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Today I had thought of getting to the river at first light but with rain falling I decided to hid under the covers instead. As well I needed to rest up for baby sitting duties in the late afternoon.
With a couple of extra hours of shut eye I felt very refreshed so maybe I should do an early afternoon fishing trip and see if I could get my first fish for the month of March as I have been stuck at a 11 for 16 success rate closing on 3 weeks now. Saying that I have had some opportunities but missed them all.
With a few chores done it was off to Tims for a double double and catch up on the news papers at the same time. Terry drops in for a chin wag as well.
On the way to Tims I had got a call from The Master for a lunch date at Cookies Grill but that was for 12:15 so I had close to a hour to read through the papers.
Nick and I arrive at Cookies at the same time but I am disappointed I could not sit under the Toronto Maple Leaf's banner. All 30 team's pennants are there and if you pick a meal off the Kraft's Menu you can get a banner of your choice. The waitress tells me they are out of Vancouver ones, I guess Fish Assassin loaded up on during his visit there.
She then notices my Leaf hat and knows I would not be interested in the V.C. ones anyway.
The Master checks in via the cell phone with beako begone who had been out at first light and is told that he lost three, Nick is told the "hot spot", guess we will be going fishing there with that news.
We both order fish and chips, "why do you guys want that when you are always fishing" our waitress asks, "puts us in a fishing mood" I say, but when fishing with The Master his enthusiasm puts you in the mood in a hurry anyway.
Its close to 1:30 when we reach the "hot spot", I have 3 hours to fish before grandfather duties call. The water is a bit colored from yesterday I thought but plenty fishable
Nick starts working the first run while I have to untangle my leader wrapped up badly, I finally have to cut it and retie it. I see Nick glance at me a time or two wondering why I am taking so long to get fishing, bit of a beak I am sure he is thinking.
Finally I am ready and decide to head to a run above where Nick is fishing that is nice but big, a lot of places for a fish to lay. I fish it for 20 minutes before I see Joe on the trail so I go up to him for a 10 minute visit. He has been having the same success as me, well a little better as he had landed one this month. Joe is one of the better anglers on the river and tells me that January was good for him but has slowed down badly the last 6 weeks.
We part and then as I head down river looking for Nick who has now disappeared from my view. I then meet up with a chap from Ireland who is fly instructor, more visiting. William is thinking of moving here as the fishing in BC is far superior to what he has in his homeland he says. I guess we take our fishing opportunities for granted sometimes.
I tell him about FWR and he gives me his business card so I can put him in touch with Rodney, maybe Rod will go there instead of Denmark one day.
William also knows Nick who has guided him in the past.
I finally get down to some more fishing time and find Nick who is now on the other side of the river, "nothing so far" he says.
I decide to fish the North side of the flow and Nick will do the South side.
I work through the runs on my side but realize the better runs are on Nick's side, but as my time was limited now I did not have the time to cross.
I reach the Friday Hole, a run that was very kind to me many years ago and spend my remaining time there. I keep a eye on Nick as he works down towards me.
I am just about getting ready to leave when I see a familiar hand signal, I know it means a fish is on, I have seen it many times over the years.
I put down my rod and move upstream to where Nick is fighting the fish and arrive just in time as he beaches the steelhead, a bright wild doe, close to 9 pounds. It would have been a nice fish for the tube but it is 45 minutes past the tubing time so after a fairly long distant photo she is sent on her way. "Got her in about 2 feet of water, just behind that bush up there, I was just starting to walk around the bush when my float is going side ways, couldn't believe it" The Master relates.
He also adds that he got another fish a few minutes before, in a run further up from where he took the Iron. He tells me he missed it 4 times before he connected, a two pound dolly on a roe bag.
It is now time for me to go and we bid farewell. As I head back to the Leaf Mobile I think once again I was outfished by my partner but thats why he is called The Master.
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Topic: Fishing With The Master On The Vedder, A March 14 Journal (Read 1385 times)