 mile Maybe I'll take the mountain bike walk the trail then ride it.

The man who coined the phrase

  "Money can't buy happiness", never bought himself a good fly rod!

     

Family Lines

     I had the pleasure to take  Jon Hagedorn from FamilyLines out of Leavenworth, WA  and his group  of eight Fathers & Sons fresh out of the classroom.

Jon called me a few weeks back to see if I was still guiding and. wanted to book a trip. He was a bit bummed when I told him that I wasn't guiding anymore as I have taken him and another group out in the past.
   He started tell me about his latest Fathers and sons. The excitement in his voice was all it took for me to ask. " When do you want to do this?
In the next few weeks if possible.
I told him to give me a day or two and I'll make it happen.  

     They have spent the last few weeks learning about Fly fishing, each building a fly rod, how to set it up, with line, some knots,  learning to tye some flies, and casting. Classroom time is all good. But what make it great is getting out and having the guides experience to put them into the fish,
  
 So today we hooked up. We met at the North Forty Outfitters I gave Jon a short list of flies for them to pick up and also told them to grab some chapstick ???? .

The four sons were 10 &11 years old great age to start fly fishing. After getting the much needed supplies I had them follow me out of town to one of my favorite places to take kids to get fish. The north section Salmon Creek.

Jon and I got them all rigged up and with in minutes of being on the creek you could hear the hoots and hollers and the joy of young boys and men catching their first fish on a fly.

I spent the morning with them and everybody was hooking and landing fish. a few back cast weeds and lost flies.
For more info about Familyline go to their web page Donate and support this group Ido and love the results of keep the kids off the couch and off the games Enjoying the great outdoors.

Jon I thank you for once again inviting me to help you out. I had the best time,

Family Lines  on Salmon Creek WA 98826

Leavenworth - 509.699.1046 | Anacortes - 360.770.5021 ox 364 | Leavenworth, WA 98826
Leavenworth - 509.699.1046 | Anacortes - 360.770.5021 
FAMILY LINES
PO Box 364 | Leavenworth, WA 98826
Leavenworth - 509.699.1046 | Anacortes - 360.770.5021 
FAMILY LINES
PO Box 364 | Leavenworth, WA 98826
Leavenworth - 509.699.1046 | Anacortes - 360.770.5021  

With the sizzling summer heat turned up hotter than normal. The rivers and creeks running low since we didn’t get much snow, 63% less than average. Most of the rivers are shut down or in Hoot Owl fishing conditions.    

    I gave Gary a call to see what he was up too. I mention something about going up and fishing Salmon Creek, this afternoon.  The water should be fairly cool coming out of the bottom of reservoir.   I think he was already loaded up and rolling down toward my house with his gear in hand before we were off the phone.

  We spent just a short bit on the creek the wind is pretty what ran us off after about two and a half hours. We started up at MP’s and worked are way down. Stopping the truck and working about a 1/4 mile at each stop. 

We mostly work the creek from opposite sides to be able to cover both banks. It still amazes  me as to as to the size a fish, maybe 3 inch that will go after a size 10 hopper or even bigger. And how many time that you can catch two fish on a hopper dropper setup. 

There are just a few nice deep pools to want to do the Hopper / Dropper.I prefer to either one or the other setups. 

I'm having a hard enough time just tying on a small #12 caddis fly rite now with the wind and waiting on getting my new glasses. Next week the new glasses will be in. I can go back to tying flies and threading even flies down to a #20 maybe.

Gary and I both caught lot of little fish and we each pulled out a lunker to the water we worked. Gary's a 8.5 Bow and Mine was the first fish of the day this 9.5-10Brook.   I'll be heading back up there every chance I get for the next few weeks. 

Also Salmon Creek is now open just like the lowland lakes Saturday before Memorial Day until Oct 31 its in the online WDFW Fishing Reg. book page 73.     

LONG LAKE-FERRY COUNTY

    The time frame may be a bit fuzzy I think it was either June 27^th or  July 2^nd .It really doesn’t matter it’s hot and most of the fishing is down for a least a while.

LONG LAKE-FERRY COUNTY

      I met Gary at his house around 8:30 and loaded my pontoon and gear into his truck headed for Long Lake in Ferry County.  Plan was to be fishing by 9:30-10:00.  We arrived to find we had the lake virtually to ourselves, with just two others on the whole lake.  The water was clear and about 72 degrees, the day was warm with a little wind but not enough to matter.  There was no sign of a hatch going on with very little surface activity so I started out subsurface going down the east bank of the lake.  Gary started down the west bank also going deep.  When we met at the south end we had both netted 4 and 5 fish mostly in the 10-12 inch range.  We fished the south end for quite a long time with good success again the range of fish was between 10 and 14 inches. We headed back up the lake for something to eat.  The other two guys on the lake were not doing as well so Gary and I each gave them a couple of patterns that had been working for us.  It seemed to help as they started having a little more success.

