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What is it like around the home of the very frustrated river salmon
angler right now? Probably, not the best.
Waiting
We have waited all year for a chance at the big boys and now we
just watch the swollen, chocolate river race by. Unless you are
lucky enough to make an ocean trip or get down to the Kitimat, it
looks like we may have to patiently wait for another couple of weeks
to try for the springs in the Bulkley and Morice. The fish are in
the river right now, but there are very few places that you can
fish safely, or with a lot of confidence.
Meanwhile...
Perhaps a good time to catch up on the " honey do" list
so you can fish later without too much guilt.
It is also a great time to get your favorite spin-n-glos, hoochies,
weights and other supplies ready, tied, cleaned etc. I would also
say it is a good time to check the rod for broken guides, loose
wraps, cracks or breaks, and screwed up reel seats, and check the
reel for loose or missing screws, broken bail springs, level wind
not working, new line or just a thorough cleaning. At tackle shops
throughout the country, that is usually left until the day before
you leave. Believe, me I know. It's no wonder that many shops post
a sign that says "Poor planning on your part does not constitute
an emergency on my part." And if they don't post the sign you
better believe it is on their mind.
Dropped off
Many anglers fishing some of the trout lakes, the smaller ones,
say that the fishing has dropped off. It sounds good, and let's
face it that same excuse has been handed down from our fathers and
grandfathers and every body before them since humans first started
fishing. I might have used it myself occasionally. However, trout
have to eat or just like us they achieve permanent breath holding.
So more correctly, we should say that we could not find what the
trout were eating, at the time that we were there.
As the water warms up you may have to change your tactics a bit.
Consult the solunar or feeding times charts to find the best time
to be on the water.
(All previous issues are stored in the ARCHIVE
for your convenience)
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Fish early morning or later evening when the sun is off the water,
that is when the bigger fish feel safer coming into the shallows.
Some of the best days are overcast or light drizzle, in fact, certain
types of mayflies and caddis hatch only on the those days.
Something new
Try something new, if your old favorite, "never been skunked",
lure is not working then it really doesn't make much sense to keep
dragging it around does it? Try a new spot on the lake or a new
lake. Yesterday, I was talking to a retired fellow that fishes a
lot, I think he heard that old Assyrian proverb that says "The
time spent fishing is not deducted from one's lifetime," and
he is planning on harassing fish for a very long time. Anyways,
he was fishing one of his many favorite lakes and not doing well.
He finally trolled around the corner where there are never any fish
and you guessed it, his fish finder went crazy. There were fish
everywhere. Perhaps the fish had not read that they were never supposed
to be there. Some anglers will even resort to unwrapping that lure
they bought five years ago and never used, and son of a gun it does
work. The fact is, that trout fishing is sometimes like feeding
that finicky, picky child; we just have to find what they want.
It may take a lot of patience, but with practice we get more successful,
just like anything in life.
Today's tip
Here is today's tip. We are all familiar when trolling with a spinning
reel and having the line come spiraling back on us. Don't blame
the line; it is the spinning reel at fault. If you continue reeling
when you have a fish on or the drag is too loose you will twist
up your line. Most spinning reels have a 5: 1 retrieve ratio, so
every turn of the handle puts five more twists into the line. Multiply
that over the course of a couple of days fishing and you are in
major doodoo.
If your line is twisting up on you here is the remedy. String
your rod up, but no lure. As you pull away from the dock or shore,
stick the rod tip in the water and let the surface tension pull
line off the reel. When you have emptied the reel of the amount
of line that you usually troll with, flip the bail over and hold
the line with the thumb and forefinger and reel in. This will take
most of the twist out of the line and save those unsightly, blue
clouds hanging over some of the boats on the lake.
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