No Journal today as I did not catch a coho as I thought I would.
I arrive in the Hydro Bridge area of the Vedder, a little after first light. Even then I was a little late even though I got up at 4 to do some work in preparation for the CVRCC BC Rivers' Day event. The first thing of the day is to place an order at Tims. When I arrive at Tims the sign on the door, closed from 10pm to 5 am, I thought they never closed.
I order a double double as soon as the doors swing open and write out the order of 13 dozen donuts 7 doz. muffins, a few boxes of Timbits, cookies and two vats of Coffee. got to keep the volunteers happy.
Back home for a few more e-mails to send out and get the gear ready, finally off to the flow. What a nice fall morning, not shirt sleeve but still comfortable.
As I settle into my chosen run I notice very few anglers about, lots of room.
As I put on the first piece of roe and are adjusting the Maple Leaf Thompson River Balsa Wood float to a depth which I guess to be about 4 feet off the bottom a fly guy is into a nice bright pink. The sight of a fish makes me ready for action too.
It takes only a couple of drifts and the float dips a bit, then plunges from view, I am on too long a drift I am too late on the strike as well and I come up empty.
A new bait sees the same action and the same results, a bit rusty or what.
A few cast later the float's red top is once again gone I strike firmly, solid, the line peels from the nearly 40 year old Avon, her clicker is off but the spinning action of the reel against ones palm is pleasure enough.
I see a sliver flash, coho maybe, no, its fighting like a chinook jack which after a couple of minutes as it shows its head I know it is just that. It is bright, a fresh fish, not long from the ocean so I retain it.
Then I get thinking, its over 50 cm, is the regulation now up to 62 cm I wonder as I start fishing again.
Darn I think, I saw it on the web site this morning but did not read Rodney's post properly, what a beak I am today. As I ponder and fish I am into another jack this one is not over 50, it joins the other on the shore, its fresh too.
What should I do, better mark it just in case, no a cell phone sits in my pocket, phone calls are made, no one answers on the first couple of tries, to early maybe, even no answer from "The Master", Rodney will be in bed
no use phoning there. Finally I reach Terry who goes to the post and I am relieved, its is one over 62 cm so no need to mark the fish in one of the two spaces I have left on the license.
During all the phone calls the bite has seemed to have ended so I bundle up my catch back to the Leaf Mobile.
On the way out I stop to clean the two jacks, the run across the bar looks inviting, time for a couple of casts, whats the hurry, I am retired. I take the fish with me and set them on the bar.
A fresh bait is again attached and after maybe 6 or so casts the red top is gone again and another fish is fighting like the first two, as I beach it I see its size to be between the first two but bright as a newly minted dollar, it suffers the same fate as his brothers did.
I decide to quit, three fish are enough. On cleaning my catch of the day I see two are white, the middle fish is red.
I visit the local FOC office to see if they can come to the BC Rivers' Day event and then off to The Blue Cup for a look, to see what action is happening there.
I see a pink coming ashore as I scramble down the bank. On my arrival I see two chaps short floating roe. I watch for a while, not much happening but pinks are breaking water.
The two short floaters come over for a chat, they are vistors to FWR, nice guys. They have done well with some nice jacks as well an a nice hatchery coho, lucky guys. No not lucky, just good anglers.
As we talk a chap tossing a blade beaches a nice clean chum doe, the first I have seen even though I had not been out much. I guess the adult chinooks will not be far behind.
I look at the chum on my way out, it is clean, the fellow does not want the roe, I accept it.
All in all not a bad day, the jacks are there as well as the odd coho and even a chum. Go get them, the season has started for you and me. Gosh maybe this is The Journal after all,a warm welcome to it, on FWR, your top web page for fishing information in the North West.