With a jack in the bag it was time now to see if I could break the adult coho jinx, never have I gone so long into the season with out one. Some fish are jumping regularly in front of me but as hard as I try the float will not go down again.
Just at the end of a drift the cell phone rings, I wade ashore so as not to to maybe drop the ringing phone into the drink as I fumble for it.
It is Rodney, we exchange how the morning is going, I will let him relate himself how he was doing. We decide to meet at Cookies, in a hour, 9:30.
I fish the spot for 30 minutes more and the only excitement was a crow who I notice is trying to dine on my prize catch of the day
"get out of here you black bandit" I shout in his direction, that remark is enough to send him on his way but he caws back at me in some crow swear language.
As I work my way back to the direction of the parking lot I try another run, fish are jumping there also but in the 15 minutes of trying I have no takers. Two other anglers, one a very experienced angler has had nothing all morning. My jack is starting to look good.
I pick up two floats, a few bottles left by some irresponsible anglers as I leave the river behind.
As I start the 10 minute drive to meet Rodney the cell phone rings again, I think it is Rodney as I am running late. However it is a FOC enforcement officier returning my call from yesterday. A few other anglers had mentioned to me they had observed some illegal activity going on so I said i would pass the information on and maybe get some people out on the river. The officier said they would be working the river today, some working plain clothes.
I arrive at Cookies 12 minutes late and Rodney is there of course, eager for his late breakfast.
An enjoyable breakfast and visit of course and he tells me my old friend Fish Assassin is out on the river today, I said "You should have asked him to join us for breakfast, I would like to met him in person after all these years of him insulting my Leafs".
With breakfast complete Rodney says he is going home, I decide to head up river to see if I can find a spot there ,although I seldom fish that high up.
As I near the Limit Hole area I pull over to see how some anglers are doing there, not an area I would fish. I work along the bank cleaning up some garbage and some bottles including some propane cannisters. I see an angler just slipping a nice looking coho in a bag. I also notice a couple of skiens of roe on a rock there also. I continue to cleanup and then while taking it back to the truck a vehicle stops and the driver jumps out and calls out to me.
He says something to the fact "you donot know who I am do you"? Just as I think could this be my old friend Fish Assassin, the one who belittles my Leafs at every chance he gets, I hear those words " I am Fish Assassin" Finally after all these years I meet him, we exchange some banter similar to what we do most nights here before he rushes away as quick as he appeared, saying he had to get is nephew back home but I think it was my Leaf hat that scared him.
Good to meet you my friend.
I go back to observe the anglers and see the roe still there, I ask a angler if it was his, he says no so I slip down and pick it up, looks under the legal amount one can have on your person. As I talk to the fellow he tells me that the fellow with the coho had taken a wild one, I thought he had left in a hurry. Apparently someone said to the chap it was OK to take it as it was a poor adipose clip but the fellow I talked to said it was a wild, no doubt about it.
As I climb back up the bank I see a filleting knife laying among the rip rap. I ask around but they all said it was not their's. One person said it was most likely the fellow that left in hurry with the wild coho that had dropped it. I wait around to see it the fellow would return but I doubted he would after retaining a wild fish. I left my phone number with another angler if he did return and wanted to claim it but that too would be doubtful.
I then leave the area and visit the hatchery where I am offered a coffee. during the conversation they say there is about 2,000 in the hatchery now. Before I leave I slip down and there is some beauties there thats for sure. Wish I could catch one but they would not fancy me fishing in the channel
and of course I am not that disperate yet.
I capture a few on camera, we may post if they turn out. The size will make ones mouth water.
I then stop at the Limits Hole and see a few anglers working the area, just as I prepare to leave the FOC officier I was taking to earlier on the phone arrives on the scene to check the goings on there, good to see them out and about I tell them. Told them they had just missed the taking of a unclipped coho but with no license number nothing could be done.
I decide to head back down river forgetting about fishing for the day. Stopped and got a few more bottles and found a full jar of scented single eggs. (Anyone drop a jar?)
I then stop at Freds Custom Tackle and visit Gwyn who is selling raffle tickets for the Chilliwack River Action Committee fundraiser. We sell 3 when I was there. I believe he sold 18 during the half day he was there. Directors will be selling them there on Sunday, stop by and support the boys if you can.
With the clock nearing three, time to call it a day, nap time.
Anyway I guess it was eventful type of day, catching a fish, a good visit with Rodney, finding a pair of pliers, a knife, single eggs, a couple of skiens of roe, nearly seeing a unclipped coho taken, around $6 worth of bottles, observing some very nice coho, even though they were in the hatchery and something that really made it different meeting Fish Assassin. That in itself makes one just want to keep
rolling, rolling, rolling right along right out onto the river for another adventure, another Journal.
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Topic: A Different Day On The Chilliwack Vedder, The Journal For The End Of September (Read 3444 times)