     The biggest thing that I can say is scale down instead of the 5 weight; This is the time to bring out the 3 weight.  I have a couple, Sage FLi 390-4 set up for creek fishing mostly dries so I didn’t get to use it much that day.  My Redington is RS3 390-4.  Next time I’ll be bringing my old bamboo.

    Gary said he was using his booby fly with good success, I gave him a bad time about never trying anything new so after lunch he said he would change flies after each fish netted.  I knew he was having a good afternoon as I watch him change out his tippet several times.  After several trips around the lake we called it a day around 4:00.  We each had had a 30+ fish day. The fish were not big but they were healthy and fought well. We both threw a few dry’s but could not get any of the larger fish to raise.  We did each say that we had long range releases a little more than average, but we netted enough not to worry about it. The weather was hot but not as bad as there 107 in Omak that day.  We were back at Gary’s by 5:30

                                    .  Another great day with friends on a beautiful lake.

We've been a talkin about going and doing the Kettle River, Since we got back from BC. Life is busy tho Family Reunions, Out of towners, Home projects, alot of dumb excuses. But mostly the heat when it is in the triple digits this early in the year. mostly all i want to do is hang at home in the AC. Early morning take out the mountainbike get in my 5 miles by 6:30 and piddle around the house. 

We are talking about making a trip over to the Skagit, maybe hit the Stilly when the Humpies come in. Just do a overnighter Tommy, Gary, Rich, and I just to play with the speys.   

Chopaka

 I wasn’t home long from BC before I was gone again for another camp out fish trip. Never really unpacked the trailer just pulled out dirties, clothes, bedding, and resupplied the foods. Cleaned the ice chest, refilled the bottles I emptied and put into the freezer.

     Thursday June 18^th.  I head up to Chopaka Lake to meet up with some of the OCFFC guys. Some of these Guys I don’t get to see much of Like Jimmy from Utah, Gordo: Kennewick, Mark: Seattle, Rich R: Pasco, Pat S: Anacortes, and Larry, up from Oregon. Some of the local members will be up there too. Some of the local members went up early and camped and fished all week Stew, Glen, Dan B I got up on Thursday and stayed till Sunday.

Every night is a feast Thurs. was Mexican Fiesta, Tacos, Chili, chips and dips, refried beans, salads’  the whole enchilada. Friday is Oyster Night with Clam Fettuccine, toss green salad, French bread, and lots different chesses to fest a pond.    Saturday is Steak and eggs, hash brown.

Our good friend Fred and his wife Kathie were up there and so was Rugby Rodger and great story teller from down under.

The fishing was pretty slow during the day light the wind was blowin most of the time, did have a few sprinkles on Friday night.

The best fishing was just before it got dark, I went out about a half hour before the sun set 9 30ish and stayed out for about an hour and a half before coming back in. catching everything on  dry caddis size 10 and 8s E Zer to ty on and I’m able to use much bigger tippit.

 I do have to say so something and it is out of my control.  I NO LONGER WORK FOR OR AM TYED TO THE BIG R OR NORTH FOURTY FLY SHOP. THE MISS INFORMATION THAT YOU ARE GETTING IS NOT COMING FROM ME IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM.THE GUYS THERE DO NOT GET ANY INFORMATION FROM ME OTHER THAN MAYBE READING MY BLOG.

I fish for myself and ty my own flies. I may go into the shop from time to time but that is about all. None of the guys from the shop fish with me. Tanner had never picked up a fly rod or fly fished before the shop open, and when Keith was hired to fill in for Tom in his absents, Keith hadn’t pick up a fly rod in over 20 years he told us.

I’m no expert fly fisherman and have never claimed to be, but I do know these waters, the bugs for them and the time of year that most go off, in most years anyway. I don’t use store bought flies. I ty and sell the flies I use to catch fish.  I have a reputation that I stand behind as being honest and fair bullshit free.   I do my best in trying to steer people in the right direction, and to the best places to fish.     It has been said that I catch fish when nobody is catching, But then again I have been out there not catching a thing while everybody around me is slaying them.        

