Ouch, is the rain really pounding down now, and the wind as well. Does not look good for tomorrow now.
Part Two of today's outing now.
I thread on another prawn tail with my hands shaking slightly with the thought racing through my head that my first steelhead is only seconds away.
I flip my offering just where the small pocket starts to deepen, 20 feet or so above the root wad, the drennan drifts slowly into the "hot" zone, my eyes focused on the red capped drennan, looking for a tell tail dip or hesitation of its journey.
First cast nothing, second, third and fourth the drennan drifts without any obstruction. Have I scared my quarry? On the fifth cast when I think I would not have another opportunity the red top is gone, I strike this time, a nice head shake follows and then the fish like it did previously swims towards me. My 62 year old heart is starting to quicken. O I hope it is steelhead so I can rub it into BS for all the abuse he gave me today on Sport Chat.
The fish then turns headed for the root, I try to hold back a bit to keep it from the roots. The fish does not like this restraint and boils to the top. I now see it is a Chum.
Disappointed a bit but at least I know a fish can see my bait in the coloured condition and I now know chum like prawn tails as well.
The fish stays on for 30 seconds or so before falling off. As I have only one more run below to fish below me I put on another prawn and a few casts later, another fish has gulped down the prawn tail. Starting to think these guys may prove to be more productive than I first thought. This fish is another chum or the same one that enjoyed the two previous prawn tails so much he could not resist having a third one for his evening meal.
I fight this chum to the beach and snap a picture prior to release as I have noticed some posters like to see a picture of the landed fish. Although this was just a chum it is still a fish and should be appreciated and respected as much as a fresh run steelhead would be. It, along with all fish that call our rivers, streams and water ways their home must be treasured by us all. Besides it gave me a few minutes of excitement.
As I remove the hook from the roof of the buck chum of about 8 or so pounds shows it displeasure to me by raking my thumb with it developing dog's fangs. Should have used pliers I guess.
With the fish now safely released and I am sure now hiding from danger right under the root I head to the last spot I wish to fish as darkness is closing in around me. Waves of gulls along with the odd string of Canadian gesse are heading to their nightly roost at Cultus Lake also signalling the end of daylight and their day of feeding in the surrounding fields.
I run into a father and son angling just below me. They have nothing today but the dad said the fellow fishing with him a few days ago had lost a steelhead.
The last run I fish gives me no more challenges so I head back to the Leaf Mobile as the rain starts up again. I am content with my short trip, my second of the year in search for the first steelhead of the new steelhead season.
I stop at Fred's to register for the Wally Hall Junior Memorial Derby and run in to Toothpick Tom and Jon.
I tease them both that I got one and get a little mileage out of them before caving in that it was not a steelhead.
I notice on the board that at least 3 steelhead have been weighed in, I believe the top was a bit over 12 pounds.
It is time to get out there thats for sure, the steelhead are there and of course so are the chum.
Pictures of chum, the slot he was in, of the prawn tail cured and plain for cohokid to see when Rodney has time to post them.
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Topic: Vedder River Dec. 22 (Read 8550 times)