Two bass and a heron

My husband Vic and I went fishing in the Snake River today (Saturday), away from Thunder on the Snake, a noisy jet boat race that goes up the River, and thankfully is annual. Because Chinook salmon are now in the River and on their way to their spawning grounds, all fishing requires barbless hooks, which Vic considers sporting and I consider a real bane. We lost count of how many fish grabbed our lures with their barbless hooks and jumped right off. They were small fish. We each caught and actually reeled in one 11-1/2″ Smallmouth bass. The size is Vic’s favorite eating size; the larger ones are less appetizing because they have more fat. Anyway, it was a pleasant and fruitful time on the River, and we brought home two Smallmouth bass.

As we prepared to return to the boat dock, Vic’s line became snagged on the river bottom. He put the boat’s motor in reverse to unsnag the line. Then we noticed a Great Blue Heron in a tree who appeared to be observing us. We watched him with equal fascination and took pictures of him. He seemed to look impatient. Vic freed the line and we bid adieu to the Great Blue.

A Great Blue Heron observes our plight as Vic releases his snagged lure from a rock.

The heron appeared to grow impatient with us, but remained watchful and quiet.

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