Its now 7:40, no sign off Gwyn yet so I sling the brood capture tube over my shoulder and I slip over the bank, grab a broken off limb to help me cross the river, no one in sight yet. The river has a little colour to it, will that combined with the small jump in the water elevation overnight move the fish out of an area below where reports say the fish have been holding, I hope so. I personally do not like fishing those areas unless I go there searching for fish for the tube, nothing wrong with that at all but not for me.
There seems to be a little slime, algae growth I guess that makes the crossing a little tricky or is it my age as I am certainly not as agile as I once one. I wonder as I complete the crossing how much longer I will be able to do this. One day at a time I think, enjoying each day is the main thing and fishing with fine fishing friends make it all the more special and enjoyable. It is so special and important that they all care about the environment and preserving our fragile fish stocks like I do and continue to do more than just talk about it, people of action. I wish some people in all 4 levels of Government and some of their bureaucrats would also.
A few duck are searching for their morning meals as I ponder, should I start with a roe bag or a shrimp, I chose the former. The first spot receives 6 or so casts, no one home, I move down a few yards and just then I see Gwyn getting out of his truck, its around 7:45.
The next spot looks good, small but good, don't good things come in small packages? I shorten up the Maple Leaf Drennan a foot, and flip it out, just before the drop off of the slot.
I think I am ready but are we not ready on every cast we make, even though a steelhead can be a fish of a a few hundred cast or is it a thousand casts, hope springs eternal in the life of an angler.
Anyway this cast it does happened, the MLD has gone on a early morning dip, in the frigid Vedder River waters. I was ready this time as the red topped Drennan is no longer visible, the right hand flicks, the tension created by the wrist action telegraphs down to the creature, 4 feet below the surface, I know it is not bottom.
The tell tale head shake of a fish now travels up the 8 pound test leader through the 12 pound test mainline, down the rod, to my hand and beyond, contact. Gwyn is just starting towards me, I yelp, "Gwyn, fish". If it is a wild two people sure make the tubing a bit easier.
The steelhead which I hope is well hooked is now leaving its temporay lodging, heading down river, I in hot pursuit as I cross a portion of the river to chase it.
I just reach the shore again and the fish turns, heading from whence it came, I hold my ground. Gwyn is getting close now, I apply pressure and guide steelhead back down in my direction. The fish feels a fair size but has not showed itself yet. It blends perfectly into the gravel river bottom.,
It now goes down toward the next run, I decide to let it go, over some shallows, its tiring now, finally I see it, I cannot see a fin, not certain though.
Finally I guide it slowly, gently towards shore, no adipose, Gwyn says "well going to keep it", 'Yep" I respond. As it slips onto the shore Gwyn chirps in "14 pound doe" (When I weight it at home he was very close, 14 pounds 4 ounces). It is a very nice steelhead the biggest out of the 2 others I have landed this year, my day is done but thats OK, maybe fish for the others now, besides I have the tube if needed, as does Gwyn.
I mark my tag, its not quite 8 am.
I phone Lew to tell him maybe he should come down as there may be more. He has now awaken from his slumber and has now decided to come out.
I phone Rodney too, to tell him the news.
I roam around, watching to see if anyone of the other anglers that are now appearing may get into a fish, a wild for the tube.
It is not long until Lew appears, he fishes a run above before coming down to where I am. I show him where I caught the fish, nothing more there.
He fishes downstream a tad, I walk with him, we chat, we talk about the Thompson River balsa wood float I gave him a couple of years, it looks good but Lew says it needs a bath as he has gone a few trips without a bite but he has taken two nice ones already but of course we all want to get into that next one as soon as we can.
Gwyn is above us, working the fishy spot again.
I donot know for sure how it happened as I think I was looking away at the time but I see out of the corner of my eye Lew set the hook, I say ""Fish"?, "Yep" is the one word answer as line is leaving his centre pin. I grab the tube encase Lew has a wild on. Gwyn is coming down to lend a hand if needed.
Lew plays the fish like he has done so many times over the many years he has fished the Chilliwack Vedder system, a pro in every sense of the word.
After a few minutes we see it is a wild, I zip open the tube, Gwyn gently guides the 10 pound plus ( guess only as not sure of the weight) doe into the tube, another beauty of a specimen of this great game fish. I quickly slide the zippers closed, secure, one for the hatchery. "Just as good as a hatchery fish" Lew says as we all know the returns of this female's precious eggs will provide us all with more fish for the future. It is shortly after 10.
I phone the hatchery and George says the boys are picking up three fish elsewhere and he says he will get them to phone us.
I phone Rodney again and give him the good news, he reports nothing here but either Dean or Nick have landed a sucker.
I tell him the hatchery will be coming to pick up Lew's fish shortly so he decides to come and get a video clip of the fish that is in the tube and the transfer process.
I watch the fish and make sure it is OK in the tube. I wait patiently for the tubing crew and Rodney to appear. I notice Steelhead King driving about, more eating and driving than fishing I am told.
Rodney arrives shortly before the boys and when they arrive for the pickup he gets a few minutes of video that you may see on this thread later.
The rain is starting to come down again, its getting cold and we decide to head to Cookies as we have agreed to meet Linda and friend there. Lew leaves for his lunch engagement too, pleased I am sure with his 2 hours or so of good success. Once again we have connected with a fish when we fish together.
An enjoyable meal and stories prepares the others for an afternoon of fishing, looking to complete the hatrick.
I must prepare for tomorrow's outing and will let Rodney pick up the tale from here on as I have written way too much already. I am sure Lew will add a word or two too, of another great day on our beloved Vedder River, remember to treat her with reverence, she certainly is a jewel.
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Topic: Nearly A Hatrick, The Journal From The Vedder, Feb.6, 2008 (Read 3871 times)