smalliesam
05-30-2009, 12:53 PM
<p>The term wet weather would not do justice to pattern we’ve been in since February of this year. Seems I’m dumping my rain gauge more than I’m fishing this Spring. I’m doing my best not to complain, as I know that we need it more than I need to fish. But, it’s hard to not be disappointed sometimes and I’m sure everyone can relate to that. I guess if I trout fished more, I’m get my ya-ya’s out on a more regular basis. But, I just can’t bring myself to give into that, just yet anyway. The week preceding Memorial Day, the rain let up just enough for a couple of days just enough to allow my local flow to become marginally fishable. So, Saturday, Memorial Day weekend, I loaded up the T-120 and headed out for a paddle up.</p>
<p>One issue I seem to struggle with is that I always seem to forget about the crowds on holiday weekends or the fishing window seems to always fall on holiday weekends. This was illustrated to me Saturday when I was forced to go to Plan B on my location. When I arrived at my first choice, I was happy to see no one had grabbed my spot, even though I was running an hour later than I’d hoped. But, in the short time it took to drive up the road to turn around so I could be pointed in a homeward direction at days end, someone had nabbed my spot and was already getting their gear out. It’s a small river and I wasn’t in the mood for leap-frogging a complete stranger, so I decided to go with Plan B.</p>
<p>Plan B was back upriver and even though it was a good spot, I knew the flow would be the highest I’d tried it on and it would be difficult. But, I felt up to the task, so I prepped my yak and headed upriver. I normally wade a great deal on these paddle ups, but with only about 2-3’ visibility and a strong current, I decided to fish from the yak and only wade where it was necessary to get above the drops. As I’d anticipated, it was harder than usual, but not that bad. I could actually paddle up some of the gentler drops that I normally have to get out and drag the boat over.</p>
<p>About 1/3 up this 3 mile run, there is a ledge that you’re not going to paddle up no matter what. But, there is a nice eddy, right at the top of the ledge that’s an easy jumping off point to get off to wade over the ledge. I’d done this several times on lower flows without incident, so I felt confident I’d have no problem. With that I guess I wasn’t cautious enough and barreled into the top the eddy just enough to put the front end of my T-120 into the rapid above and tip me over. It happened so fast that there was nothing I could do but go with it and start trying to grab rods and whatever else wasn’t tied down. No one wants to see the bottom of their kayak, but I’ve tipped over before and I’ve learned that’s the best way to handle it. Go with it and as your rolling, get prepared to hit the river bottom running to grab your stuff. Luckily, I grabbed one rod that was floating away quick enough. The other, while well bent as it stayed in it’s rod holder, was fine once I got the boat righted. Unfortunately, my cooler was not tied down like per the usual and was floating downstream beside the Gatorade I had out. With that, I had nothing do drink and about 2/3 of the distance remaining the run.</p>
<p>Embarrassed, wet and thirsty, I decided I still had my gear and I’d proceed on. I’d pick up the cooler on the way downstream and go as far upriver as I could manage. I knew now I’d be too tired if I tried to go entire distance, as the drops got a little harder to climb the further upriver you went. So, about 1/2 mile upriver from there I’m standing at a point where I’d have to wade several hundred yards, in strong current to get to the next bit of water I could paddle. I determined that was where I’d better turn around as I’d be too spent for what I needed to do the next day if I went much further.</p>
<p>As I float and fish my way back downstream, the fishing is slow. There are some good spots, but nothing seems to be moving. I work my way back down to a couple hundred yards above the ledge I spilled over. It’s a good spot with a stream that dumps in creating a pool at bend in a tree-lined section of the river. I’ve gotten some nice smallies there in the past and it almost never disappoints. I notice baitish are stirring to hit the mayflies and caddis that are hatching as the sun is finally peeking through. I can hear fish busting, even though I hadn’t spotted one. Since the minnows are moving, I decide I’ll switch to my old faithful, Flashback Seducer. First cast into the stream pool, I see a small largemouth make a swipe at it. Finally, some action. From the stream pool down to the ledge is a good run of 3-5’ deep broken water flowing over boulders. The next hour I caught 6 smallies, mostly dinks. I did get one nice 15.5” just above the ledge in the push and missed one about the same size just below the stream pool.</p>
<p><strong>15.5” WNC Smallie</strong></p>
<p><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v502/sampotts1/IMGP0927.jpg" alt="" /></p>
<p>I fished that push above the ledge about as hard as I could and decided it was time to make my way on downriver. As I floated the long, deep stretch below the ledge I’d flipped on, I happened across 2 pairs of fishermen, the second pair having spotted my cooler underneath the trees just above where the deep pool drops down. I retrieved my cooler, but didn’t draw even a flash from a smallie as I made my way back downriver to the take-out. It being a holiday weekend, was as busy as I’d ever seen with bank fisherman. In the end, I was pretty pleased with the day, I’d gotten some fish and survived another spill without donating a rig to the river gods. Even though I was never in any danger of drowning, I did learn a valuable lesson about strong current and the nose of my kayak. Sometimes you just get lucky.</p>
