Thought I'd post a report about todays trip. 5th trip out for me to the Cap and as I usually do in the early part of the season I go down Rabbit Lane way and fish the Granny Smith and the numerous pools that I have discovered over the years. Got to the river at 8 am and not a soul in sight which I thought would happen being a Monday.
Fishing chum roe and not much happening for the first hour except the beauty of mother nature and the calmness of being so close to the city yet so far away. All of a sudden at the end of the pool I see a splash and venture to guess its a lovely blue black. I make my cast as perfect and smooth as a balletist performing a pirouette and softly adjust it so that its right in line with the prize.
Drat, nothing on this cast. My drift ends and I quickly reel up hoping I can re-cast, locate and catch this beauty before she scoots through to another spot as early in the year these coho are as hard to catch as dragons teeth. But this cast and subsequent ones fail to find the pot at the end of this rainbow and with a sigh I settle in, relax and enjoy the serenity of it all.
A couple hours pass by quickly what with a good book to read, fishing, watching and snacking but I eventually grow edgy and decide to try another spot not far away. Its only a short hike, 15 minutes tops and I am again looking at a fresh pool with not a soul in sight and my anticipation begins to build as I put bait on my hook. Again the quiet is beautiful to behold. That we can all drive, hike and fish in such a magical river only steps from our backyards is nothing short of wonderful.
I fish this pool for about an hour and a half and see nothing rise nor feel any bites, time to move.
The third pool I visit is again within minutes to reach and as with any fisherman my optimism is again at a high. I rebait and cast and do as I've done for the last 30 years fishing this river. Smile, enjoy, breathe deeply and rejoice in lifes little wonders. An hour passes too fast and still nothing. Will I get skunked again ? In the 4 previous trips I have only hooked 3 fish and was only able to get one in so I wouldn't be surprised if I got shutout again. Patience is a fisherman's best friend.
As my float drifts half way down the pool my mind starts thinking maybe its time to go as it has now reached 1 pm and then all of a sudden my float dips, turns and is gone. I quickly set the hook and immediately feel and see this brute twisting side to side in attempt to get off. I know this is a big one and I say to myself don't lose him Al. Then with a show of strenghth and cunning there is a huge jump from the water and as it twists in the air I get to view its exquisiteness.
My heart is beating fast as I reel and walk to get closer to where this fish is and then she jumps again. I fear I have lost her as I allowed some slack in the line this time but she is still there and is peeling my line off in a true display of her strength. I'm worried my 8 lb test won't hold as this fish for sure is a 6 maybe a 7 lber and with the way it is fighting I just don't know. Again for the third time she jumps and as she settles in the water again I decide its time to try and land her. She is only 5 feet away but it seems so far as the closer to shore I get her the more animated she becomes.
Finally as she reaches the shore and I attempt to pull her past the medium sized rocks my line snaps, Oh No I scream !!!
But as I look to where she is I can see she is winded from the fight and I only have seconds to make my choice.
Into the water I jump with both feet and I slide both my hands under her tail and head, I have her. And then I do what any knowledgeable fisherman does, I immediately check to make sure she is a hatchery fish.
It is almost a foregone conclusion as I look to where the adipose fin should be as almost all Cap coho are hatchery. But when I look, there it is, a full adipose. She is wild. My heart sinks and then I think, coho for sure? I quickly check for white gums and black tongue, wide tail base, yes and yes and she is chrome silver just like the thousand other Cap coho's I have caught in my lifetime. She must be released and so still standing a foot deep in the river I lower her back to her birthplace and in an instant she is gone.
My heart is still beating and my breathe heavy and adrenalized as I step out of the water and attempt to regroup my senses. That was the most beautiful fish I have Ever caught in the Capilano and I shall never forget her. Neither all the Steelies nor all the other coho or springs shall ever equal what she has given me today. A truly magical and amazing moment in time and it allows one to realize that this is Why we fish. I re-hook and fish some more but my heart isn't in it for nothing could equal what had just occurred to me. With a smile and a glance over my shoulder I pack up and leave.
For those of you that will be saying, pics, pics, sorry I don't do that. You'll just have to take my word for it, or don't. Wishing you all the Best as the warmer weather approaches and I hope you all reach your dreams.
Good Fishing All !!!!
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Topic: Capilano River, April 28th 2014 (Read 19081 times)