Fishing with Rod Discussion Forum
Fishing in British Columbia => Fishing Reports => Members' Fishing Reports => Topic started by: chris gadsden on January 03, 2006, 11:19:25 AM
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As I posted this morning I scouted yesterday a new area to try this morning. It looked so good I got my earliest start of this year's steelhead season.
As I got my coffee at Tim's on Lickman Road I could see the last star of the evening still shinning in the South West sky. I also saw several pairs of wood ducks and mallards on their way from their night's roosts, winging to their feeding ground. They were well illuminated in the clear sky and the breaking daylight. I also observe a fresh coating of snow on Mt. Cheam and the surrounding mountains. That was good I thought as the heavy rain we had last night would have been snow at the higher levels and the river should have remained prime.
I arrive at the "new hot spot" and see no one is there. ;D I had grabbed some of my derby fish's roe that I had pro cured up as I thought I would give it a try to start. Besides I had proven on derby day prawn tails would take a steelhead as well but I have more faith in roe.
I was tying up a few roe bags in the Leaf Mobile as I sipped my last few ounces of my coffee when Helmut and his dog Mavis stop for a chat. We talk briefly before he heads towards the river. Is he going to my "new hot spot" I wonder? Another angler appears and I see him getting ready by his truck. No rush I think as I tie up my 4th and final roe bag. You never know when you are going to hit a fish as getting that one on derby day at 1 pm proved. Being first to a spot does not really matter but then it is nice as you may find that fish that may have moved in overnight, well rested and not having seen anyone's offering.
With 4 roe bags tied I too head towards the river, the other angler is still at his truck getting prepared, probably retired like me and in no rush. ;D
No sign of Helmut or Mavis either. I put on a roe bag about the size of a dime. I see I still have on the same leader, #1 Gammy, and the small tuff of pink wool from derby day, should have changed maybe but did not.
The 20 gms drennan sure looks good as well, with the Toronto Maple Leaf logo scotch taped proudly to the top of it. ;D
As no one near the "new hot spot" I try another likely looking spot for a dozen casts or so. I then see the chap from the truck appear and it looks like he may be heading to the "hot spot" so as I was just about ready to leave the first run anyway and maybe I was being a little selfish at the same time, I quickly move to it. ::)
On the first cast into the 2 foot or so deep riffle the red topped drennan and Maple Leaf logo have just hit the water, and starts to drift. It goes about 2 feet and just like that it is gone from my sight. I strike and can not believe it, as a steelhead boils to the top. ;D ;D ;D This fish fights a lot stronger than my derby fish as it breaks water and clears the water several times as it surges to the center of the river. It then comes close to shore heading for the root of a tree. I can not keep it away from the mirage of roots but luckly it does not tangle. It then heads upstream and darn it is into another root wad, but does not once again tangle. I scramble over some logs to try and pull it away from these obstacles. I succeed and it heads to the center of the river once again, breaking water as it goes. ;D ;D
It then heads downstream where the water is moving very quickly and wouldn't you know it, there is a bigger pile of logs, roots etc.. This is it I think, I apply pressure, testing the 8 pound test leader. For some reason the steelhead turns and comes upstream again, remembering those roots piles I guess. Sure enough, in she goes again. I am successful in freeing her once again from this mess. By now 5 minutes into the fight she is starting to tire and the current gets the best of the fish, her energy sapped. However now the current is dragging her towards the lower log jam. Several limbs are sticking out into the river a few feet. My past experience tells me this will be it as the line will almost certainly wrap around these limbs and the weight of the fish in the current will snap my line like cutting butter with a knife.
