Vic’s New Fishing Hat

Vic’s Mom sent him the wonderful fishing hat he’s wearing here, our first day out fishing since his birthday. I think it’s dashing. We caught no fish in either the Snake or Clearwater Rivers, but we always love being out fishing, regardless of whether we catch any fish.

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Fishing is about Fish

Saturday chores accomplished, my husband and I decided to go fishing in the Snake River beyond Asotin. We wanted to stand on a beach this time, instead of taking our boat. The fish were not biting, but a few jumped up from the water so we could know they were there, but they had no interest in coming home with us. We’ve had lots of fishing excursions like this, and we also have lots of freezer space occupied by cleaned, wrapped fish we’ve caught on several other occasions.

My husband loves fishing and fish. I love fishing and I am extremely allergic to fish and I never eat it. Fish are wonderful creatures. They can be beautiful, elusive, and eager to grab onto a lure, all within a few minutes or a full day. Sometimes I think I’m just there for the scenery. We can’t rule a fish’s instincts or choices; only fish can do that. We’re really just along for the ride. Fish have amazing skills we know nothing about.

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.

Before the launch, the sun steals the show

The sun was amazingly bright over the Snake (Washington side) and Clearwater (Idaho side) Rivers as we prepared to launch our quest for Moby Bass. I caught a couple of junior bass and released them so they could grow a bit. Vic caught a 10-1/2 incher, our only keeper of the hot, pleasant outing.

Back to Soldier’s Meadow Lake

My husband and I finished our chores at home this morning and headed for a return visit to Soldier’s Meadow Lake to fish for Kokanee and trout. Our first visit to Soldier’s Meadow Lake was the Fourth of July. We took Pisca Dory again so we could fish in the middle of the lake. My husband caught one trout and one Kokanee salmon; I caught two trout and one Kokanee. The day was beautifully sunny, and three good-size trout and two excellent Kokanee chose to come home with us.

Our catch: Second from top and fourth from top are the Kokanee; first, third, and fifth are rainbow trout.

The active river: Fishing the Snake River from Couse Creek westward

My husband and I took our beautiful dory, Pisca-Dory, out fishing on the Snake River today. We had a very fine day simply being out on the river in the excellent boat my husband built, combined with the pleasant motive of fishing.

              Pisca Dory at Couse Creek Launch

The magnificent scenery along the Snake River, upriver from Couse Creek

Huh? No tourists? Really?

I caught no fish this time, and my husband caught this beauty, an 11-1/2″ Smallmouth Bass.

Fishing at Nisqually John

Our usual acronym is WRBF, which stands for “We’d rather be fishing.” That was our plan for Memorial Day today, and that is what we did. We went fishing. It happened, as it sometimes does, that we enjoyed three hours of fishing on the Snake River without catching a single fish. That happens sometimes, just as it happens sometimes that we catch the legal limit of trout (5 per person) in less than an hour at our favorite pond.

We took our beautiful wooden boat Pisca Dory that my husband Vic built from scratch to Nisqually John launch with some hope of catching bass. Contrary to our anticipation, there was no line for the boat ramp–no wait at all. The river was quiet. The scenery at Nisqually John is superb, surrounded by basalt hills. And, just to keep us interested, bass were jumping and generally active; they simply preferred not to come home with us. And that was okay.

My husband Vic at the helm, steering with a tiller that is part of the motor.

The motor’s foam is a visual narrative of Pisca’s speed, about 12 mph.

Basalt hills on all sides provide a wonderful narrative of nature.

 

 

Trout fishing with pelicans

The pelicans are a beautiful sight on the pond. We don’t consider them competitors, and I suspect they don’t think of us at all. My husband took this photo.

My husband and I headed for the pond immediately after dinner last night to fish for trout. Rain was falling, but trout were leaping, and six came home in our ice chest. I caught five, the legal limit, 9-1/2″ – 11-1/2″, and my husband caught one. I was able to fish more continually because he unhooked the fish I caught and did the gutting and bagging, enabling me to keep casting, and, miraculously, catching and landing. We caught our six trout in just over an hour, and returned home wet, chilled, and triumphant.

Back to the pond

Ha! I caught my limit–five trout, 9-1/2″ to 11-1/2″. My husband and I headed for the pond just after 6 PM and stayed 2-1/2 hours fishing. As evening pressed on, the fish were jumping and biting and skipping toward the shore. I just love fish who want to come home with us. If it weren’t for the State’s legal limit, I’d have wanted to fish longer. I was hooked; what can I say?

Vic took these pictures. He would have been fishing but his reel broke.

The first bite to hang on. . .

 

Closer. . .

 

And closer. . .

 

The trout has landed!

 

And it’s time to go home, Number 5.

Caught: Trout at last

Sunshine, wind, and fishy aspirations. . .

My catch

My husband and I accepted the sunshine’s offer (the wind was thrown in with the deal) and we returned this morning to our favorite pond to fish for trout. I caught two trout, 8-1/2″ and 10-1/2″. Vic is cooking one of them now for his lunch. (I am very allergic to fish.)