Russian drift 3-29

     Drifted from Healdsburg to Forestville with Ravensblack today.  The wind had woken up before we had and was blowing downstream, rarely have I had to drag a paddle in the river to slow down my drift but this morning it happened more than once.

    Early in our drift we came to a popular spot that 99% of the time is fished by the same guy who "makes every cast count."  He was not there today. 

    About half way through the run my offering is slammed and the fight is on!  Flashbacks of heartbreak from less than a week ago cloud my thoughts, while a hot little buck rips line and puts on an aerial display.  When he would jump he would straighten out, no violent head shaking.  He had some style, big overhead arcs with clean entries... Played him out and beached him for a "short" photo op (hehe, thanks Craig!) and quick release.

    Enjoyed the rest of the drift watching the osprey show, and even flushed out a pair of cock pheasant in the frog water above redwood.  It has been a tough year on the Russian but it always seems to make your drift worthwhile, a real jewel right in our backyard to boot.
   
-Patrick

osprey show

  I go away for the weekend and you catch a nice steelie. I guess it's true...divide and conquer!

  Congratulations Patrick, You really put in the time for that beautiful fish.

Right on Patrick & Craig you guys put in some hardwork today. Can't wait to fish that area.

Today was a day to relax and just kind of fish and observe the master at his game. Patrick is very much at ease on the drift and his techniques are a joy to watch. Today it was about the birds and the bees and the fish. We saw so many different birds on the water and in flight. It was amazing. At one point Patrick says beehive and just as he said it I could hear it from 50 yards away. Loud buzzing and we were treated to a sight I have never seen A cloud of bees 15 feet wide and 20 ft high. Thousands of bees. I was ready to move in for a shot but thought better. Incredible. Then after a while I thought " somone is crashing through thr trees". No, it was two cock pheasant flushed from the bushes and winging out and up river in a heartbeat. 6 blue heron. Beautiful mallards with the males boasting plumage that when the sunlight hit was entrancing. Some other birds like ducks with a billy idol haircut. (SBD can you help me here). Second photo. I hear Patrick holler "FISH ON" and I am releived. He has put in way more hours than I would ever even dream of. I paddle down quicklyto make photo ops. Soon he is off to seminate some eggs. We found some cool pieces of jade on the gravel bars.. Patrick has found Twig the elusive fish that haunted him in his dreams.

Congrats Patrick!

Whats it feel like with no pedals in front of you?

I'm doing a little dance here for you, Patrick.  Nice one!  Great reporting all around - if that doesn't sound like Good Times I don't know what does. 

Right on!   

Congratulations, Patrick. A beautiful catch.

Ravensblack's second photo looks like a pair of Common Mergansers.

Patrick-

Great looking steelie there. One of these days...

Freddie

Beautiful fish.
Thanks for the osprey vid too.
A lot of beautiful scenery posted this weekend.

Nice job on the persistence...thats a nice hail mary!

3 more

Congrats Patrick.  Thanks for the report guys, looks like another great day.

I second the common merganser. But wait till you see the Hooded merganser.
Looks like a wonder day on the water.

WTG Patrick. Congrats on the beautiful fish.

Nice pictures Craig. Thanks for sharing.

Jedmo