On arriving at the spot I want to fish I park near a dwelling so as to maybe discourage one of those car break in guys.
I see a few anglers in the area as I fish spot number 1. Most anglers I guess are up river where it seems most of the fish are being caught. Spot number 1 yeilds 0. Head for spot #2, 5 minutes down the trail, meet a fellow and he says he has heard of one fish taken somewhere in the vacinity. Arriving at spot #2 I see two anglers fishing there. They seem to be fence posting in so try above and below them, nothing.
See Brandon down in the fence run and I work the island just above him and something takes the Maple Leaf drennan float down. I motion to Brandon I had a take of something. Whatever it is it will not come back, will try it on the way back.
Brandon has left his spot so I try it and get buried 2 times but on bury number 3 I find it is only a snag grabbing my prawn tail offering. I break off but retain the drennan.
I head down to spots #3, 4, 5 , 6, and 7 but nothing not even a snag. I check the watch, I have 1 hour 30 minutes of fishing time left. Before heading back upstream I talk to Jon on the other side of the river he says he has missed 1 and there is 4 weighed in so far. That sound pretty poor so what are my chances I begin to wonder if only 4 fish for 300 or so fishers.
On the walk up back to spot #2 phone home, phone the Master to see if he is on the river but he is too busy to talk as he is trap shooting. Phone CEJ and his partner beak o begone who has just had a fish chase his prawn tail right to the beach while reeling in. He then misses it twice after that. Looks like is name fits him perfectly.
I arrive at spot number 2A (Brandon's spot) and find that darn snag again. This time everything including the drennan is gone.
I retie up quickly as it is around 12:50. I leave the snag spot and head to were I though I had maybe missed a fish on the way down. I work through it and then work up again but nothing.
The tail section of the prawn tail has fallen off, hence it spins a bit and is twisting the line under the drennan and it catchs the toothpick on some casts so the float goes downstream on a bit of an angle. Not good. Just before I am ready to head out, back to the truck the float is going downstream near the drop off, not far off shore. Line caught under the float again, not a good drift. But then something triggers my senses, it is acting funny, part under but not completly, hard to describe to be honest. I strike, yes there he is I say as the fish realizes it is hooked and starts to take line. I see the drennan is cocked sideways as it rips through the water, hope this will not in some way break the line. I signal to Jon below me in the next run that I have one on but I am sure he has already seen it. Experienced anglers are always watching, not wanting to miss anything.
Sometime that can cost you if you are looking away at the time of a take, it has happened to me too
The fish fights well and finally the float corrects itself and about the same time I see it is a hatchery, is it a derby contender I wonder as I have no idea what the largest one is. The last report from Jon was 4 so maybe I will have a chance at a prize. The fish tires and I try to pull it up on the riffle so I can get it on its side. The water is too deep and the fish retains her balance and swims up the riffle right under my feet, I have to do some fancy dancing so it does not tangle in my feet. I can see it is hooked fairly well but you never know. Thats what makes it a challange to land these wonderful gamefish from trying to find them in the first place then hook one and then actually land it.
I ease the hen fish back into the deeper water and repeat the process and this time I find some shallower parts of the riffle and she flips over to her side this time where I am able to grab her around the head and take her to the gravel bar. The time is 1:04. Time to mark the license, a snap of the fish and a 10 minute walk back to the vehicle.
I arrive at the derby headquaters with 10 minutes to spare and find there is 12 other fish now and I am no where near the top but I am more than satisfied to have caught one on derby day.
I receive congratulations from many and good natured ribbing from others. Gwyn has nothing, Dale is no where to be seen so I guess he got nothing.
Thats what happens if you catch too many before derby day.
I am reminded by someone Gwyn will be buying me that dinner for 4 or is it 6.
Actually in the excitment I had forgot about that. I am told Martin who went with Gwyn was into 5 including a keeper. I guess Gwyn is a better guide than fisherman.
Sandy weighs my fish at 10 pounds 2 ounces and Lew snaps a picture of the happy angler. Maxine my wife comes too to snap a picture or two for the family records.
I am approached by Bruce Bishop who got the Kingfish that is good 3 pounds bigger than mine. As I am doing the story for the Chilliwack Progress I interview him and get some good info. Last year he got the smallest steelhead the only hatchery he has caught in the derby after about 30 trys. Now a year later he gets the Kingfish. He tells me he got it on his second cast of the day and did not start fishing until around 9:30. That proves you can catch a fish any time of the day as I did too.
The prize presentations take place and I am tied for 6th as 5 of the fish were in the 10 pound range.
I choose a fishing vest and I am ribbed that it is too small for me. One for the grandchildren I tell them.
I was very pleased to meet a number of new and old members from FWR including birdman and his dad. It is just great to see dads like birdman's father taking their young people fishing. He is so keen about fishing as his posts show and I am sure he will become an excellent fisherman in the years ahead if he isn't already one. Of course meeting my opponent from Sport Chat, Big Steel was another highlight of the day. I am
Rolling, rolling rolling right along now BS and FA.
I snap some pictures of trhe winner to go with the article, finally some excellent food from the clubhouse kitchen that Bill and others had cooked. It sure tasted good after going all day on that muffin and coffee. Personally the last 24 hours was a good way to end 2005 and greet 2006 with some good times with family and all the good people we meet from FWR and other fishing forums. To me those are more rewarding than catching that derby fish today althought it sort of makes up for the 3 I lost 2 derbies ago.
That concludes another successful derby with the proceeds going to help preserve fish habitat, thanks to all that helped out including those that supported the derby committee by entering it. Some times derbies like this take flack from some anglers but the way I look at it these are people that are doing things that will help our fish in the future and preserve fishing opportunities for us and our chidren to enjoy the sport of fishing. Without these people that really care about our environment and all the life that live in it, big buisness and in some cases big government will destroy more than they have already.
Bedtime now as I think I have that steelhead itch now, see you tomorrow morning at the place I posted the picture of where I caught the fish at today. Or did I catch it there, of course I did as fisherman never lie do they.
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Topic: January 1, 2006 Vedder River Derby, Complete Results (Read 9148 times)