• About

HoboFishing

HoboFishing

Monthly Archives: January 2010

LDR’s still running strong!

31 Sunday Jan 2010

Posted by jshook in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Well the hook up’s came in bunches today. We had a great start, with 5 hookups within the first hour, but I ldr’ed them all. The long distance releasing I have become accustom to this season, is starting to kill me. I figured after this start, that I would be able to start landing more for the day. That did not happen! I was however, able to land one fish during the day, but with 21 hookups, that is a terrible percentage to face. The fish were really tight in the white water today, due to the low, clear conditions of the creek. With the sun in the sky, and the glare on the water at it’s worst, sighting fish was not easy either. The bite did seem to pick up from last week. I think this was due to the small amount of rain that fell the night before. I took a look at the hatchery again, and it appeared as if there were around 30 fish in the trap, and another 30 below the ladder in the pool. It still seems to me, that we should be looking at another push before we can say it is officially over for the season. As the season draws to a  close, I expect to see a few more natives show up, and also the big bucks that always come in at the end of the run. There should also be another push of larger females just after the males arrive. Here is the pic of the one I landed, and also a few vids from the season that did not make it up here before. By the way, my buddy Steve who was with me, was able to hook up with 2 fish, but he also had an ldr day.

P1317052

P1317053

Some big pigs form the Situk River and Yakutat Lodge!

These Steelies are all between, 34” and 44”.

P4220003 P4220005 P5140080P5150078 P4290024 P4300012 P1010086 P1010110 P4260052 P4270013 P4280021 P4280026 P4280036 P4280044

Good luck out there:

FLymstr;

Advertisements

Took another break.

29 Friday Jan 2010

Posted by jshook in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

I was not out there the last two days, but my buds still hit it hard. Here are the pics form the last couple of their trips. I will be back out soon though.

 1 29 2010 023 1 29 2010 0141 29 2010 021

Good luck out there

Flymstr;

Keep em’ coming

28 Thursday Jan 2010

Posted by jshook in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Sun shining, fish biting, river clear. The things a Steelheader goes to bed at night thinking about.

  Today was one of those days. The fishing has slowed down a bit the last couple of days, but we are still hammering out a few here and there. I met up with a couple of my fishing partners today, and we hit the creek running. I was hooked up and landed in the first 20 minutes. Damon also hooked up, but was unable to secure the button.  The next fish I hooked into, leapt from the water and promptly spit my hook out. Then as if to say, “Screw you”, it ran right at me and jumped again, spraying me with water. Then again about a minute later, he came up and rolled again in the slot, then disappeared out of site. Richard was the next to hook up, and he landed a nice bright hen. The fishing slowed to a crawl at this point. An hour or more of time passed before Damon was able to hook up and land a nice hen himself. Damon and I were able to each hook up again in the same hole, but were not able to land another. As Damon and his dad said goodbye for the day, (Because Richard fell in the river), I headed back up for another look, and a chance to tag out for the day. Well, I got lucky and landed a nice buck with just a bit of color.

As we worked our way down the creek today, we did notice the amount of fish has diminished to a certain point. I still hear of reports from the Clackamas, that eagle winters are still being caught. As of 2 days ago, the hatchery had processed 375 fish, and had approximately 200 in the trap and corresponding pool below the entrance. In this case, there should be somewhere in the vicinity of 3 to 4 hundred more fish to arrive in the next month. It does happen this time of year as, the water drops and clears, the fish slow down there movements and stop biting so willingly. A fish that may have taken 5 casts to catch last week, may take 50 now, and the bite still may never come. So if you are out there attempting to catch these grey ghosts, then patience will be the best thing to have on the end of your pole. Here are the pics and vids form today. Also I reposted 2 stories I had written in the past. I just thought maybe some of the newer viewers would enjoy these. Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think!

P1277055 P1277071 P1277068 P1277065 P1277061 P1277058 P1277056

 So it’s time to tell you how I started fishing and the things that have happened to me along the way.

