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 !!

Day 3 Kamloops

                         Day three will be remembered by all of us differently.

Everybody was up early and excited to get down some breakfast and on the road to get back to Morgan and the big fish.
On the road by 8, and at the lake and in the water at 9:15.
    When we arrived there was a guy from Langley  just getting ready to go out. I talked with him for a short while this was his first time to the lake but had heard about it from members of his Fly Club for years.
The fishing was to be expected GREAT, some really big fish I worked a Punkinhead on a type 4 sinking line along the shore for a while with a fish every so often. By 10:30  I had changed out to a black red wire warped Micro Mini Leach on my type 6 line and did much better in 23 feet of water.
Looking around I could see that all the others were in to fish.  I got board fishing deep so I went exploring. Looking for that one or two fish that felted the same about hanging down deep.

I found what I was lookin for down lake a ways along the cliff and the shade.
Big Drakes were going off size 10. I tyed on a size 16 adult Damsel gave it a long cast of about 60 feet and maybe 5-6 feet from where I last saw the fish rise. It hit the water and before I knew it. Bataboom it was gone in a flash the nice guy set the hook and all I had to do was hold on and not panic. Let it  run and it did into the backing atleast 50 feet. up and out of the water three times. It took me some time to get it back to the boat I worked it as fast as I could.I had on 3X tippit so I knew that I could put on some pressure.and not over work the fish. When ever he let up and quite pulling I put the line on the reel. and when I did get it to the net the hook fell out of his mouth.
It took me more than 10 minutes to make sure that he could swim away strong. He was well over 25 inches long and fat. That would become the fish of the trip for me. Caught on a dry. Not the biggest fish it was only maybe 8 lbs.
   I tried to duplicate it again and a again but nothing. after a half hour or more I worked my way back in to 20 Ft of water dropped anchor, rigged up my Deep 6 line with a Chromi and found the bottom with my hemostats attached stripped in the line,removed the hemo's and gave the line a fling.  i wasn't long before a felt the take lifted the rod and the hook was set and glad that I loosed the drag. Another nice bow of 7-8 bls. to the net.
I did this for quite a while the Boyz took notice and started working there way over to me to see what I was doing .      
 Pulled out a bow well over the wight of my striping apron 28" much bigger than my net. and at least 10 pounds twas the biggest fish of the trip, It just didn't fight set the hook it followed it up to the net the hook feel out of the top of his mouth I took a quick photo and released it all with in maybe 6 minutes.Morgan.
The eye ball is larger than a silver dollar.
By 3, we were headed back to camp with everybody having a story to tell for the rest of our lives. and we have name One Of my Bobblehead birds Morgan.

Morgan Lake BC Bow 28" 

Morgan Lake still day 2

Morgan Lake, There are two Morgan Lake that I know of in BC. This one is close to Savona


It had been a long while since I had been up there, Maybe 10 years. I did remember how and what road to take. many changes  Six Mile Road felt like 10 mile.

    We made it, With the lake to ourselves, It's only 4:20, I can hear the Questions now if this lake is so good with big fish why aren't  there anybody fishing? I just don't know lets just get out and fish.
  We have at least a few hours to fish.
 That afternoon and into the evening Everybody was catching nice Bows I mean nice Trout the biggest Gary, Scott, or Rich ever put to net.

 It was so pass Great to pass by anyone of them anytime and see the smiles on their faces it was priceless. We had doubles and even a triple hook ups.

  At one time I heard Scott a hootin and a hollowin about a game of tug a war he was a playin. It turned out to be a 7 or 8 pounder well over 24 inches.  Gray not letting up on the Bows and his Boobie Fly, putting at least three fine fish in the net, and loosing just as many, Rich having a bent rod a time or two.getting his net wet also.

 We were like kids at Dizzyland having a water balloon fight in a hundred and ten degree heat wave and being blasted with the biggest ice cold balloon ever.

     I just wish that I had a better camera to catch the photos of the guys. Next Year I will. Maybe even invest into a GoPro.

     We knew we had an hour drive back to camp, and I don't like drivin much after dark. ( Exspecially on dirt roads that I don't know ) so we were out of the water by seven headed back to camp.
 
