Upper Russian w/ SCallen, Kickinbass and Jelly (non-yak)

Allen Bushnell swung a WIDE detour to come up and visit and take a crack at the Russian for some steelies.  The river level was ideal, but the color was a little off, but we gave it a go.  Jelly also got the green light to finally to wade the river.  We hit the river at 0630 with headlamps on and waded to the first hole to await legal light.  We fished the forks for nada and then began to pick our way downstream.  Kickingbass went AWOL on a run and gun mission.

Jelly got tired of wading and decided to swim.  Goofy kid walked straight into a scour hole.  Jelly climbed to safety, and we  fished him out of the river.  He didn't get much wader in his waders, but his upper body was soaked and it was chilly.  We stripped him down and wrung out his clothes to pick up on the way back...

 

Then I loaned him my jacket, so he would be warm and I would be freezing instead 



Allen stood by and enjoyed the scenery and the White Family Circus...



We continued to fish for nada.  We waded downstream to try one more spot.  After fishing a juicy looking willow line for a few minutes I saw a steelie roll 10 feet down stream.  I carefully fed a plug its direction and BLAMMO!  Fish on!  Fish OFF!  Arrrgh.  I regrouped and fed the plug back into the same spot.  A few minutes later BLAMMO again!  Fish ON!  Fish OFF!  I was bummed.  Farmed the same fish 2X.

A few minutes later Allen caught a fishing rod!

 

We got tired and hiked back out.  We ran into my neighbors who showed me how to fish this reach of the river.  They had a fish on as we walked by and had already landed 3. I have more to learn.  We finished the afternoon with a fat burrito at the taqueria...Thanks Allen!

Thanks for letting me tag along!!! I do have a tendency to blast and cast, run and gun the river.....  I tend to take the SHOTGUN method, and spread my lures, and roe all over the river vs. just one spot (GROSS)

I could tell you meant business when you whipped out the stainless handgun 

Just to lay out a few reasons to "PACK"..  #1 first and foremost, its Mendocino county, and that means the Turd to human ratio is way off.  #2, I bought a GLOOMIS (NEED I SAY MORE) one must protect his toys at all costs. #3 some of the banks are not conducive of actually LANDING a fish, so (5) .357 rounds might aid me in the landing of a fish. #4 when I run out of slinky weights i could actually use that...#5 and final you are the one that wants cops working the river.... i fished with you guys today because I put in for overtime (just messin)

Hey Mickfish, what was the river doing in your neck of the woods.  My buddy hit a hole near Clois de boius winery (sp) off of Lytton and 128 (nada)?  Is the dry creek hole full of people??

Just to lay out a few reasons to "PACK"..  #1 first and foremost, its Mendocino county, and that means the Turd to human ratio is way off.

Hmmmm.......... As far as I know, I think I'm human, although my wife might label me the other selection.  Glady you guys had fun up here in mendocino county. 

Looking good I would have fished today but I wanted to hit Mendo. I am fishing tomorrow morning maybe reven a short drift. Yes Dry Creek is packed as always. I only fish there when I have no shot antwhere else.

Glady you guys had fun up here in mendocino county. 

Kickinbass is a Mendo local

#

1 first and foremost, its Mendocino county, and that means the Turd to human ratio is way off.  #2, I bought a GLOOMIS (NEED I SAY MORE) one must protect his toys at all costs.

you crack me up I'd do the same - it's not like the Police are nearby when you need help from a pack of wild turds running around in the boonies ready to introduce you to the "Deliverance" life style

I'm in for this week if you're going again Sean and Andy. I was too cheap to buy a steelhead card for one day of fishing, plus I had to work last night and wanted to be "fresh". I'm going to pick up my new license and enhancements Wednesday afternoon, so I'll be ready. Unless the weather is so good that I have to go for another supermoto ride. Maybe I can fish first while I wait for the roads to hear up a little.

CHEERS!

Mooch your correct, Nothin worse than being a stunt double for Ned Beaty (sp) The chubby guy with a new perspective on animal noises....

BTW.... Sean just plugged in a couple of sweet rod holders on my "Kids" new mini x factor...  Sean, do they make a gun turret for the mini x???

Mahi-Mahi, I will be down for a fish trip on Sat..  I want to hit the Navarro and try to pick up another 14lb Steelie...

Scwafish, I forgot to give MUCHO thanks for the crispy cold Sierra Nevada Winter Celebration while on the river.  Sorry yours spilled out, or did Jelly drink it....HMMMMMM

"First day for wading the river" never fails they take a swim. Looks like he took it well in stride. Reminds me of taking my son out years ago. He went for a swim or two also. Don't tell mom, she'll freak out and that'll be the end of it... I remember taking my son out to a side channel on the Klamath (it was a warm sunny day in Sept.) and had him wade out till he lost his footing and taught him how to regain his footing and stand up. That way he new his limits and hopefully wouldn't panic if he went down.  At first he was a little nervous, but after a couple dunks he had it down, and gained some confidence.  Also always made sure he wore a waste belt, and a wading staff. Enjoy your time with him, they soon grow up...

Sean,
You are soooooooooooo due to get one.  In fact so am I, I'm still looking to land my first Russian steelie. Let me know if you are going this weekend.

Sean:

sorry for the late response.  got back to town and right to work.   grrrrrr........

Want to express my total gratitude for your hospitality this weekend.  Just like dinos, steelhead require puttin' in the time.  I got some time in this weekend and learned a lot about reading the water and techniques.  Praying for rain so the SLO can come into shape.  Now I gotta find some roe........

Still am haunted by that second plug hit you had.....damn, I was sure that fish was on!  ah well......

Great to be on the river with you, Chris, and Andy, and I loved meeting Elsie, Paige, and Leah....and your attack chihuahua.

Looks like I forgot  my t shirts though, hang on to em for me, we'll see each other soon, I'm sure!

Allen

Not worth a new post,  but I went to fish an area near the county line (Sonoma/Mendocino) under the Hwy 101 overpass.  The water was perfect, the flow was great.  the bite sucked.  I caught one small squawfish, not to be confused with SCWAFISH....  and gave it the appropriate release!!!!!!  I donated lots of hooks and a few lures to the local willows.   Some of the trees resembled a Christmas tree...

OH WELL