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The pilgrimage was a long one but the arrows pointed the way.
Along the steep path the signs were everywhere. Secret Spots. Best
Bets. Tantalizing Tactics. Ravenous Rainbows. Hummungus Hogs.
Each sign with an arrow pointing upward. The path led the way
to angling enlightenment.
At the top an ancient bearded man with
skin sun darkened and weathered from thousands of days on the
water, sat cross-legged. He motioned me to sit. Minutes of silence
passed as those eyes pierced through me. Finally, he said, “You
may ask only one question.”
Where?
Only one question? There were so many I wanted to ask. Only
one question! I tried to think of the one question that would make
this journey worthwhile. With much deliberation and angling enlightenment
resting on the answer, I leaned forward looking into the watery
eyes of the old man. I asked, “Where is the best place to
fish?”
Minutes of silence again passed. I knew he was searching through
the vast storehouse of memories for the ultimate angling destination.
The anglers unbeatable Nirvana, Utopia, the Valhalla of them all.
He leaned forward. I leaned forward. He opened his mouth. I held
my breath. Minutes again passed. His eyes crinkled at the corners
from years of squinting into the sun, blue eyes dancing like diamonds
on water. He whispered “The best place to fish is ………..”
“Yes, yes the best place to fish is???
“Grasshopper, the best place to fish is, the place you know
the best.”
The answer was simple and true.
So a couple of Sundays ago I fished the place I know the best.
A river I have fished for 37 years. I also taught fly-fishing
on her waters for many years. A home water, like an old pair of
jeans, comfortable and relaxing, with lots of memories and stories
to tell.
Old friends
Old friends were there too. The osprey was doing quite
well in the first riffle down from the bridge, just as his parents
and
grandparents were when I first fished all those years ago.
(All previous issues are stored in the ARCHIVE for
your convenience)
Bob's
Weekly Fishing Report is back
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Often
the bird was more consistent than the two-legged anglers who invaded
her territory. The mergansers still nested in the big cottonwood
on the beach. I wondered how many terrified youngsters had made
that initial drop in their introduction to the water. An eagle
would make periodic trips to harass the osprey or try to steal
the catch just as their parents did. Flicker woodpeckers were still
hammering out holes which new families of flickers or mergansers
would occupy in coming years.
Related
And the
fish were still there, and in the same places. Those prime
and sheltering lies their parents had found to their liking and
now
so did their offspring. Because the river has been catch and
release, barbless and single hook only, the numbers are good.
The fish I
caught immediately below the bridge in that narrow window that
demands a long cast and rapid mends is probably the related
DNA of that first big rainbow I caught 37 years ago in the same
spot.
That is the beauty of fishing in the place you know the best.
Many things change. Jobs, friends, wives, husbands, governments,
world situations etc. But the river can be timeless, with luck
and good management and catch and release if needed, we can go
back, meet old friends, shake hands or fins briefly and make arrangements
to meet again.
Skeena opening June 16
Tributaries of the Skeena above Cedarvale opened today June 16
for fishing. All signs point to a great year. Chinook and Coho
Salmon are expected to be as good or better than last year, and
last year was a bumper year on the ocean. Because of high water
inland we missed a lot of the run but the salmon were there.
Clear water
Last years snowpack at May 1 was 120% of average. The
snowpack this year at May 1 in the Bulkley was 82% of average.
The expected
big runs and early runoff with rivers dropping and clearing
rapidly should make for some great fishing. Pinks are expected
to be
in good numbers this year and a large chum return is coming
back to the Kitimat.
Ocean action has been good early and coho are already being taken.
Legion Derby winners at Prince Rupert for springs was 43 pounds
10 ounces dressed weight and second was only 2 ounces shy. The
largest halibut was 167 pounds.
Let us know your thoughts. Click on discussion
group or email
me and
give us some input.
Check for new photos on the Photo
page
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and past photos on the Slideshow |
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