Chris phoned this morning and said "Let's go Lew, we always hook fish when we fish together!" I don't usually fish on weekends, (lucky me), but as I had hooked a nice fish and lost it yesterday, I said see you in 20 minutes. Chris said he had some nice easy water to get to for me. What a nice day, no wind, water conditions really great and no one in the hole we wanted to fish. Chris as guide says go ahead as he hooks on a prawn. Second cast and the old holler from me, "There's one! ". As Chris looks up, the fish boils, runs right at me, turns for the deep water, and is gone. After several choice words and a "beeko" from Chris, we covered the water again but to no avail. The maple leaf drennan wouldn't go down for Chris, but the Canuck hat I had to counter Chris's leaf hat had worked for me.
We fished a lot of nice water, talked to others but did not see any more fish. I probably had another chance but was looking down river at a brush pile, when Chris yelled at me, as he couldn't figure why I wasn't setting the hook as the float was under for about 2 seconds. Couldn't get what ever it was to come back. Another "beeko be gone" from Chris as even the old veterans make the rookie errors.
Also was talking about putting a rubber stopper just above the swivel to let the lead bounce against it, that it was a good idea. Checked my knot as I was going to put a stopper on, and the line broke with almost no pull on it. It would not have held even a white fish, so again check those knots and use the rubber bumper. No more fish for us but what a great day to be out.
Chris and I were able to yak about many good fish outs together, and how many times we had met on the river and hooked fish together.
Came home to do some chores after a late lunch with Chris, and he called that he had gone back to the hole that I had probably missed one in, and though he didn't hit any fish, he found a five dollar bill, so he is calling that hole the "Fin" hole now. Some of you younger guys may have to think about that one for a while.
After over 60 years fishing the Vedder, it still is most enjoyable to get out with good buddies, even though it is far more crowded now and the ethics of some fishermen leaves much to be desired at times, although it was very good today..
Thanks Chris for guiding today, maybe I'll guide you in next time.