Russian drift 3/19

Met Patrick @ 6 on the landing and we left my truck and headed to the launch, OTW a little after 6:30 to a glorious day, man what a gorgeous river. Only saw 4 or 5 other boats all day.
Landed a beautie of a wild little 10 inch smolt, released without even touching it. Good raptor day too, Ospreys galore, a couple of fat little Flickers, and dont forget the well-fed sea-lions. Left my camera home... What a nice stretch if river to catch a big fish in.

Man sounds like you were living the dream!

That is a great strech of water. I was at work thinking of you guys. Floatin' down the old river. How was the water clarity? Had it cleared some from last friday?

Sounds like Good Times.   

Nice try Ben I fished a little by the cabin it was beautiful out can't wait for tomorrow. You can always tell when the smolts are coming down river the Osprey's are out in force.

You guys really are hardcore anglers! 

Thanks for the report guitarzan. It is real nice to be able to fish during the week
days. Less traffic on the water.

Jedmo

Hey Guitarzan, I should have introduce myself but it was to early and wasn't thinking to clearly.  I was one of the clowns on the pontoons. What a beautiful day it was yesterday.  Its not to often you can float a river in board shorts, sandals, and no shirts while steelhead fishing.  I ended up going 2 for 3 and my buddy went 1 for 1 plus a few hard mouths and about a dozen smolts between the both of us.  All caught in the last part of the day.  I left my camera in my truck so I'll have to wait for my buddy to send me them before I came post pics. 

man sounds like a nice day on the river,

but i hate the sealions...

in Oregon you can harass them on certain rivers with piantball guns, sticks etc.

Hey Guitarzan, I should have introduce myself but it was to early and wasn't thinking to clearly.  I was one of the clowns on the pontoons. What a beautiful day it was yesterday.  Its not to often you can float a river in board shorts, sandals, and no shirts while steelhead fishing.  I ended up going 2 for 3 and my buddy went 1 for 1 plus a few hard mouths and about a dozen smolts between the both of us.  All caught in the last part of the day.  I left my camera in my truck so I'll have to wait for my buddy to send me them before I came post pics. 

   Wow , thats a lot of fish. How were you guys fishing? With bait or backtrolling?

We caught one little guy pulling a plug and a few more off the bank.  The two hard mouths and the rest were caught boondogging(back bouncing bait).

Hey Rockroach, those are some cool fishing platforfs you guys have!. The water was a bit clearer too. Craig-Patrick showed me where you caught your fattie wild one, he took me thru the whole battle and showed me where you landed it, sounded like a wild fight indeed.
The weather was incredible, even had bikini-clad girls in the water at the landing!

What was funny was my buddy hooked up and landed a 3-5lbs blueback 2-3minutes before we saw that damn furball. Then I hooked up about 10minutes later. So maybe that seal did us a favor...I don't know. All but one fish was fresh and the last one was a hog! It was over 30" cause it didn't fit in my net. She was a quick release(native)  Good Times

You know this work thing is really getting in the way of having fun with you guys.

Hey Guitarzan.  This is Kirk, the DFG fish checker.  I've run into you in a few spots around the bay.  I was wondering if you knew anything about shad fishing on the Russian.  (When? Where? Yak or shore?  Etc)  Just thought I'd ask since you were just there. 

Anyway, sounds like a you had a great trip. 

Peace-out. 

--K