   I heard all about the big fish that Scott got hooked up with the ones he put to net and the ones that got away. on the ride back.
    Back at camp with a Ice Cold Beer. Rich started putting together our dinner of spaghetti, Gary workin on a Salid. I threw together some quick snacks of Pepperoni, cheese, and crackers.
Dinner was outstanding.
   The stories of the big fish and the new memories of that fish of a life time.    The talk was of getting up early and going back to Morgan, Breaking the record of the biggest  trout ever caught.
                       
                                  We named one of our bobblehead Mascots Morgan.

Kamloops day 2 Jacko Lake

6*9*15   5AM
I guess that nobody gets up early but me!! I have fired up my Camp Chef boiled water did the dishes and made my spot of tea, took a walk around the park.
Just before 6 CHOP-CHOP-CHOP-CHOP I'm getting them up time to build a fire have some breakfast and go fishin.
After a hearty breakfast of eggs, hash browns, and sausage, coffee and OJ. A few bug exchanges, and equipment adjustments.we head out.

Jacko Lake 9am   water temp. 64
 We watched some big cruiser working the launch area, while getting ready.

We arrive the parking has 6 or 7 rigs parked and one was from Washington. As we get ready the guy from WA come out of the water hauling a 7-8 lbs bow up to his camper.

The conversation starts about the fishing and we find out he is from Bellingham and has been up there for 9 days.
 Some how the Boobie fly came up and and he told us that the Boobie fly would not  work on the Fraser strain of rainbow but it will work on the Kamloops rainbows and this lake had both.
    So the challenge is on and how can you tell which is a Fraser Bow and a Kamloops Bow. Who knows and we really don't care as long as we are catching them, I'll do the research later.

Gary played with his Boobies for a while. I think just about all of us did for at least a while.
I went out with my three rods as usual. While most everybody worked there way around to the right of the launch.
   I headed straight out across the bay using my intermittent  line pitching a size 14 Damsel nymph Picking up a fish deep in the weeds.  On the third fish and a larger fish at 18inchs  I used my pump to check to see what it was feeding on. Mostly Chironomids and small lots of brown # 18 a few black # 16.
I worked my way into some deeper water set up my bobber lobin rig found my depth 14ft  extended my leader down below the micro swivel with Fluorocarbon tippit. put on a #18  Chromi, stripped  some line and started my cast. At about 45 ft out I let it settle and after a minute or so started my slow single inch strips.at about 30 ft I had a slite strike. I left it alone for a while let the chop do the work and Boom. Indicator was gone and my line tight.
      I worked that water for quite a while with nothing.  I moved a few time readjusted depth. switched back to Intermittent line with a pheasant tail worked the weeds the shore line. tried other bugs. Saw a Canadian Fellow catch a fish.
     Went over to where Gary and Scott were fishing. Scott had netted  a few fish earlier but nothing for a long time.Gary hadn't even had a bump and Rich was pretty much in the same boat.
    It was still early enough to head back to camp have some lunch and head out to Morgan Lake.
By the time we got back in to shore and loaded up we decided to just head for Kamloops grab some lunch and head west to Morgan Lake.
     

     