All I can do is give lots of slack and hope for the best as I scramble over the logs, heart beating very fast as I try to keep my footing at the same time. As I reach the jam the fish has by some miracle slipped by it and is in the very heavy current. But my line is caught on one limb. :( All I can do it flip the line in an attempt to free it, as I am sure the line is a second or two from breaking. I must be living right as the flip works and the jam is now cleared. ;D
The drama does not end there as the fish is now nearing a real stretch of hard water. I run down to the tip of the island not knowing how far down the rapids the steelhead may have now gone. I could not go any further so my only chance now is to try and put pressure on the line and if the steelhead has not gone to a point of no return I can pull it into a slack bit of water that is at my feet. I feel the fish is still there and I am gaining some. I am glad I had put on the extra line, pre derby. Finally I see the drennan float appear out of the boil at the top of the rapids with the flash of the now tired fish behind it. ;D
The rest is easy as I bring the 12 pound hatchery fish to the shore. The thought enters my mind that maybe I should release it but after this battle of so many obstacles I decided to retain it, making the comittment to release the next one even if it is a hatchery. (Maybe getting too cocky now)
With the fish marked on the license, a picture of the fish and the area she was in I am off to Fred's to enter her in the Wally Hall Jr. Memorial derby where she tips the scales just under 12 pounds, good enough for second place at this time. ;D I am also given $4 worth of coupons from Tim Hortons for weighing in a fish. ;D ;D ;D
A fellow from Wales is there getting ready to go out. As he produced a fishing show there he does some filming of my fish talking in Welsh about the steelhead and I give him some commentary in English of course. ;D
He sure had a nice video camera that he said costs in the thousands. As I leave the shop he is heading out to do some fly fishing and some more filming. I give him the address of FWR and said he will join when he returns to Wales.
With my fishing now over for the day, short as it was, time to do some community work and attend a meeting at the Great Blue Heron Nature Reserve. As I drove through Chilliwack I kept thinking this was one of my most exciting battles with one of British Columbia's top gamefish the mighty steelhead. A fishing trip to be remembered for a long time. I can hardly wait for my next adventure out on our precious Vedder River and the search for those steelhead that are out there, waiting in some other "hot spot" for not only me but you too. ;D ;D
As I am pressed for time today I may have Rodney post a picture or two if he has the time as I have not mastered the process yet. Sorry Rod.
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Hey Chris, maybe if your reports were so "thorough" then you would have a little more time figure out how to ad pics! ;)
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Hey Chris, maybe if your reports were so "thorough" then you would have a little more time figure out how to ad pics! ;)
Sorry but us old guys are a bit slow on learning this stuff. ;D I guess I should shorten the stories then. ;D
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You're killing me here. I have to read this while playing trivial with Nina. ::) Nice catch. :)
Photos
(http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/cgadsden/060103_1.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/cgadsden/060103_1.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/cgadsden/060103_2.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/cgadsden/060103_2.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/cgadsden/060103_3.thumb.jpg) (http://www.fishingwithrod.com/albums/cgadsden/060103_3.jpg)
First photo is the catch of today. Second photo is what he had working against him during the fight. Third photo is the typical water where the float usually gets buried.
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Congrats chris...thx for the report
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I love reading these reports from the master! Nice job Chris.
Steve
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great story Chris,i can feel the adrenaline kicking in just reading your report,thats what steelheading is all about ,the rush the excitement of the battle,well done.
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Nice read Chris. What type of reel is that ?
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Ok, i gotta go this week with my normal gear and give the fly a rest..what a great fish..and story..i think you must be living right..or maybe it's just god's way of rewarding toronto fan's because he know's the red wings are going to end their other dreams.. :-* yup, i grew up in detroit and learned to play on frozen ponds!!!!
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Nice fish and thanks for the report,way to go chris ;)
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Thanks for posting the pictures Rodney. I hope FA and Big Steel notice the Leaf logo on the top of the drennan in the picture. ;D Blue and white combined with the red top look great on each drift. I am sure birdman will enjoy his as well even though I believe is a Red Wing logo. ;D ;D
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Another awesome steelhead journal from Chris, so entertaining. Congratulation to the fishing success. Keep them coming. :)
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wow Chris, you are one lucky retiree. Nice storey too. Im guessing there was atleast 5 casts between those two bullets, am i right? :)
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nice FISH, Nice reel as well (i have the same one)
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GOOD report and nice fish .. hope your luck stays up
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im gonna try this little hockey team logo thing maybe some luck will come??? But to bad its gonna be CANUCKS ;D
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im gonna try this little hockey team logo thing maybe some luck will come??? But to bad its gonna be CANUCKS ;D
The team itself needs luck!