  It’s been along journey getting to where I am today. I would say it all started back when I was about 5 or 6 years of age. My Dad would take me and my brother out fishing for whatever we could catch, mainly cat fish along the Columbia George and in the Snake river. One of my most memorable moments of being a kid out fishing, took place one day when we were fishing in the Snake River, for cat fish. Although the memories fail me as far details go, I still remember the most important parts of the story. I am sure it was one of my first experiences with a fishing pole in my hands, so you can image I was not the caster or fisherman I am today. I remember the day being bright and sunny with just a slight breeze I believe blowing down river. We were using worms on the bottom and plunking in a way. By letting the worms lay on the bottom, the cat fish would pick up the scent, and come on over to investigate, ( I believe this is still a very effective way to catch big cats in the Snake ). As time went on throughout the day, I don’t recall catching any fish myself, although my brother had caught a nice 18″ cat, and during the time when he was catching his fish, is when the story of my first realization that fishing was a frustrating sport and that if I was going to make it as a fisherman I was going to have to learn how to deal with the rats nests, and the bail failures, and the knots, and every little thing that comes along with a lifetime of fishing. Well I can tell you, as I stood on the bank of the Snake river watching my brother catch a big cat, and realizing that I had line wrapped around my hands, arm, legs, and the reel was a complete mess of line and knots, I new I was in trouble. So as I stood there, crying and screaming for help, as my brother called me cry baby and made fun of me, I realized this was not what I was made to do. Thankfully the years following I learned to deal with these adversities, and I have overcome the challenges that all novices face, and I have come out of it a fairly good fisherman. This first encounter comes back to me time to time when I am having a bad day on the river, you know those days when every cast is a snag and you can’t even move without hooking a tree or shrub that normally you wouldn’t even notice was there, and it’s then that I reflect back and remember that you never stop learning when it comes to fishing, and even a professional can have a novice day on the river. I will sometimes just sit down when things are going bad, and regroup, and then with confidence, head back out and start fishing.

Confidence in your fishing ability and in the river or stream you are fishing is key to catching fish. If you go into it without the confidence that your fishing skills are good enough to catch fish then you will tend to give up to soon and not try everything you are capable of. In order to build this confidence you need to study the water in your river and find where the fish lay from one year to the next. Confidence comes from catching fish and also from knowing your fishing grounds and your gear. Using the correct gear may not give you the confidence to catch fish but it will make you feel more secure once you do hit that record fish that lingers in every fisherman’s future casts.

Enjoy your selves out there and don’t get to frustrated when you are having a bad day, if you need to just picture me as a 5 year boy standing on the banks of the Snake crying for help and feeling helpless in a sea of knots and line.

I thought I would repost this story. It is one of my favorite stories I have written on here. It is also all true.

Any Steelhead fisherman that has put in the time and the energy into catching these magnificent creatures, knows the perils of losing all your line to big feisty fish. There is a chill in the air as you walk through the darkness to your favorite fishing hole. You step up onto the rock and look into the spot you know should be holding a fish. As you watch the water go by, and begin to see through it like a rough diamond, you get glimpses of the purity, but the riffles on top keep your sight from being perfectly clear. Then you pick up the faint Grey line through the riffles, that can only be a Silver Bullet Steelie. It appears as though there are two Steelies laying in your slot. You get a little shaky with anticipation, you start to get ready to cast, and you have to stop and compose yourself before you screw up and spook the fish. Moments later you are ready to start casting with confidence that your nerves are in tact. The strike comes without warning, and with a thunderous bolt from the liquid cage that held the Silver Bullet in it’s chamber, a monster of the creek shows itself in all it’s glory. Straight into the air, head shaking, glimmering in the sun, and staring you down as he re-submerges his chrome sides back into his liquid home. Seeing this massive fish in the air has you shaking again, but you are a master of your domain, and you rear back on the Goliath and get ready to settle in for the fight of the day. Running down stream with the speed of a race car, the fish never even looks back to say goodbye. You lift your feet up to prepare to run after your catch, when you suddenly remember the other fish that was laying in the slot next to the one on your line. You take a quick glance back into the slot,(Thinking you can come back later and get him also), and realize that the two fish you thought you saw, was actually the one fish you are fighting. Ripping line off the reel at an incredible rate, and with no sign of slowing down, you take off after him. Like a Gazelle, you jump from rock to rock, and from tree stump to tree roots. You do everything in your power to keep the line tight , keep your balance, and to catch up to the massive fish that is taking you to school at a fast rate. Finally your arms and legs start to give out, and you are sure any strength you have left is not enough to win this battle. Just then, you realize you haven’t seen your fly line in quite awhile, and your backing is giving way to the bottom of the spool. You give it one last burst of energy in hopes of getting your fly line back into the reel, but the fish has to much space on you, and with the current in his favor, the fight has to be put to a stop. Laying back into the fish you wait for the fly to break off, but instead you nail knot breaks off and you watch your $50.00 fly line float away, and down through the riffles. Standing there you look down at your reel, that now consists of just a little frayed backing and the hopes of a lost fish. You ask your self what could you have done different, how could you have got that fish?

