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I only had limited time today, so we hashed over whether to put in at the Forks or at the Outhouse hole further down the river. Dan and his clients got into a pod of fresh fish at Peacock yesterday and we were estimating how fast they would be coming up the system. We finally decided to put in at the Forks and drift to Peacock, and by 6:30 am we were doing just that. The day was nearly perfect, weather-wise. There were scattered clouds and sunshine, but the wind was cold and came in gusts. There was only one trailer rig parked in the lot and that boat was just far enough ahead of us. Yesterday Dan's clients landed three adults and one half pounder, all fresh, and this amidst the traffic of the Women's Derby. We had the river nearly to ourselves and I was thrilled to be drifting to the sounds of the river. The water is low and clear, and the fish spooky, so we limit our talking. I had a few hits in the Forks right out of the gate. Nothing I could get a hook into, perhaps half pounders or cutthroats. Several cutthroats have been landed lately. No action through the Covered Bridge, Douglas Park, or Cable Hole. |
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Dan had high hopes for the Gage Hole and Whitehorse, but again no takes. There were a few fly fishermen in the Park, so we drifted through. We were beginning to believe that the fish had either blasted by the light of the moon, or were still lounging around down river.
We were drifting through Society when I finally hooked up in the tailout. It wasn't much of a hit, and at first it felt like I was towing in a stick, but all of a sudden the stick woke up and she wasn't happy at all. It was a wild hen about six pounds and we landed her and released her. She was a downrunner and this was probably why her reaction time was off. Her tail attested to the fact that she had been a busy gal. I had never hooked a fish in Society and was feeling pretty good. We worked this run once more and then down through Rip Rap. We made several runs in Rip Rap, until another boat came right down over our fish lane. We left. Below Rip Rap is a stretch of the river known as Simpson. I have never landed a fish in Simpson either, but I have left a ton of gear on the bottom. It is rocky, fast water that is snag heaven. Darned if I didn't hook up here too. Today was a day for firsts. We landed a another wild hen, bigger than the first, and released her too. She was a fresh fish. By now the wind was really picking up. The driftboat gets blown around and the guide is continually trying to make corrections to maintain the integrity of the drift. Dan was muttering and I was trying to maintain "heads up" status. I was running out of time as well. We blasted down to Peacock and we were glad to see that the shuttle had been run and our rig was waiting there. We had left a torn envelope stuck in the door of the bait shop with our put in and take out and our name, hoping they were making shuttles as usual that day. My last drift of the season, Dan says "Fish off the last piece of roe, and we will take out." Seconds later, whamo!! A hat trick, no less! Fish on, and this time its an acrobat. Jumps, flips, flops, and mad dashes. RIGHT ON. My last fish of the season is a wild buck about ten pounds. He also is a downrunner, but he's still spunky and gives me a good fight. What an end to a great season. I landed three wild fish today, in more ways than one. One was determined to make her way up to the spawning grounds, and the other two were equally determined to return to the ocean and make ready for next year. Only on a river like the Smith do you have the priviledge of doing battle with fish that are as tough at the end of their journey as they are in the beginning. One more week of fresh fish, downrunners and bluebacks. Wish I had more time. Thanks Dan for all the rowing, and thank you river for the wonderful fish. Columnist Joan Carter co-owns, with her husband, Dan Carter's Guide Service. |
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