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I hope FA and Big Steel notice the Leaf logo on the top of the drennan in the picture. ;D Blue and white combined with the red top look great on each drift. I am sure birdman will enjoy his as well even though I believe is a Red Wing logo. ;D ;D
I'm 0 for 1 in 2006. Perhaps you can send me one of your Leaf drennan floats. I might switch team allegiance if it works. ;D
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Great report Chris, congrats. on the beautiful fish. You may want to ask Buckeye who the master is now ;D
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saw my float dip 3 times today and nothin.... geesh the river is flowin strong.... but visibility is good and just like i like it.
on the 4th float down, the hook sets and the short battle is on, the steelhead is flippin and darting through the boulders of upper tamahi. I fight it within 25 yards of the bridge and just when i think it's done, my rod meets up with one of those pesky kayaker cables and ...... well... i don't want to talk about it... but i didn't land the fish. will be on the river for the next 5 days straight, so far the score is steelhead= 2 (got free), me= 5
(2hatch/3wild) in 9 outings. sizing up to be a decent year so far
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Nice read Chris. What type of reel is that ?
More importantly, you guys should be asking, "Chris, what's that big black crusty thing on your cork?" :-X ;D Can you tell that Chris likes to use bait? ;)
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Nice read Chris. What type of reel is that ?
More importantly, you guys should be asking, "Chris, what's that big black crusty thing on your cork?" :-X ;D Can you tell that Chris likes to use bait? ;)
You are suppose to look at the Leaf logo not the cork. As well you will make me unpopular with some of the FBC guys on this bait thing but of course they do not know who I am there. ;D ;D ;D
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I hope FA and Big Steel notice the Leaf logo on the top of the drennan in the picture. ;D Blue and white combined with the red top look great on each drift. I am sure birdman will enjoy his as well even though I believe is a Red Wing logo. ;D ;D
I'm 0 for 1 in 2006. Perhaps you can send me one of your Leaf drennan floats. I might switch team allegiance if it works. ;D
Wow I never thought I would hear that. Soon you will be typing rolling, roll.................... ;D ;D ;D with each Leaf win. PM your address to me and one will be in the mail tomorrow. I have one sitting right by the computer and it probabley is one you lost anyway. ;D
The Master just called and he got a nice one today, around a 14 pound wild.
The reel is a Grice and Young, from Christchurch, Dorset England. My dad got it right from the factory when he was there in the early 80's. He also got another one similar on another trip that 2:40 has. They are simple and very enjoyable to play a fish on especially in the conditions I faced today. ;D ;D
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Thanks for posting the pictures Rodney. I hope FA and Big Steel notice the Leaf logo on the top of the drennan in the picture. ;D Blue and white combined with the red top look great on each drift. I am sure birdman will enjoy his as well even though I believe is a Red Wing logo. ;D ;D
Nice fish Chris and there'll be pictures of my float to come. How come you always catch all the steelhead ;D.
Thank you. I have just been lucky so far and I soon will go into a dry spell as it happens every year. There is certainly a lot of anglers out there that do way better than me but they choose, and I respect them for it but they like to keep their success to themselves.
Some people question and are critical of me posting info on catchs, water conditions and the pictures that sometimes will even give away a particular spot. I do it for a couple of reasons, I enjoy writing the fishing journal and I try to give tips in these stories that I have learnt from top rods like Nick. The hope is by giving some pointers in my writing along with photo's, the reader can learn tricks, that I hope can help young anglers like you birdman and others that may be starting out in the pursuit of steelhead a bit of a leg up. I want everyone to enjoy the art of fishing like I have for the last 55 plus years. We of course all enjoy just being out fishing but is more enjoyable when we can hook the odd fish, especially a steelhead.
