Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Athezone]

Arrived at the Vedder at 11:30 and had decided to fish from the train bridge to Lickman and after much dilly dallying about the starting location that is where I finally went. I was looking for water that would hold  fish but also be soft with a good walking speed so that the bug's I had would'nt be too beat up as I fished them. Finding spots that fit that description was'nt that difficult and as I prepared my gear for the upcoming fishing festival a steelie rose two feet right in front of where I was going to fish. I quickly lashed on a ghost shrimp (hoping it would'nt really be a ghost) and made a perfect cast and waited for my float to disappear
as I knew it would. Unfortunately that particular steelie either did'nt like seafood or had moved on. No problem, the day was young, only 11:40 and still lot's of possibillities. The sun shone brightly and Canadian geese flew over head and I thought as I always
do when fishing how lucky I was to live in a place that afforded such freedom and beauty and thanked those in charge for putting me here. People fished across from where I was and I could see people in the far distance fishing enjoying their day and hoping to be able to utter the words, Bingo, if a steelhead should bite their offering.
I fished for about an hour and I was watching a fellow in a red jacket as he worked his way down on the other side. Suddenly that lucky fellow shrieked and set his hook and was into a steely, but alas, after two seconds on it was free once again. Much to the chagrine of that fisherman as he shouted to his partner that he had one on but it had got off. I then moved around quite a bit fishing and walking, fishing and walking working my way towards the train bridge. I was unsuccessful in catching a steelie and the other fishermen I spoke with were having the same kind of luck. The weather was so nice though that it was impossible to not enjoy a day of leisure amongst the birds and people walking and some riding their horses and also the fish that were obviously hiding but I was sure would be more than happy to shake my hand if only I would introduce myself properly.
Well as the day continued to move on I was beginning to get worried because it quickly became 4:30 very quickly and I had encountered no one all day that had caught any thing. After the great reports of the day before on this site I thought getting into
a steelie would be as easy as showing up (not really) and I was already here so where were the fish? I noticed a couple fishermen trying their luck across from me as I threw everything but the kitchen sink at those blasted steelie demons, pro-cured chum roe, sand shrimp, colorado blades and roe sacks all to no avail. I decided to move down river about 40 feet and as I did so I stepped on a rock that looked super solid and when I did it moved, I fell, and when my left leg hit earth I could'nt believe the pain. I could'nt even move. I just waited for everthing to slow down, hoping the pain would subside. 15 minutes later the throbbing had slowed down and just a reminder pain remained. I must say tho that I did the admirable thing and continued fishing biting my lip as I did as the pain attacked my leg. Once I arrived home my girlfriend said it looked like I had two knee-caps,lol.
After 30 minutes I felt somewhat okay and all during this time I was keeping my eyes on the pair that were fishing across from me when all of a sudden I saw the tell tale sign of Fish On. Which is, bent rod, feet moving faster than usual, partner making strange hand signals, animated movements of all types and a particular feelings of excitement and tension, all rolled into one tight little ball.
Oh boy I thought, finally a fish. I sure hope they bring it in I thought. And after five full minutes of excitement, including watching and worrying as the fishing partner reached and grabbed the line to pull the fish closer, my breathe short, in came a chrome hatchery around 10 LBer. Woo hoo, I shouted over to them. Good for you guy's. They took a couple pictures at the beach nearby
and then they were gone. I tried my best to land one also but it was'nt in the cards for me today. What was in the cards was experiencing so many different things and so much that it would take all night to describe it all. So let me just say it in one word.
Life. Go Get It. Good Fishing All.

[chris gadsden]

Very nice report but sorry to hear about your fall and hope it does not keep you off the river too long. Nick, Rodney and Nick were out today and I will let the moderator tell the story and the stories that happened today.

[Robert]

Excellent report Athezone

[pepsitrev]

  a great report sorry to hear about your owweee take care and get back to the river soon

[Steelhawk]

Nice read Athezone. Fish or no fish, going out to the river on a sunny day is a good treat. Take care of your knee though. It may be a zoo there tomorrow instead of the peace & quiet of the weekday.

[FishOn]

Nice report ATZ. For a while I thought I was reading a report by Chris as it was full of detail and visuals.

Awaiting Rod's report with baited (PUN intended) breath.

[Rodney]

That's too bad Al, hope you get better soon.

Sunny Fraser Valley was 14 degrees today, but it would be even better if I hooked the bugger that pulled my float down while I was gazing the valley haze.

The day started out very fresh, but cold. I met up with Chris around 8:30am and fished around the area where 2:40 Gordie put on the clinic on Wednesday. For a weekday, there sure were lots of people out. I counted at least 20 anglers in a 600 meter stretch.

After a couple of hours covering lots of water, we were unable to find a fish. We did not see any hooked either. Nick then phoned us up and informed us that he was able to release a hatchery fish, and tube a wild fish.

We then moved into a section just above where Nick was fishing. The plan was to cover that area for 30 minutes, then meet up with Nick at Chris' favorite hangout - Cookies.

The drifts were perfect at the new spot, but the angler's mind wasn't home. While Chris was retying, my float was quickly buried in the corner of my eyes. instinct made me to pull, but not hard enough. Float and rig shot straight back to me.

CG: "Fish?"
Me: "Um.... Ya.... I think so...." <sighed>

The pull was too fast to be a snag as the drift was extremely slow. The float depth was no where near the river depth. No matter how much I wished it was a snag, all evidence suggested it was not.

Not to worry, off to Cookies we go to bury or drown my sorrow with food and drinks. After a quick meal, we first stopped by a ditch to watch Nick dig up some ditch eels for these movie people.

After the dirty work, it was back to where I missed my bite again.

An hour of rotating about, we were unable to find a fish.

This was all changed when CG claimed he barbed one briefly, and had us very excited. We then fished that particular section again, hoping to entice the missed fish.

At 3pm, CG had to leave but he predicted one of us would be into a fish as soon as he left. An optimist he is indeed.... Sure enough, as he disappeared into the bush, Nick was into a fish at the exact same spot where CG had lost one. I then got on the phone with CG and he hurried back to say, "See, I told you so."

It was a nice hatchery buck between 7 and 8lb. Nick decided to release it, because he wanted to fish some more (because, you know... three in one day is not good enough....).

The rest of the day was rather quiet, but the scenary sure was pretty.... (must.... stay.... positive..... where.... is.... my.... fish....).

Photos

[Fish Assassin]

After a quick meal, we first stopped by a ditch to watch Nick dig up some ditch eels for these movie people.

Any pictures of these ditch eels ? How do you dig them from the ditch ? Sturgeon bait ?

[Bantam_50]

River must be dropping this week then and the chrome is on the move. Hope the rain holds off till Monday. I feel a personal best fish, in store for me Sunday. 

[BigFisher]

What were you using for the caught steelhead?

[chris gadsden]

What were you using for the caught steelhead?

Roe bags and bugs.