With the rising Fraser River once again, this time by rain in the upper Fraser river watershed the opportunity was there to do some exploring for another chinook.
I had hoped to get away Wednesday afternoon but trip got delayed for one reason or another but I finally had the Leaf Mobile piggy packing Leaf Craft #2 at 3:00 Thursday afternoon.
On the way checked in by cell phone with CEJ who had just returned from the USA and is in a few days on his way to the BC - Alaska border for some salmon, prawn and halibut, a 11 day trip, lucky guy and wish I could join him. Imagine a 11 day fishing journal on FWR.
Even though it is late in the day, the second day of summer it is just great a beautiful day so I take my time, sight see, do some stock video filming, and run into a friend who works at a FN office.
We talk about the current fishing issue and both agree that we must do all we can to protect the fish for the future. I talk about the work the Chilliwack/Vedder River Cleanup Coalition and give her the link to the page. She is doing work on FN history and I ask how long they have been around the Valley, she says some archeologists say 9,000 years that is 90 centuries. I thought the ice age covered BC or was that 10,000 years ago. I ask about the winter dwellings they lived in called pit houses. They were holes in the ground that I know about and have seen the remnants of them but I wondered how they were protected. She tells me they were framed by cottonwood limbs and then thatched by cedar boughts to keep out the elements. Must research them more on the net when time permits.
Finally I am on the water at 6:30 and find Gary and brother Dean hard at it. Gary says nothing yet and they have been fishing around 2 hours after a late start as well.
The "Randog" float, yes have not lost it yet Randy,
goes for its first swim as it is buried by a, get this a 12 to 14 inch whitefish, how I hooked it with my 2-0 gammy and the pro cured prawn tail in its tiny mouth was something else. I then lose 2 pike minnows and then when tying up a 55 Kit-A- Mat on the spare pole as I am getting it set up for a change of pace, action.
As "Randog's float starts its magical dance, I drop the Kit-A Mat in a clatter to the bottom of the Leaf Craft just as the float dips below the surface.
I am on the set a little late but I feel weight as soon as I make contact with my terminal gear. The fight is now on as the fish now feels the hook and starts her first run, I play it for a while and then grab my video camera just in time to capture for eternity a very nice jump as the 6 to 7 pound blunt nosed Fraser River chinook breaks the tranquility of the setting and the glass - like surface of the pre dusk darken water. As it tries to free itself from the clutchs of the barbless hook it jumps again, captured again on film.
I put on the clicker of my 30 year old Avon Supreme reel so to get some sound, ah the sweet sound of line peeling from a center pin is sweet music to this anglers ears.
The fish fights well for its size and time to bring it to the gaff.
Yes a gaft as I did not have a net as when getting ready to leave remembered the net was in the Leaf craft over a Gwyn's, no time to get it so grapped a gaft hanging in the shed.
This gaft was one my dad had for many years. Actually it was one I believe he bought at a sale somewhere and had hanging in his rec room. It still had the auction house tag on it, it says "fish gaff Native Hand - Crafted, lot #226" Dad had written the price on it, $6.00. It has about a 30 inch handle made of cedar.
Dad was most likely looking down at me saying, "how dare that you are using this work of art", sorry dad. Gary jokely says "someone should now be filming you now". He was most likely right as gaff are not used on salmon by many people I would think now. I can not remember when I last did. I do remember however gaffing one for cousin David in the 50's. As the 15 to 20 pound fish in Chemainus harbour came to the boat on its side I gaffted it right through the middle.
Needless to say David never let me forget that especially as he had a commercial license and was selling fish then, not much of a market that day on this chinook.
I thought of this as I miss the fish twice, going for the head area each time, being carefull not to knock it off. The third attempt is successful as the razor sharp hook is lethal to the fish's head as it goes through the gill plate area.
I am pleased with my 7th hooked chinook now, 5 of them landed adults, 1 large jack and one lost spring. Fresh fish once again for the dinner plate. It is now close to 9. Gary, Dean pack up as well, as they get set to leave empty handed two nice fish roll. This gives me something to look forward to tomorrow, day 2 of another fishing adventure. I make a small fire, pull up the plastic milk carton chair and watch as darkness again embraces me in its nightly grasp.
Day 2 report will follow later this evening as Gary returns and I meet 2 great people Dave and Lisa who prove even if you have a couple of hours to fish after work success can come in the quest for a blunt nosed Fraser River Chinook, stay tunned if you wish.
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Topic: Success Again With A Blunt Nosed Fraser Chinook (Read 2799 times)