<p>One issue I seem to struggle with is that I always seem to forget about the crowds on holiday weekends or the fishing window seems to always fall on holiday weekends. This was illustrated to me Saturday when I was forced to go to Plan B on my location. When I arrived at my first choice, I was happy to see no one had grabbed my spot, even though I was running an hour later than I’d hoped. But, in the short time it took to drive up the road to turn around so I could be pointed in a homeward direction at days end, someone had nabbed my spot and was already getting their gear out. It’s a small river and I wasn’t in the mood for leap-frogging a complete stranger, so I decided to go with Plan B.</p>
<p>Plan B was back upriver and even though it was a good spot, I knew the flow would be the highest I’d tried it on and it would be difficult. But, I felt up to the task, so I prepped my yak and headed upriver. I normally wade a great deal on these paddle ups, but with only about 2-3’ visibility and a strong current, I decided to fish from the yak and only wade where it was necessary to get above the drops. As I’d anticipated, it was harder than usual, but not that bad. I could actually paddle up some of the gentler drops that I normally have to get out and drag the boat over.</p>
<p>About 1/3 up this 3 mile run, there is a ledge that you’re not going to paddle up no matter what. But, there is a nice eddy, right at the top of the ledge that’s an easy jumping off point to get off to wade over the ledge. I’d done this several times on lower flows without incident, so I felt confident I’d have no problem. With that I guess I wasn’t cautious enough and barreled into the top the eddy just enough to put the front end of my T-120 into the rapid above and tip me over. It happened so fast that there was nothing I could do but go with it and start trying to grab rods and whatever else wasn’t tied down. No one wants to see the bottom of their kayak, but I’ve tipped over before and I’ve learned that’s the best way to handle it. Go with it and as your rolling, get prepared to hit the river bottom running to grab your stuff. Luckily, I grabbed one rod that was floating away quick enough. The other, while well bent as it stayed in it’s rod holder, was fine once I got the boat righted. Unfortunately, my cooler was not tied down like per the usual and was floating downstream beside the Gatorade I had out. With that, I had nothing do drink and about 2/3 of the distance remaining the run.</p>
<p>Embarrassed, wet and thirsty, I decided I still had my gear and I’d proceed on. I’d pick up the cooler on the way downstream and go as far upriver as I could manage. I knew now I’d be too tired if I tried to go entire distance, as the drops got a little harder to climb the further upriver you went. So, about 1/2 mile upriver from there I’m standing at a point where I’d have to wade several hundred yards, in strong current to get to the next bit of water I could paddle. I determined that was where I’d better turn around as I’d be too spent for what I needed to do the next day if I went much further.</p>
<p>As I float and fish my way back downstream, the fishing is slow. There are some good spots, but nothing seems to be moving. I work my way back down to a couple hundred yards above the ledge I spilled over. It’s a good spot with a stream that dumps in creating a pool at bend in a tree-lined section of the river. I’ve gotten some nice smallies there in the past and it almost never disappoints. I notice baitish are stirring to hit the mayflies and caddis that are hatching as the sun is finally peeking through. I can hear fish busting, even though I hadn’t spotted one. Since the minnows are moving, I decide I’ll switch to my old faithful, Flashback Seducer. First cast into the stream pool, I see a small largemouth make a swipe at it. Finally, some action. From the stream pool down to the ledge is a good run of 3-5’ deep broken water flowing over boulders. The next hour I caught 6 smallies, mostly dinks. I did get one nice 15.5” just above the ledge in the push and missed one about the same size just below the stream pool.</p>
<p><strong>15.5” WNC Smallie</strong></p>
<p><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v502/sampotts1/IMGP0927.jpg" alt="" /></p>
<p>I fished that push above the ledge about as hard as I could and decided it was time to make my way on downriver. As I floated the long, deep stretch below the ledge I’d flipped on, I happened across 2 pairs of fishermen, the second pair having spotted my cooler underneath the trees just above where the deep pool drops down. I retrieved my cooler, but didn’t draw even a flash from a smallie as I made my way back downriver to the take-out. It being a holiday weekend, was as busy as I’d ever seen with bank fisherman. In the end, I was pretty pleased with the day, I’d gotten some fish and survived another spill without donating a rig to the river gods. Even though I was never in any danger of drowning, I did learn a valuable lesson about strong current and the nose of my kayak. Sometimes you just get lucky.</p>