The main part of the bottle run now complete, time to head out to get a final video shot at the causeway that I did not get the night before as we ran out of daylight. I get about 2 minutes worth, enough to compile the video record of this salmon disaster on the Fraser River. It still amazes me that some continue to spin the tale that the drop in the volume was caused by low and dropping river levels.
You can not put a dam across a body of water and not stop the flow. Anyway we have plenty of ammunition to shoot down that theory with stills and video, I guess the doubters will be surprised to learn the levels rose close to 3 feet when the causeway was finally removed. It of course was too late for thousands of redds whose occupants, millions of pink alevins were never given a chance at a 2 year life span.
As I prepare to head for home for a lunch date with my wife 2:40 and the family I get a phone call that Global TV needs a shot of a steelhead being released for the a news item they are doing on Global tonight (Sunday) at 6. I thought of digging through my endless fishing tapes to try and find one but hey I think if I phone "The Master" he should be able to live up to his name and get me a nice fresh action shot this afternoon.
I phone him but he is busy so I think I will go down after lunch to Lickman Road, no trouble to get some action there.
A few minutes later "The Master" is back on the line, "Stevie O is here and he will go out with you" he says. Fine I reply and after lunch I phone Steve and make arrangements to have him pick me up at 4:30. I phone 2:40 to get him to come along to film with his camera as a backup. I have my two cameras but the best one I have is not that now and can act up as I found out filming some causeway footage the last two weeks.
As Steve and I head to the filming area we pass Buckeye and I phone him on the cell and ask him if he would like to join in, he says yes. We are joined by buck later and it is not too long until Steve is into a nice one, I film the battle and just as we get it near the shore it falls off.
. Then Steve misses a fish and shatters his Maple Leaf Drennan on some boulders.
buck has some misfortune as well hooking and losing everything to a fallen log on the otherside of the river.
2:40 slips, gets a couple of wet feet and a bruised shin. I get blamed as I had asked him to get closer incase the anxious anglers hook another one. I pace the bank as the time is drawing short as the bright sun starts to slip into the Western sky. I am like a cranky movie director on a movie shoot putting way too much pressure on the boys who are doing their best for the cause. I had said earlier to Buckeye and anyone else who would listen we would get one but it will most likely come too late for the best light.
As darkness begins to fall it looks like we will not have the steelhead clip for the evening news, it is almost too dark but like any good movie script the ending is good as Steve is into one and we are successful in getting it to the shore. Buck holds the light from the broken camera on the action and I get the shots I need but Buckeye almost spoils it by knocking off his hat that falls into the water beside the steelhead just before it is released. I hope the editing guys at Global do not include that blooper shot.
With the film in the can I hurry home, transfer the video to a DVD. I am pleased the light did the job and the shot looks OK. After all this work I hope they use the footage for the story.
I deliver the footage to Vancouver and decide to pump some bugs as I am not far away from White Rock and the tide is just right, its on the ebb. I phone Rodney and see if he would like to join me to capture some ghost shrimp but he says going to bed early as he may go fishing trip tomorrow. Rodney go to bed early? Well it is nearing midnight.
This is turning into a bit of a long day a bit silly going for bugs but I am getting desperate for a fish after 2 weeks of no fish to the beach. However in my own defense this gravel thing is taking up a lot of fishing time. Buckeye phones me to see if I made it OK to Vancouver, most likely worrying that I would fall asleep. Nice gesture but he does not know when you get over 60 you need little sleep.
I also remember I am missing the Leaf game as the boys are
rolling, rolling, rollling right alone ;Of late.
As I arrive at the beach the tide is just right and I am cautious as I creep to the beach. No one thankfully is around that could disrupt me or worse still report me to the police who could take me away in a white straight jacket after being seen wandering around the beach at such a hour. But it was nearly a full moon, you know what that can do to some of us.
As I reach the pumping zone, a number of mallard who I have disturbed from their slumber quack loudly at this intruder as they take flight to find another place to roost.
The bugs are easy to find and in no time I have my limit of this orange gold that I hope to be a deadly bait this coming week. I quickly load the cargo in the truck careful not to spill some salt water as I turn the wheel of my wife's car towards home. The clock says 12:26, AM.
Just before I turn onto Hwy 99 another creature of the night, a large rat scurries across the road. Maybe a stowaway from a passing freighter, looking for a new home here in British Columbia.
As I near Aldergrove I see flashing lights, police, a road block? If it is, I hope my tiredness does not show and I look a little tipsy. Would look a bit strange, me in waders being lead to the Breathalyzer van
. I am safe as it is fire of some sort, Maybe I should film it for Global, no, that would be real crazy, driving back to Burnaby. I have pushed the limit as it is. I instead give a report to CKWX and the news guy said he will check with the police what actually is going on. 10 minutes later he gives his traffic report and indeed it is a major fire, must have been out as I saw no smoke when I sneaked by but my eyes were a bit foggy.
I turn up the Hockey music on a CD, one that I played at Minor Hockey Day in Chillwack two weeks ago to help fight off the sleep tunes like One Moment In Time, We Are The Champions etc, I arrive home safely and it took me only 50 minutes, not bad and I am in my welcome bed, finally after a very long day.
Daylight is now breaking as I type, better take a few bugs from the water and see if I can break that fishless streak as another journal is just around the corner. Life is sure good here in the Valley. Once again I hope they use that hard earned footage, maybe 10 seconds that took over 5 hours to shoot and deliver. Thanks 2:40, buck, Steve, Buckeye and of course for that steelhead to bite, but why did it take so long. Good thing I was not fishing, we would still be there.
Sorry for the spelling errors, spell check is not working will correct later as I am going fishing.
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Topic: Trying To Catch One For The TV Camera, The Journal, March 18 (Read 5525 times)