Kamloops BC Trout Dogs

Adventure begins
5am 6/8
Rich catches up with me at the Safeway parking lot. We roll up to Tonasket and load up Gary and Scott.
     By 6 am we’re at the boarder talking to the wimpy Boarder Guard with all the authority to tell us to turn around. But this one is cool and once he asked all the questions. Like do you have any guns, alcohol, drugs, or produce?  I tell him : Nope just go up to catch and release fish and spend our money for a few days.
When do you plan on returning?
 Probably Friday or Saturday unless our arms, gives out first from casting and hauling in big fish.
Go ahead I just wish I was going with you.
I stop up the road so Rich and Gary can catch up, check the map flip on the two way radios. It’s north for a bit over a hour on 97 past Peachland but before Kelowna we turn west towards Merritt on 97C.
In Merritt we stop for fuel, but none of our credit cards works.   Even tho I went to the bank to get it approved before hand and to get my debit cleared for use. I have more than a half tank so I’m good for now.
      Off to Walmart for Fishing licenses annul $80.00 + 4.00 process fee, or 10 day pass $50. + 4 process so what do you think I get. Yup full meal deal because I’ll be back, either go hit the Kettle above Grand Forks, or the Chilliwack, Vedder, or Harrison for Chums or Silvers in the fall. But I’ll be back. Or maybe get the wife to come up for a day or two this fall, like old times.
Walmart doesn’t have the food supplies we need some of our dinners so it off to Fancy’s Foods.  Fruit and Veggies, and I grabbed a cooked chicken for the final drive up the Coquihalla Hiway “better known as the Hiway thru Hell”
Thirty minutes later we are pulling into McConnell Lake thinking that we can Camp (WRONG) the parking area is full and no camping anymore. Back down the road 12 miles to Lac Le Jeune Lake and the camp ground. We make to cruse and find 2 nice sites #139 & 140 close to bathroom. Off loaded the trailers and RB camper. Ate some lunch, loaded up the boats and gear head back to McConnell Lake.
     The park attendant show up just as we were about to leave to collect the rent about fifty buck apiece plus he took me and showed me a fire wood stash that we could have for the hauling. It lasted until we left with wood to spare.
 3:30 pm windy
 There was hardly anybody around, a few stand up paddle boarder but no body fishing. Strange! We fish until 6:15 with no one getting the fish of a lifetime. Gary 2  small @ 6-8in, Rich 2 about the same, Scott zippo, nada, Me 2@ 14, 2@ 13, 1@18 I caught all of mine on a #14 Punkinhead…………………
    Back at camp I got the fixins goin for Kielbasa Stew, The food mart didn’t really have the stuff that I wanted but I made due, after just a beer or two some food in the belly we were ready to turn in early.
                        As SOON AS I GETALL THE PICS IN I'LL BE POSTING THEM

I got a call last night

Some of the people I know have been calling and asking about fishing Chopaka lake. and what to take up there.

Well June is my favorite time of year to hit Chopaka, for two reasons.

    First the weather is more predicable. many of the spring storms have come and gone, and so have the crowds. Its much easier to get a good campsite.
               
   Second the Hatches:  Callibaetis Dry Flies. in all stages.

      Dries: Ext. body, Crippled, and Duns.  a good basic pattern is Parachute Adams sizes 12-18.
Nymphs: Pheasant Tails, Flashbacks sizes 14 & 16 work then along the reeds on a slow intermittent line with a slow retrieve.
Damsel Flies The dries can be tuff some time the fish only want to take them just off the surface just before they hit the water. I tend to side arm cast more to keep my fly moving longer along the surface. Most everybody have blue but don't forget to bring some light yellow or tan.  If you can't get them to hit the blue put on a different color and twitch it a few times
                              I use a long leader of 12 to 14 ft. for all my dry fly fishing.

    Nymphs size 12 maribou work best for me. I tye mine skinny and put eyes on them. Pitch them rite into the reeds.The nymphs are headed there to climb up and get out of the water to dry themselves off. Many time you can see the reeds moving when there is no wind or wakes on the water. That's the fish swimming thru knocking the nymphs off.

The evening Hatches of either Northern or Longhorn Caddis can be fanomable at times. Just about a hour before it gets dark and into the night. I go big with these flies. 8 to 12s and shortly after hitting the water I twich them back slowly. Last year fishing with my buddy Gord just as it was getting dark I heard a splash and yell I thought he had fallen in. No he was hooked into a tank that smacked his #10 tan Stimulator, it took him into his backing more than once. and played it until I could see him on the water anymore.   He later told me it was the biggest fish he had caught up there in the last three years.

I don't go out into the water without at least three rods rigged up :

•  Dry floating line, some times two.
• Intermittent to fish just sub-surface
• and the rod that i use the least my deep 6  

                             I love this time of year just for the Dry Fly Fishing.
    I'll be up there when I get back from BC and Camping from the 17th to the 21 the longest day of the year.Hope to see many of you up there.