The Effects of Springtime on Productivity: An Underground Fishing Report
By Tom Chandler on Mar 15, 2007 in Underground Entertainment
With spring breaking out (the Wonderdog was spotted laying in the sun, our equivalent of Groundhog Day, only more accurate) and the river rising due to snowmelt, our course of action was clear.
Chris Raine and I abandoned our adult responsibilities for an afternoon on Lake Siskiyou.
(See what I did there? I set you up with the river, then surprised you with the lake. I slay me.)
Chris Raine, Overexposed. Blame him–he messed with the camera
It was bright, windy, and a cold front had just moved through, so expectations were low.
Still, I was rowing Chris’ drift boat from one end of the lake to the other, so even if a boatload of fish weren’t in store, a fair amount of exercise was.
Fortunately, I’m ripped–fly fishing’s answer to Arnold Schwarzenegger–and the day was beautiful, so the slow fishing wasn’t a problem.
We ended up bringing three nice trout to the boat (given the gusting winds, that that works out to approximately 2,000 calories per trout).
I admit to hoping for a couple of smallmouth, but I guess it’s just a little early.
Solving Problems
We also got a little sun, and–with time to spare–pretty much hashed out the world’s problems (if only people would listen).
I’m talking, of course, about America’s Greatest Untapped Source of Problem Solving Genius: Fishing Trips.
There is no problem too big to be solved in the twenty minutes before the hatch begins.
How the world’s gotten this far when led by a bunch of non-fly fishing political types is beyond me (though it would explain a lot, frankly), but it’s a subject well worth exploring.
I plan to.
See you on the lake, Tom Chandler.
Technorati Tags: fly fishing, upper sac, upper sacramento river, lake siskiyou, chris raine
C4CRaine | Mar 15, 2007 | Reply
Tom, you’ve been had - Pop you are sly as heck - let me guess, he pulled some line like “Hey Tommy, I’ve got a stent and thin blood, you’re gonna have to row….” Don’t worry, it happens to me too, it’s just a little more subtle like, “Don’t forget the oars bubba!” Well, guys, wish me luck…The Real World: Hell on Earth starts in two hours and 31 minutes - I’m part of the cast. Catch you on the flip side.
Tom Chandler | Mar 15, 2007 | Reply
Good luck! And congrats on making it through the hardest part.
Kevin | Mar 15, 2007 | Reply
Say Tom, how is the Upper Upper Sac above the lake? I’ve glanced at it a couple of time, but always during spring when it was rippin’. Seems like it ought to have some good potential. Feel free to not divulge any secrets…
Dan Hayes | Mar 15, 2007 | Reply
Lest my eyes deceive, Chris appears to be holding a piece of space age plastic and some kind of large arbored line winder! Yikes!!
Dan
Tom Chandler | Mar 16, 2007 | Reply
Dan: I fished a piece of plastic too (that 6wt Orvis from my recent review). I was happy for the chance to finally air the thing out with some sinking lines. When I float tube the lake during the summer with poppers for smallies, I fish my 8.5′ Beasley-built Canadian Canoe taper (6/7wt) which couldn’t be more fun, but I admit I break out in a rash when weighted streamers on sinking lines start zinging past the bamboo tip…
Kevin: There are trout in the tribs above the lake, but they’re typically small. The South Fork can be fun, but the natives are tiny and the stockies are…. stockies.
heddon17 | Mar 19, 2007 | Reply
One alternative would be to buy an used 6/7 wt inexpensive production cane rod such as a South Bend, etc. Some guys on the classic fly rod forum really like those heavier South Bend rods for stillwater and they’re pretty affordable.
Brian