Wow I donot think it has been this late for a number of years that we have had to wait this long to get into some real fishing on the Fraser, that is bar fishing.
I donot know if it was a coincidents or not but the chinook run seemed by most accounts mainly by the Albion Test fishery results was way down. But on the other hand sometime with high water flows and the every increasing seal population on the Fraser that I have been told rob a number of fish from the test boat's set that can effect the true numbers.
Anyway with some good results coming in from the bar fishing crowd this week I along with Gary and Darren were excited to get out onto MLB yesterday.
Of course the Leaf Craft was very happy once again to be able to ply the Fraser.
I arrive 10 minutes late at the launch and Gary and Darren are pacing anxiously as we enter the launch area. We quickly load and the LC being out of the water for this extended time is a little cranky as her 50 horses flood.
Finally we are on our way and as we arrive at MLB "the Master" is there with 3 clients as is Mark another top guide, both anchored. Rod, Winston and Brad are on shore above us. A couple of other boats are either anchored or on shore.
To me on shore is the place to bar fish but the guides have to handle all the casting for their clients so it is easier to just to be able to flick the gear over the boat.
The shore seemed to be the place to be to start with as first Rod lands a nice one, over 20. Then Darren, Gary's friend from Alberta is into one and lands one after a good fight. He is very happy with his 12 pound fish and as am I to be able to get him into a fish. "The Masters" boat is very quiet, I could never take the pressure of guiding, always having to try to produce. I personally could not stand it, especially if other boats are getting fish and my boat's poles do not move.
Brad has landed one about ther same time as Darren's fish almost a twin, as he comes to our location to weigh it, we see it a very bright fish, with sea lice on it even, a sign it is fresh from the ocean.
I am working on ball stat's under the tarp that is shielding me from the hot July sun and then time for a nap. Just as I start to doze of I hear Gary yell out as my pole begins to bounce but just as I wake the rod becomes still again. My partners tell me that it was a fish, always happens when one wants a nap.
Then it is Gary's turn as his bell rings a merry tune. In his haste Gary loses his hat and a sock during his run to his bounching pole 50 yards away. He fights the fish right to the shore with me filming away. Just as Darren gets ready to net it the fish shakes the hook and returns to the murky waters of the Fraser. Gary is a little disgusted, I try to cheer him up by saying he may now catch a bigger one later.
However things now quiet down on shore and Nick's boat is into one a nice fish. They come to shore to land it that I find out later was because "The Master" forgot to bring his net.
We laze under the tarp and just soak up the surroundings, the scenery and enjoying each others company, this is what bar fishing is, a very easy going type of fishing, hard to beat in my books.
"The Master's" clients are into another and once again go ashore. I amble down to admire the catch and the previous silence has now been replace by laughter of success by the 3 clients and their guide with two fish now safely landed and in the ice box.
Nick tells me their fish was the 13th he had seen hooked today, not a bad number this shows the fish are now in the system. Maybe the run was just a bit late.
As 5 o'clock approaches we pack up, I have to get to the ball park with my now completed ball stat's. Anway I am happy that I have got "my Client" into a fish and Gary had a chance also.
On the way downstream we stop and talk to Rick, a very good friend that we used to fish and camp together when my two boys were very young, unbeatable times together. We say we must get together for a fishing trip in the near future. We discuss the politics of fishing these days for 5 minutes or so. Then on the way to the launch which by the way I am going to now for another day on MLB, a day that I hope may be one of success. It will be anyway as just being able to get out on the flow is a reward just in its self.
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Topic: Back On The Bar, It Was About Time July 21 (Read 2029 times)