I will continue to write and take those that wish I didn't go into so much detail on this web page in stride. At my age life is too short to worry. I can't wait until tomorrow to get back out on the Vedder and be able to write on FWR, what I hope is another interesting story for you, in my pursuit of the fabled steelhead, to me the king of all gamefish.
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Beauty fish Chris, nice work; congratulations!! Couldn't wish it on a nicer guy! And by the way, we all know that it's more than just luck; ya gotta be good to be lucky (even a Maple Leaf)! See ya on the flow!!
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Thanks for posting the pictures Rodney. I hope FA and Big Steel notice the Leaf logo on the top of the drennan in the picture. ;D Blue and white combined with the red top look great on each drift. I am sure birdman will enjoy his as well even though I believe is a Red Wing logo. ;D ;D
Nice fish Chris and there'll be pictures of my float to come. How come you always catch all the steelhead ;D.
Thank you. I have just been lucky so far and I soon will go into a dry spell as it happens every year. There is certainly a lot of anglers out there that do way better than me but they choose, and I respect them for it but they like to keep their success to themselves.
Some people question and are critical of me posting info on catchs, water conditions and the pictures that sometimes will give away a particular spot. I do it for a couple of reasons, I enjoy writing the fishing journal and I try to give tips in them that I have learned from top rods like Nick. The hope is by giving some pointers in my writing along with photo's, the reader can learn tips, that I hope can help young anglers like you and others starting out in the pursuit of steelhead a bit of a leg up. I want everyone to enjoy the art of fishing like I have for the last 55 plus years. We all enjoy just being out fishing but is more enjoyable when we can hook the odd fish especially a steelhead.
I will continue to write and take those that wish I didn't spread the word on the net in stride. At my age life is too short to worry. I can't wait to tomorrow to get back out there and be able to write on FWR, what I hope is another interesting story for you, in the pursuit of the fabled steelhead, to me the king of all gamefish.
well said Chris
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Just keep doing what you're doing Chris. Enjoy your fishing journal.
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Excellent job Chris!! Very impressed!! Wish I could gave been there to see that!! But, I was all over the river with Biff today!! We got no love!! Started around Peach road, then worked about 7 or 8 spots all the way up to the Ranger!! Then came back dwon and tried around Bergman!! Nothing, didn't here of any either!! So it was nice to see you getting into another one ;) Guess I will go back out tomorrow!! After that though, it is back to work!! :'( For 2 days, then back out fishing for the weekend!! ;D ;D While this is again #799, I will hogefully get this jinx I put on myself off tomorrow!! Till then, great job, and See you on the river! ;D
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Nice fish Chris, willing to share that lucky horseshoe you got? Nothing for me again today. ;D Fished lots of nice seams all day and didnt see or hear of anything. My rolling from a unbelievable Coho season has come to a crashing end sort of like the Canucks record with these 2 trips.. 8)
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Nice fish Chris, willing to share that lucky horseshoe you got? Nothing for me again today. ;D Fished lots of nice seams all day and didnt see or hear of anything. My rolling from a unbelievable Coho season has come to a crashing end sort of like the Canucks record with these 2 trips.. 8)
Put you know what logo on the drennan. ;D ;D ;D
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Nice fish Chris, willing to share that lucky horseshoe you got? Nothing for me again today. ;D Fished lots of nice seams all day and didnt see or hear of anything. My rolling from a unbelievable Coho season has come to a crashing end sort of like the Canucks record with these 2 trips.. 8)
Put you know what logo on the drennan. ;D ;D ;D
Now now Chris, why would I want to do that? You know I put Riverside Fly & Tackles one's on my floats. ;D That's so when I break them off you can retrieve them and know who's they are for the rightful return to owner. 8)
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Chris, don't worry about guys that don't enjoy your posts. Skilled steelheaders should never worry about these details being revealed. They will catch their fair share no matter what other fishermen do or don't do. No one spot can produce daily, and not too many spots are truly that much secret anymore these days. It is a lot more fun also to find your own hot spots as the river changes every year.