IMG_2321

Well if you have ever been in this situation then you know just what I am talking about. Now this situation has happened to me on several occasions, and I have learned over time a few hints that may help the next time you lay into the BIG ONE!  First of all always be sure that you have the right equipment to handle the job, (having confidence in your gear is 50% of your ability to land fish). So when you hit into one of these big fish and he decides the ocean was a lot safer place to live, there are several things you can do to slow him down and make him rethink his retreat from the river. First of all, when you first notice he’s running away, take a look down stream, and take note of the water speed, and the barriers that may be in your way. Once this is done, you can now decide where you want to stop your fish. It is important that the hook set at the beginning is done well, and the hook must be set at least 3 times to sink the barb into the hard mouths of these fish. Now you are confident in your hook set, and you know your gear is up to the challenge. So now what? Now you do the unthinkable. As you head down river after the fish you are aware of the slow places in the river where the fish will hold, if not pressured. As the fish enters one of these areas, you need to release the tension on the fish, and now you can slow down. Fish will stop almost instantly when the tension is released from their jaw, and they will hold there in this slow water, and rest from the run downstream. Meanwhile, as the fish is resting, you can retrieve your line, and catch up to him. Now that you have regained the upper hand, you need to move downstream from the fish and then put the tension back onto him. By going below the fish it will cause the fish to react against the pull of the line, and head back up river. Now this can be several times, until you have worn your fish out, and are able bank him. Now if you have a stubborn fish that just won’t co-operate with you, and it runs down river even after going below him and giving him tension. What you can do is repeat these steps in every slow spot along the way, until the fish relinquishes itself, and gives way to the bank. If you have the one that just won’t stop in any one of holes, and just keeps running away, I say to you good luck, and run your butt off, that could be your record fish.

Good luck out there!!!

Flymstr;

All by myself, I just want to be, All by myself.

26 Tuesday Jan 2010

Posted by jshook in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Ok you have to know the song, and sing the title to really understand it. Well you could have blown me over with a feather, I had the creek to myself today. I did come across a buddy of mine, and his dad, but this is just fine with me. The fish are still coming in fairly good. I was able to fight with well over 10 fish today, but again my percentage was way down. I only landed 2 today. I was into 3 fish with my first three casts. This was a great start to the day.

   There is a land mark on the river that mother nature has finally taken down. A particular cedar tree that I have fished off of for over 30 years, fell in the creek last night. Over the years, this tree has gradually leaned further and further over the creek. We noticed a large crack in the roots this year, and now it has taken it’s toll on this giant, and down it went! This would have been something to hear those roots tearing apart, and ripping it’s way form the soil. There is now a new danger. The area where the roots system ripped from the ground, left a hole, that may effect a larger tree above. I took a good look at it today, and it looks like it may be stable for the time being, but be careful walking around this area, and always look up. I got some pics of this tree, before and after, also pics of the fish today.

P1267050 P1267047 P1267048 P1267049

Yesterday:

The cedar tree stood proud.

 1 21 2010 010

Today:

It lays defeated across the creek.

P1267037P1267039P1267042

P1267041P1267038P1267040

We will miss you, and the fish you held for us every day:

You were a comfort in the rain, you made for a great fishing hole,

and my dog will never forget the tunnel created by your massive root system,

in which she would weave her way through every morning.

Good bye old friend.

Long live one of the kings

Good luck out there.

Flymstr;

Took a 2 day break!

25 Monday Jan 2010

Posted by jshook in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Even though I was not out on the creek the last couple of days, my friends have been keeping the fish busy. Damon and his Dad (Richard(Alias: “Thehipster”)) have been getting into fish on a regular basis. I was lucky enough to get the pics of these great fish, and I am sharing them with you. I will be returning to the creek in the morning, and continuing on until I leave for Mexico. Here are the pics:

1 25 2010 003 1 24 2010 001 1 24 2010 005 1 24 2010 007 1 25 2010 002

A big pig from the Situk: Looks a lot like the native we got in the creek:

IMG_2937IMG_2935 IMG_2941 

Good luck out there:

Flymstr;

As long as I am fishing!!!

