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With the Fraser River finally dropping and clearing nicely it was time this week to dust of the bar fishing gear for the first trip for 2009. The Leaf Craft was raring to go and was jealous that the Leaf Craft # 2 got to ply the water first this year during the trip to a Merritt Lake last week.
We both were pleased that long time fishing partner Gary was free that day to join us. We had decided I would pick him up at 7am before heading to the launch at Island 22. As I age I seem to take longer to get ready and I was 20 minutes late in picking Gary up. He said nothing to me about my tardiness but I was apologetic. Gary taught me a lot about fishing when I first met him while we were both playing badminton here in Chilliwack in the mid 60. Gary being a teacher by profession was very patient with this rookie river angler being a person from Vancouver Island who bit his angling teeth going ocean and creek fishing, the later for cutthroat.
We arrive at Island 22 and I gladly pay the $50 pass to park and launch. As I plan to make many bar fishing trips this season it will work out to a couple of dollars each trip.
We see the launch has a few trucks and trailers parked neatly in the designated area and I back the Leaf Mobile as our anxious means of transportation, The Leaf Craft is starting to purr before she floats off the Trailer. We quickly load all the supplies from the back of the LC and I give her some choke and she quickly jumps to life. As she had not been on the water since her tune up by Dr. Ernie and Chad I wanted to make sure she had not suffered any illness since then. Since she seemed healthty I shut her off while I slip the LM into a vacant parking stall.
I come back to the shore where Gary is holding her and try to restart her but she coughs and sputters. What going on? Maybe it is the hose as the bulb is not filling up with gas. We try for a bit changing tanks but that does not seem to help, darn another delay. All three of us are anxious to get fishing. Leaving Gary with the LC I head to a boat shop and get a new hose, I also get another Timm's to calm the now frazzled nerves.
Finally I am back to the launch and attach the new hose but it too does not seem to help, we try both tanks and it does not seem to get things started. we are just about ready to give up, cancel the trip and take LC back to her Doctors. Gary does one last try and yes we are running.
We jump a board and head the nose of the LC up river, we now chatter happily about the upcoming fishing adventure be it we are over 2 hours late. We see some anglers camped along the bars, there dome tents dotting several area's.
I see Dan's setup who said earlier to me they had hit three the day before, I also feel confident as the Albion test fishery is showing good numbers too and we have had our share of bad luck already. We are cruising just above Dan's camp when the motor conks out, we start to drift downstream. "Try the other tank" I say to Gary. I did not really want to use it as it it had last year's gas in it. but it does the trick and the motor once again comes alive. Once again not wanting to use the old gas I say to Gary, " lets switch again". Once again the there is the deafening silence as the motor dies again. " "I guess we better take our chances with the old fuel," I say. Once again the old fuel tank does work and the hum of the motor is a pleasant sound to our ears as we gain the lost ground. I am never fearful of a breakdown on the Fraser as there is always many out there that will help you during this time, I have helped a few and have been rescued 5 or 6 times over the year. Once when the boat drifted away when I did not tie it up while gathering fire wood and another when I did not drop the anchor when looking for lost weights on Wellington Bar, most embarrassing moments thats for sure.
Finally we are planning along nicely and I hear Gary who is sitting in the rear seat "my hat", it has blown off his head. "It gone" Gary said as he can not see the straw sombrero as I turn the LC., will we ever get fishing I think. I search the murky waters of the Fraser River for the round shaped hat and I see its brim, upside down and water filled. I come aside it and one grab sees me haul it aboard. "Its pretty heavy now" I say to Gary of his water logged attire "and it will keep you cool and on your head" I joke to my partner.
Finally Maple leaf Bar is in sight and I see plenty of openings, with our luck it could have been filled up. We glide ashore and I do not believe I don't chew up bottom with the prop, finally we have our rods in the water. I need another coffee to calm the nerves once again. No Tims here just a bar full of rocks. I am tempting the chinooks with a number 2 silver, with mylar wings and a red top spinning its magic.
I make an uncalled remark about the type of reels the anglers above us. One of the anglers remarks "Is that you Gadsden" one of the anglers says as he marches towards us. I was luckily it was good natured Butch. I need to learn not to talk so loud or better still not to be so judgmental of what other anglers are using
We share a laugh and shake hands and it turns out Gary had taught Butch in school a few decades ago. My remark is quickly forgotten. butch says they have taken a 24 pound white first thing. The time always passes quickly especially while visiting and sharing past fishing stories with friends and fishing partners. That is the thing I like about bar fishing relaxing, that is when you actually get to the fishing grounds. I am feeling a bit tired from the days activities so lay down the sleeping bags to grab a few Z' s. That another benefit of bar fishing too.
A few minutes into my slumber I am jarred awake to some commotion above me. Its Butch's group, into another one, so much for the type of reels they are using. They land a fish around 12 pounds I believe it was.
Our bells fail to toll over the next few hours. We are joined by friend David and we are the only 3 on the bar as Butch's group has gone home with their booty. A few are anchored in their boats, all bar fishing.
Out time is quickly slipping by as I have to leave at 5. I have to do the play by play of the Ladies Fastball final at 7, film and call the game at the same time. It is near 20 to 5, 20 minutes left to go before the first trip is to be a blank.
I happen to be looking at my rod that is perched happily if the LC, in a rod holder when I see the tip wave ever so slightly and then it begins to whip violently. Thats enough for me as I launch like a rocket, from my lawn chair similar to the chap that lost his rod to a rainbow on the lake fishing trip last week that I wrote about in last week's Journal.
I reach for the pulsating rod and try to take of the ringing bell but the line of it is wrapped around the pole a bit. I do get it off and the fish is still there. The battle begins and I yell to David to do the filming while I match wits with this good sized chinook, on the end of my line. It feels good and a fair size and the battle continues for some time until it feels that it is hung up or is it just sulking?
I then know the line is hung up on a snag of some short but I still luckily still feel the fish, its not far from me so I wade out some and with a bit of pressure I free the line or weight as the fish burns away, showing itself on the surface.
Finally it begins to tire, like I am as I believe it is close to 17 minutes since the hookup. Gary moves into position with the net but I ask him just to slip in behind it as I glide it ashore. I have seen a few fish lost to the weight getting caught in the net and the hook pulled out. The silver beauty finds the shallows and dry land, success, it looks around 30. I am please, as well it right around 5, time to head to the ball game.
I arrive at the ball game a few minutes late to do the call. The game is exciting and it is decided in the bottom of the last inning as an inside the park home run by Kathy IIes and another run on a clutch hit by Val Tosoff give the Valley Cats a come from behind win, 12 to 11 I believe it was. I also got to throw out the first pitch to start the All Star game that followed the women's final and my luck improved from the start of the day as I threw a strike.
The day started poorly for me but it just proves in all sports, be it fastball or fishing it proves you can come up a winner, at the last moment.
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Topic: Non-tidal Fraser River, July 21st 2009: The First Bar Fishing Trip Of 2009 (Read 1724 times)