The Queen has Arrived

The last couple of weeks have had me a little bit worried about a particular situation. A previous entry shows Anson and I out on the little boat dad bought last summer. I think dad used it all of twice, but I was able to get out on the "Queen Mary" several times, which made for a fun trout/kokanee season. Well this week dad told me he was going to sell the ol' girl. Bummer! My best hopes were that i would at least get out once or twice before she goes. The other night dad offered her to me. I mentioned that we could arrange some sort of payment plan and that I would talk it over with the most beautiful woman in the world, Annika. Lets just say that negotiations went on for several days and I wasn't gaining much ground. Long story short - we were having dinner over at mom and dad's when the boat was brought up. Annie was still a little hesitant so dad went and bumped the price down... way down. Well, money is still money - especially when you have a little one and a tuition bill. Annika, the reasonable one that she is, suggested that we spend our hard-earned money on something we need, like a matress (we've been using one mom and dad bought new last year). When dad heard that we were going to buy a matress instead, he came out with an offer that we couldn't refuse. For the discount price he had already established for the boat alone, he threw in the matress along with the boat. "Done," was my response (to no contest from Annika). So now, with title and registration card in hand, I am the proud new owner of the Queen Mary (soon to be re-named.... or re-painted.... or re-somethin'). Yes, the Queen has arrived... and just in time for trout season! I've added a before and after picture of Annika and Anson with the boat. I photo-shopped the boat to make it look nice (Annika and Anson don't need photo-shopping to look nice) and to give an idea of what it might look like if I ever get around to really cleaning her up. Enjoy. And Tight Lines!

April at Last!!!

Ah, yes! April is a beloved month by almost all anglers, not matter what techniques or method you prefer. April, blessed April, signals the opening of fishing season all across the West. Here's a shot of Anson and I out on Wickiup last season. This year I bought the little guy an ice-fishing set up - basically a mini fishing rod/reel combo - Just his size!!! We do have to wait until near the end of the month to get on with it, but THIS is the month where we hit the lakes and rivers, hoping that this is the season we land that trophy. But even without the prospect of a trophy fish, the time that will be spent on the lakes (East, Paulina, Wickiup, Crane, S. Twin, etc.) and rivers (Upper, and Lower Deschutes, Fall, Crooked, etc) will be almost therapeutic. I saw the boat, "The Queen Mary," up-side-down at mom and dad's today. Every time I look at it all I can think is, "Just a couple more weeks!!!" You can bet I'll be over there tuning up the ol' 4 HP Johnson and turning that boat over and onto the trailer in the coming days. Yee-haw! Trout season is here. I think I'll start at Wickiup in the Deschutes arm, or over by Goose Island this year. But once the road up to East and Pauline opens up, I'll likely spend most of my fishing time up there - jigg'n for Yokes and troll'n for naughty little browns! Aw-yeah! Tight lines!

Strike-out for Steelies

The family ventured to the Northern Oregon coast for a week of spring breaking. It was a relaxing week of beach bumming and hot tubbing. The city of Seaside has lots to offer, including an array of excellent fresh seafood diners, endless beaches, and a rich history. The Necanicum River runs smack through the middle of town, it's mouth emptying into the Pacific just North of town. The Necanicum hosts seasonal runs of steelhead and salmon, as well as coastal cutthroat trout. I figured this would be an excellent opportunity to, yet again, try and entice that ever-elusive steelhead to bite. It rained all week and at high tide the river was swollen. This is a good thing for fish coming form the ocean into the river system, but a bad thing (depending on who you ask) for the fisherman up stream trying to catch fish. The nasty weather and high water does a couple of things; 1, the fluctuation in temperatures puts the fish off. When it gets too cold or too warm, the fish find the slow, deep spots and camp out, unwilling to bite anything unless it is presented perfectly into their pretty little portals (mouths), and 2, when there is more water to hide in, the fish do just that. They get spread out and a fisherman is required to cover much more water - chances of hooking up are reduced dramatically, and 3, lots of rain, in addition to raising the water level, clouds up the water. Rain hits the muddy banks and runs off into the river making it impossible to see through, let alone wade in. So I was going into this knowing that the fishing would be tough, but with a bit hope that luck might find its way onto my stringer. I parked at Kloochie Creek County Park and began walking in the rain down a road that I hoped would intersect the river, or at least give me access. Along the way I saw several Elk crossing my path. If the Elk were out and about, they why wouldn't the fish be? Strange logic, I know. But I was desperate. The rain came harder and the road kept getting longer so I decided to turn back and fish the river near the highway. I found a perfect little seam ruining along the edge of a deep hole. First up was a #5 Vibrax Blue Fox in green (I didn't dare break out the fly gear in windy, rainy conditions like these). The darker the better for dirty water! Nothing. Then I tried a spoon - the trust Little Cleo in silver/blue, treble hook replaced with a #1 Siwash hook. Still nothing. Then I broke out the drift gear: a float 3 feet above a pink-pearl corky and red yarn. Blanked. After about 4 hours of standing in the rain and losing expensive gear on rocks and debris, I packed up and went home early. Bummer, dude. Oh well. The hunt goes on. Steelhead season is coming to an area kinda-sorta near you (me). Should be good starting in June on the Lower D. But to satisfy my need to catch something at the coast, I bought a PVC clam gun and tried my hand at clamming. Turned up 4 of them critters and fried the dickens out of them. Fun to catch but I think I'll let the pro's cook them next time. It was like chewing on a bundle of rubber bands. Didn't taste half bad though. Tight lines.