23 Saturday Jan 2010

Posted by jshook in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

What can I say! Another banner day on the creek I love so much. I started out early this morning, and got into a fish right off the bat, but LDR got me again. (Long Distance Release). I did not see many fish at first light, but then 3 nice Steelies shot up into the run I was fishing, and suddenly there were three fisherman on top of me. Two of these gentlemen I knew, and they promptly left the area to me. The third guy, not knowing me to well, fished the wall I had run the fish to, so I did not get any of those particular fish. Just then my buddy’s Damon, and Bobby came up from a lower hole they had been fishing all morning. The report was hopeful, with 4 fish hooked, but the bank was empty, (more LDR’s). As we talked about the mornings events, a nice little chromer decided to pull up in the wrong spot for a fish when we are standing around. I was able to hook and land this nice chrome fish, but it was fouled and released. We headed down river, after harassing this fish a bit more. Throughout the day, Damon and I were able to hook up with around 17 fish, landing 5. Bobby had hooked up earlier in the day, but left early, and Damon and I ripped em’ up. We had a low percentage of landed fish, but better than what the rest of the people we saw today. Hoping this next week will bring a bit of rain, and more fish into the system. Got some good pics today, and good vids. Also I forgot to post 2 days ago, so here are the pics from that day also. I was in and out in less than 30 minutes two days ago. I think I made around 15 to 25 casts, hooked four, and got two, and went home. Nice morning!!

Day before Yesterday:

P1207035 P1207036 

Today:

P1237036 P1237037  P1237040 1 23 1010 021 1 23 1010 009 1 23 1010 010 1 23 1010 017

Good luck out there.

Flymstr;

The fish you miss seeing.

18 Monday Jan 2010

Posted by jshook in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

In the bottom vid is one of the best holes in the river. Can anyone that fishes here tell which hole this is?. It is one of the honey holes by the hatchery. I bet everyone just passes this spot up, and doesn’t even cast in. We felt pity on these fish, and did not disturb them, but I am sure if we had cast, we would have hooked up at least 10 or more. There were at least 25 or more fish in this hole. The hole is located less than a mile below the hatchery. The fish moving in the video, are only moving because we pushed them around for the film, otherwise most would walk by and never see anything here. I bet that over 50 walked right passed these fish in the last week. Look real close and you can see the fish in the hole. Also a good release video. Went up and looked at the pen today, at least 400 hundred fish or more have made it back. This could be more than half the entire bounty for the season, but let’s hope not. One pic today, the other fish I landed, for some reason I just kicked back and forgot the pic. Also a pic from a couple good fisherman, that got into some great fish today.

 P1187028

 P1187032

Good luck out there.

Flymstr;

Another banner day on the creek.

16 Saturday Jan 2010

Posted by jshook in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Wow is all I can say about the fish today. My buddy “Steve” and I got into 27 fish today, and I was able to land 8 of 11, but Steve went 1 for 16, not a great percentage for the Stevenator!!. The caliber of the fish this year is great, and they are hot right now. The bite is on big time, and the water is still perfect, even after the rain. To all those not getting into these fish on the creek, just keep trying, you will get them.

P1167026P1167030P1167018P1167032P1167033 P1167034P1167035P1167036

P1167015P1167024P1167017

Good luck out there.

Flymstr;

Just plain good fishing!!

14 Thursday Jan 2010

Posted by jshook in Uncategorized

≈ 1 Comment

Today, like the other before it, was great. I don’t really know the exact number of hookups between the guys I was with, but it was huge. I know for sure, over 25 hookups, with around 15 landed. The fish are still in great shape, and the females are starting to show up. Smaller females are the first to run up stream, followed later by the big females, and the big native bucks. One of the fish I caught today was a real nice size native (Admittedly he unintentionally foul hooked, and promptly released) this happens sometimes when there are a lot of fish confined in a small area, at least they still take good pics. There was only one other foul hook today, and he popped off right away. Otherwise they were all biters. This big native was also landed by a friend of mine, almost a month ago, just 1/4 down stream. Shows that the natives are in no hurry to get upstream. Water levels are perfect for fly fishing. The fish are still on the bite. Clarity is perfect, and the fish seem to be coming in good numbers this season. Hope to see more of this as the month wears on. Here are the pics from today’s fish. Like I said yesterday, I am releasing all my fish now, so the ones with the blood, are Damon’s fish (or at least the ones he took home 🙂 ).

