After being out on the river the day before for 4 hours on a scouting trip with nothing to show for it other than completing some women's fastball stat's I saw the river was rounding in to shape very nicely.
The river was on a steady drop and the visibility was increasing at the same time.
Looking good for the trip tomorrow with Rodney, Nina, and Zazia i think.
Both factors are very important as the fish never seem to bite very well on the rising river level and of course if you have only a few inches of clarity your chances are slim or nil that a chinook will see the good Doctor.
As I prepared the Leaf Craft and Leaf Mobile for the invited guests I could see the storm front moving in from the West with a few good gusts of wind to boot.
I was a little concerned, not so much about the rain but the wind sometimes blowing from the West wind against the current can make things pretty nasty out there. A few times I have seen it too rough to cross in a small craft.
I thought if it was too windy always could get Rodney, Nina and Zazia to buy breakfast until the front settled down. However Leaf Craft #1's rugged build should have no trouble tackling what the Fraser would throw against her. Besides she would have been disappointed if her guests could not have the opportunity to ride in her as trying to get Rodney away from his busy schedule is always a task. The invite had been on the table for at least a year.
First stop was to pick up an extra rod and reel for the trip from CEJ as I could not find a reel in the mess of boxes caused by our recent flood in the house.
On arrival at CEJ house he had only left out a reel, my fault as that what I had asked him the night before over the phone. So I had to ring his door bell and wake him from his sleep to get the rod and reel combo. Sorry bud.
On arrivail at the boat launch the lady at the gate house says "only 8 ahead of you", good I think as Maple Leaf bar should be empty and the hot spot would be ours for the taking.
I organize the boat to make as much room as possible for the gang that were not in sight. A couple of other boats and trailers pull in beside me. I always notice how everyone is in such a rush to get unloaded and get on the river, who can blame them I guess.
I always try to slow down and run a check list that the plug is in being the most important. How many times have we backed in and unloaded the boat only to see the plug out and the water pouring in, I know I have.
Rodney and his two passangers pull in right on time and put on their rain gear etc. for the trip to the fishing spot. I did not tell them it would be a bit of a uncomfortable ride with the now heavy rain driven sideways by the wind but the trip would not be long.
As I type this I am reliving the trip as I dub a couple of video copies of the trip for the gang of three.
The ride to Maple Leaf bar is more uncomfortable for me than the other as left my rain coat at home so the time we reach our destination I am soaking wet from the waist up.
On arrivail I am very pleased to see the "spot" empty,only 2 anglers at the top end huddled under their make shift shelter protecting them from the pelting rain, good for the fire situation that should lift the fire restriction in the next day or so.
The first order of buisness to get at least one rod in the water before we put up our shelter. On the first cast I am embarrassed as the weight flys off, too light of line on the weight part of bar rig set up. What did I mention about not rushing earlier in these post. I was too anxious to show the guests what a expert caster I was, instead looked like a bit of a rookie at something I have done for thirty years and I had not thrown a weight like this for a while.
Anyway new weight on and the line is finally in the river anchored by a 14 ounce bar weight holding the good Doctor in position hoping to repeat it performance from Saturday where it fooled 2 nice springs into biting with the 26 pounder giving Bowie a good battle for his first Fraser River blunt nosed spring.
Next the four of us get the tarp up and put all the supplies under to protect it from the still falling rain.
The other 2 rods are rigged up and with the help of Rodney, Nina and Zazia ( thought her name was Sasha during the earlier introduction, a bit deaf I guess) a Doctor and a #0 with the green hair are joining Fraser King rod number one "on the job", so to speak.
The next decision I have to make should we make a fire so I could dry out my soaked clothes and all of could be comfortable in front of the fire even thought there was a fire ban was on except for in campgrounds.
Because we were on a rocky bar a few feet from the edge of the water with nothing near that could spread from our fire pit I said I think even though it was technically wrong it would not the worse thing I had done in my life.
The next step was to have a bite to eat , wait and chat. This what makes bar fishing so enjoyable the social aspect, you can meet total strangers and become friends in a few minutes, all with the common enjoyment of fishing. This to me is one of the advantage over TOW ing as that can get so competive at times, crowded fishing that can become stressful as well. I go fishing to try and relax and enjoy the companions you are fishing with that day.
Speaking of TOW ing the girls found a setup while bringing in their line.
As Rodney said in his report I went down to have a chat with Gwyn and Jim and took Gwyn his fishing gear that was in my boat from a previous fishing trip.
On my return to "camp" I noticed the rod doing its dance and Rodney quick as a rabbit was from his chair and set the hook like an expert bar fisher. Rodney plays it well as I film and we all give him lots of free advice during the battle.
We do not have to net the fish as Rodney slides it up on the beach, a fish closer to 15 pounds than the conservative weight Rodney mentioned. A nice first fish for Rodney bar fishing the upper river.
Congratulations all around with some pictures of course.
As Rodney told the rest of the story up to the hooking of the next fish which all I can say was as we said several times was unbeliveable.To be so close to leaving even though we were all more than satisfied with the first fish then for some reason handing Rodney to do some last minute filming before we reboarded the Leaf Craft for the ride back to the launch.
For him to capture the bite and all the action from start to finish was an once in a life time experience, well done Rodney. Because of this we will be able to relive all this and the other parts of the trip for a long time, precious memories for all four of us. Also well done Nina and Zazia for fighting the spring and landing it. It is not easy using a single action" knuckle buster" especially with a 20 plus blunt nosed Fraser River chinook on the other end is it Nina and Zazia?
With the 2 silver beauty's cleaned and tucked in the iced cold cooler wrapped in a burlap, time to bid the bar farewell for another day as Gwyn helps us leave before moving into the "hot spot" on Maple Leaf bar.
Hey only one day off before another fishing adventure starts for me
on the mighty Fraser River as I once again
roll out on her murky but very productive waters.
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Topic: A fantastic July 6th for a few barfishing newbies (Read 3650 times)