Dodging bullets and snowflakes!

With the way the Fall season started it was quite disheartening to not see my favorite river come into shape at all in the month of November. A good shot of precipitation early in December would bring her into shape during the second deer hunt.


The drive up was dicey and the hike in to the river was eerie knowing that a number of fully armed hunters were giddy with anticipation at the chance to shoot something!

Knowing that the water was prime and that there were lots of fish in the system we were somewhat concerned that perhaps the fish would be spread out pretty good so we made a gameplan that would see us cover some serious miles. Scott was coming down from Port Elgin to join Adam and I so we would take full advantage of having two vehicles. This would be Scott's inaugural visit to this river and I was certain he would be in awe of the beauty and grandeur that she has to offer.


We dropped Scott's truck off at the pull out point and proceeded to our access point. Disappointed to see another vehicle already there we shrugged it off and followed a single set of footprints all the way to the river. Arriving at the river I was happy to recognize the other angler. It was Nardi and I spent much of the first light minutes chatting - by the time I got to fishing it was not five minutes later we had already helped each other out...



During the hike to the river we talked loudly so as to help limit any chance of getting shot at by an over anxious hillbilly. We talked of our expectations for the day and Adam and I agreed that our 'goal' would be for each of the three of us to get 10 good hookups. This was not so much about the number as it was a pact to share the water and see that we all get ample opportunity to do what we love to do - catch fish. Now a 30 fish prediction might well seem to some to be a little aggressive but with the timing and conditions we knew it would not be outside the realm of possibility.

We easily doubled our expectations!!!!

The first pool of the morning would see the four of us ( including Nardi ) hook close to 15 fish.


We said our good byes and good lucks to Nardi and ventured off down stream in order that we get to our pull out point before dark. While we wouldn't find that degree of success again we did hit fish everywhere on the system. Each run/pool would give up a few fish, mainly in the tailout sections.



Scott spent the entire day running a single bead and he held his own. His landing ratio was not the best and I am certain that is due to the bead. But the smile on his face at the end of the day tells me he very much enjoyed his trip down from Bruce County.



We would fish some pretty stellar water as the snow accumulated all morning.


And we saw a lot of deer - more than the hunters who were chasing them I am sure. We had a herd of does and a big buck come to the river and appear to want to cross where we were but instead bolted up the cliff with ease. We didn't hear a ton of gun shots but each one sent a chill up my spine.

There were not a ton of photos taken today as it was cold and wet. But I did manage a couple nice grip and grins after the snow stopped and the sun came out ( albeit briefly ).



As we approached the last pools before our exit point it became quite evident that it has become the most popular section on the river. The section has obviously fished very well but it is amazing how quickly word gets around. It is not the easiest of access points and I became a somewhat emotionally detatched when I saw the masses.


After fishing all day and seeing no one but Nardi, coming around that corner and seeing the 5 guys in the picture, and 4 guys behind me, was devastating. I should have expected it and normally it doesn't bother me but for some reason this time it just zapped all enthusiasm from me. Perhaps it was a result of already fishing hard and having great success but none the less that crowd threw up a big stop sign for me. I am pretty sure Adam wanted to fish down a little further but I was done ( and I think Scott was also done )

Adam ended up chatting with the gang around a fire and I made my way down to get him so that we could take off. On my way I threw a few drifts where the guys had been fishing all day and actually hooked 3 fish in 5 drifts. If nothing else that certainly validates the fact that fishing second water isn't necessarily a hinderance for success. I felt pretty good about myself doing that as they all watched -I hope that doesn't make me a bad person.....


The hike out was even slower than the drive up. I am getting pretty old to be bouncing around the river like that and the wet snow covering the slippery rocks made for a long day. My back was screaming and my elbows were hurting from numerous wipe outs over the course of the trip.


I briefly entertained the idea of heading back up again today but chose to sleep in and spend the morning typing and drinking coffee. I only work a few days next week and then off for a while so with some more precipitation in the forecast I am thinking this spectacular season of 2012 might just continue until the end of the year!!

Cheers!!