P1147003 P1147004  P1147009 P1147011 P1147012 P1147014 P1147016 P1147017 P1147018 P1147001P1147005 1 14 2009 018 1 14 2009 006 1 14 2009 014

Five in Ghost hole Big Native Jan 14th 2010 Damons fish

Good luck out there.

Flymstr;

Flashes of chrome everywhere!

13 Wednesday Jan 2010

Posted by jshook in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Everywhere I looked today, I saw flashes of chrome going by. Steelies were on the move in the creek today, and they were also on the bite. I got in late today, but it did not seem to change the outcome.  I hooked up within the first five minutes, but promptly lost it. I headed down to where my buddy was fishing one of our honey holes, where he had already hooked and lost 3 fish, and was getting ready to hook up again when I got there. After leaving this hole, we headed down a bit further, and starting seeing more fish. I hooked, and landed one small, darker buck, and released it. After this, my buddy (Matt) got into a nice buck, and landed it. Along the way, I hooked up  a nice big female, that shook her head, and spit the hook. When I came upon Matt, with his fish, he informed me that he got it on his first cast into the hole. I said “that is cool”, and took a cast in the hole. I also hooked up on my first cast, and landed a perfect chrome female. I also hooked and lost another couple fish in this hole.

By the way, I leave all my eggs on the bank from my females. So if you see any eggs laying around, you can feel free to take them with you, (then go somewhere else and use them!) LOL.

It was a great day today, with the total hook ups at 12 between Matt and I. I am now going to be releasing my fish, so all those that I am landing, are still available to the other fisherman out there.

 P1137001  P1137003 P1137004 P1137002P1137005 P1137006

Good luck out there

Flymstr;

← Older posts

Recent Posts

  • Steelhead time.
  • KIngs season, just a bit late.
  • video.
  • Silvers hitting hard and big.
  • jumping sockeye

Recent Comments

ryan youell on Day one at Lake Lenice
ryan youell on Steelhead time.
Susan on I know I know. I have been in…
Jeff Gray on Steelhead time.
Brad West on Steelhead time.

Archives

  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • September 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • July 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008
  • March 2008
  • February 2008

Categories

  • Bald Eagles
  • Bears
  • Creeks
  • Fish
  • Fly Fishing
  • Halibut
  • Ling Cod
  • logs
  • Magazines
  • Mink
  • Moose
  • Otters
  • Rivers
  • Rods and Reels
  • Salmon
  • Steelhead
  • Streams
  • Trout
  • Uncategorized

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries RSS
  • Comments RSS
  • WordPress.com
Advertisements

Recent Posts

  • Steelhead time.
  • KIngs season, just a bit late.
  • video.
  • Silvers hitting hard and big.
  • jumping sockeye

Recent Comments

ryan youell on Day one at Lake Lenice
ryan youell on Steelhead time.
Susan on I know I know. I have been in…
Jeff Gray on Steelhead time.
Brad West on Steelhead time.

Archives

  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • September 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • July 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • December 2011
  • November 2011
  • October 2011
  • September 2011
  • July 2011
  • June 2011
  • May 2011
  • April 2011
  • March 2011
  • February 2011
  • January 2011
  • December 2010
  • November 2010
  • October 2010
  • September 2010
  • August 2010
  • July 2010
  • June 2010
  • May 2010
  • April 2010
  • March 2010
  • February 2010
  • January 2010
  • December 2009
  • November 2009
  • October 2009
  • September 2009
  • August 2009
  • July 2009
  • June 2009
  • May 2009
  • April 2009
  • March 2009
  • February 2009
  • January 2009
  • December 2008
  • November 2008
  • October 2008
  • September 2008
  • August 2008
  • July 2008
  • June 2008
  • May 2008
  • April 2008
  • March 2008
  • February 2008

Categories

  • Bald Eagles
  • Bears
  • Creeks
  • Fish
  • Fly Fishing
  • Halibut
  • Ling Cod
  • logs
  • Magazines
  • Mink
  • Moose
  • Otters
  • Rivers
  • Rods and Reels
  • Salmon
  • Steelhead
  • Streams
  • Trout
  • Uncategorized

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in
  • Entries RSS
  • Comments RSS
  • WordPress.com

Blog at WordPress.com.