The other day I took Dan the Man to one of my so called 'ultra secret' spot and promised him a fair chance for a hook up. There was no car in sight, so you think no one will be in the spot which is heavily shielded by trees up to the bank. Well, to our surprise, a guy was fishing it and he was a local resident who thinks his spot was utterly secret too, only to see us rolling in. Well, Dan had a good dip of the float there, so at least the spot gave him some excitement if not a fish. I will say, just post what you want and enjoy it as we enjoy your posting.
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Way to go Chris,save some steel for us eh.
Time to load the pellet gun........i'll sink that dam leafs float.... ;D ;D ;)
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Finally got around to getting my new password so im not just a lurker anymore. ;D
Chris i really enjoy reading your Steelhead and other adventures.
I hope that you are saving all of them because it would sure make for a good read to look at them all in a book form.
Hope to get up that way this week and get my first of the year.
Looking forward to more of your reports and will hopefully have a few myself in the near future. ;)
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Dont worry about the canucks...once they make a trade or fire coach things will get back to normal. hahahah that picture is funny..and true!!
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Chris I have not met you yet on the river but since we both know Helmut and Mavis I'm sure we'll meet soon. Being a Leafs fan one my brothers back east sent me this last year and I thought you might get a chuckle out of it.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v502/fisherforever/LEAFS.jpg)
Good one and thanks for posting it. ;D ;D
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Finally got around to getting my new password so im not just a lurker anymore. ;D
Chris i really enjoy reading your Steelhead and other adventures.
I hope that you are saving all of them because it would sure make for a good read to look at them all in a book form.
Hope to get up that way this week and get my first of the year.
Looking forward to more of your reports and will hopefully have a few myself in the near future. ;)
Welcome aboard and we all will look forward to your posts here on FWR.
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Chris I have not met you yet on the river but since we both know Helmut and Mavis I'm sure we'll meet soon. Being a Leafs fan one my brothers back east sent me this last year and I thought you might get a chuckle out of it.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v502/fisherforever/LEAFS.jpg)
Good one and thanks for posting it. ;D ;D
Make Me Laugh fans on drugs. We now have conclusive evidence that they are totally out of touch with reality. Undefeated season ?? ;D ;D ;D ;D
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I guess we have to admit every team during the 2004-2005 season were undefeated as they did not play. ;D ;D What are you doing up at this hour FA? I was late getting back from badminton and I just did up the roe from today's fish and tied some more roe sacks for tomorrow.
I notice it is now 12:43 around 7 hours to fishing time although raining hard now but temp. about 5 out so river should still be ok in the morning.
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What are you doing up at this hour FA?
Deciding where I should go fishing tomorrow err. I mean today.
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still up gettin bait ready for next few days..... went out and dumped a schwack o cash on a good digi cam today , er, yesterday rather, after fishing.. hopefully will get to put it to use.
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Right on
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nice fish/story it felt like I was there
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Nice read Chris. What type of reel is that ?
More importantly, you guys should be asking, "Chris, what's that big black crusty thing on your cork?" :-X ;D Can you tell that Chris likes to use bait? ;)
You are suppose to look at the Leaf logo not the cork. As well you will make me unpopular with some of the FBC guys on this bait thing but of course they do not know who I am there. ;D ;D ;D
Chris not all of use from fishbc are fly chuckers. There is a far amount of bait in my bag when I hit the flow.
I enjoy your reports very much. I have a hard time with guys not reporting their catches and adventures it is what the sport is all about. Keep up the great work........ We just need to get you to stop with the leaf talk! ;) go nucks go
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:) Thanks for the read! most enjoyable Chris