Saturday day 6

They are to start on the truck at 9 am ( Yea Rite) after we get some breakfast and packed up we get to the dealer.
The mechanic is just getting started at 10. told us that it would be at least 2 hours before he knew anything that he is going to change out one of the wiring harness first that would give a bad reading.

We leave him be and find out about other sporting good places in town.
Surplus Herby's
Cool place once we found it. I picked up another  cast iron skillets made in the USA heavy8 inch for nine bucks and another rod/reel case 5ft to put my Sage One 965-4 so that I leave it put together the case 19 bucks.
The prices were great and we all emptied our pockets a little.  back to the Wholesale Sports that the name of the joint that put all the small fly shops out of business. I did buy a few tying items  stuff i can't find in the states. Antron on a spool, holographic flashabou, the stuff that I have asked the Big R when I worked for them and have asked them to order since it is now the North Forty Outfitters..

We made it back to the dealer at noon and our mechanic was gone to lunch of corse. Wouldn't be back for an hour, and nobody knows anything. So we head out to get lunch ourselves.

By about 2 we get the word that they don't have some part and the truck won't be drivable at least till Tues. or Wednesday.
I get hooked up to my trailer and we head out taking a different route home. Hiway 97 thru Monte Creek. Cool valley I come back to it sometime to fish the creek. Past Monte Lake and on to Vernon BC then south thru  Kelowna, Penticton, Oliver and on to Osoyoos the boarder and home.

The Boarder guard was cool just told him we were up fishing we had a blast, he looked in the trailer saw all the camp stuff and asked how we did. smiled and Said wish he could of been there with us. gave me back my ID.
We met Gary's wife Birdie in Tonasket  unloaded His and Scott's stuff. I called my wife Ginny to get ready that I'll pick her up drop off the trailer, so that we can take Rich on to his house in Bridgeport.
By the time I got home I was ready to Quite driving
Home safe and sound 7:45 pm miles 1074.6 Can't wait to do all again next year with the same bunch of guys.

Guy's I had a trip of a lifetime with you!!! I send out many thanks to all of ya's.

Guys if I left out anything that needs telling please add them to the Comments. We all see thing different swo add your twist to it.
   

Day 5 the way home

Day 5 the last day was an adventure all in itself, but without the fishing.

We slummed around a bit on Friday morning knowing we had to head back to the states, Rich had a Family Reunion to get to down in Wenatchee,

So by 9:30ish we were all loaded up and ready to hit the trail homeward. It's a little cooler the wind is stronger, and the smell of fire in the air. 

Out of the park we stop. I check my load radio check and wait to see Rich and Gary in my mirror before pulling away from the stop sign.  The Hi-way thru Hell is just a mile away.

As I get on keeping a watch in my mirrors and when I don’t see them turn behind me I pull over. Scott and I we wait and wait 3-4-5 10 minutes goes by. We try them on the two ways nothing, try them on the cell phone nothing.

It is only maybe a half mile to the on ramp, too far to back up.  Just as I say we need to get to the next off ramp to find out what happened.             My cell rings.

The signal is breaking up all that we can tell for sure is that the truck engine just quite.   Text me some info.      my reply.

 Truck quite won’t restart.  Scott texts back will turn around and be back soon.

 At that point we didn’t know but the next off ramp was 46 miles away and that was Merritt.  On the way down the hill to Merritt we hit a fog bank heavy rain and some light fluffy stuff we call snow ( say what Snow in June)  Yupers!! SNOW Texting was working but not the phone. While I got gas, Scott got on the internet at the Starbucks and found a Ford Dealer in Kamloops.

Rich was able to get some codes off the computer chip system on his truck. Called the dealer and set up an appointment to get it there as soon as possible.

We, Scott and I made it back to the hill to where the dead rig and trailer was Gary and Rich were cold the temp was falling, then came the rain and before you knew it wet snow June 12^th and its SNOWING.

I use my AAA card to get the tow. It takes a while but it happens, the snow falls and the first of two tow trucks show up. First truck to haul Rich’s trailer / Gary and Scott's Bunk house / Boat hauler. 

By 1:30 we are off the mountain and the Coquihalla Hiway the snow and in Kamloops. I take a while to them to look at the truck even after they said that they would look at it when it got there.

We get them to shuttle us to the Sportsmen Warehouse. The place that closed down all the fly shops. Then get some lunch. Shuttled back to the dealership only to find out that they can’t really do anything till tomorrow, Saturday,  Yup!! Their Ford Dealership is open all day Saturday.  

We get rooms and stay another night. 

The adventure continues with day 4

Thursday early AM time to venture out. I grabbed the map book so that we could talk about something different on our last full day of fishing.

Looking at the Map, not too far away, less than thirty minutes. We see two lakes close by each other Piska and Face Lakes.

Piska is big water as we saw on the map. Big is OK if it is hidden low and surrounded by trees to block the wind a bit. Piska also has a large camp grounds but it is wide open to the elements no trees.

It's not the kind of place that I like to fish, while checking out the launch Rich finds someone awake and asked him about the fishing.

It's hard to say if the guy was lying about the fish or telling the truth. His comment "I've been here for the last three day and have only caught a few fish and nothing over a kilo. The boy and I heard that there is supposed to be some big fish in here." Haven’t see them, A.

Let's go find Face Lake was all agreed on. Heading into Face are two roads.  the Lodge / Resort Road, and the back road.

The back road was a bit rugged and we needed to slip it into four wheel drive to get thru a few spots. After Scott and I traveled down maybe two miles we came to a tree across the road that our pontoon boats wouldn’t clear. And if I can’t clear it, Rich and Gary sure as hell wouldn’t clear them. We pull out the two way radios and call back to Gary and Rich to let them know that we are looking for somewhere to turn around. I found a spot that took me six or seven moves to get turned around .

When we got up to Rich and Gary they were still looking for a place to turn around.  Just as they did get turned around here come a beater pick-up down the road and wings it just pass gray and Rich and stops.

Gary tells them about the tree across the road. “ We have a chain saw to cut are way thru. If you guys want to follow.  After more time then I want to sitt around and talk about the fishing I want to go fishing.  

We head back to the Resort / Lodge road and stop at the first house and I goes up to talk to the people and I get greeted by a old bull dog so old and tired that it can hardly bark or snort.

    This young  guy come to the door and I ask him about the fishing.

Well if you go down to the lodge they are going to tell ya the fishing is great and that you’ll catch lots of them, it will be all BS never caught a fish worth keepin here. Know what I mean,  A??

I’ll tell ya about a place that you can catch twice the fish and much bigger tooo.  Just go back the way you came. You all got a map? 

Scott brought up the map book and this guy shows us the trail. He explains to us that it just a bit larger that a ATV trail and the lake is in just about two klicks.  I’m not military and to me a klick is just about a kilometer or just over a half mile.

        So I’m thinking just maybe over a mile off road. Well into this road that is not more than a ATV trail and absolutely no place to turn around we’re in now maybe 2 miles and come to a mud puddle that is 9 feet wide and 50 ft long.

I get out and walk the side route “Pretty tough to make the turn. When Gary and Rich pull up behind me. Gary jumps out and walks the mud hole.

On the far side he Said “It’s only a bit deeper in some places and feels pretty solid.”

I put it in hi four and head across. No problem. Through a steep canyon ford a creek and up the steep side. And into a clearing and we see the lake. I look at my odon 3.4 miles in. and just about an hour. We unload the boats and get to fishing. The water is much cooler at 52 degrees but then again we’re up lots higher at 5400*ft.

 Just as the fishing get good the wind kicks up and its hell to pay. We all caught fish and had a great time, but Scott had the best time in my book. He played tug a war with a fish and a loon one of the biggest Loons that I ever saw.  It was a stalemate until the Loon had to take a breath. He let up and Scott took full advantage of it the Loon let go and Scotts reel caught fire with him a spinning the line on. Just as he lifted up the rod the Loon was right on its tail, and almost had it again.

We headed out to get away from the wind spent the next hour getting to the main road. Passed a couple of people on ATVs and all they could do is shake their heads and the CRAZIES drove out past them.

   It’s now getting on close to 2:30 we head back to camp grab some quick grub and everybody wants to head back to Morgan Lake and more big fish.

To Morgan we go, When we get there the lake is void of fishermen on the water, but a couple of girls are a fishin from shore, more drinking then fishin, the wind is  howlin here too.

 But the guys need to catch more fish, I stay back to do some scribbling in my book and fill in some of my notes.

They swing around to fish the upper cove and to try to get out of the wind. After a while I walk over to see how things are goin and find them tied up to trees cause their anchors won’t hold them. All Chronie fishin and catchin not a lot.

As the day starts to fade into nite they start coming back in.

I had talked to a guy driving by about the Tunka Road and he told me that it was pretty good and that are drive back to Jac La Jean would be a bit shorter.

We took his advice and headed that way, Nice drive just wish we could see more. NEXT TIME !!