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Paradise Lost
#1
Saturday 19th:
Went up to "The Pig" on Saturday, met up with a fishing buddy and hoped to find some Kokanee. We did that, had a lot of hookups, and a lot of long and short line releases. Weather was great, only a few other boats out in the AM. Only boated two by the end of our time, but would have had over a single limit easy had we not been so willing to release them all.
[inline "Busy Launch.jpg"]

[inline "Not so busy launch.jpg"]

By afternoon - it had got busy busy around the campground/launch - loads of kayaks, floats, waders, all types. Had to clear a path and shoo a few younglings off so I could load out.
[inline "Getting Down.jpg"]


Another day in Paradise:
I think I might be developing a problem, because I did not have my Koke fix satisfied, SO - glutton for punishment, I went back Sunday morn for another humbling. A bit overcast, touch of drizzle, could be a good day. Not 5:00 min off from launch I got the rigger down, and first hit. At about 5:10 I had my first release. Grrr. Deep breath, reload.
[inline "No Pepsi Koke.jpg"]

[inline "Koke on a Boat.jpg"]

Things were quiet to steady from there, few hits, few bobs, lots of misses. Finally got one to net, and the game was on. From there I was on a streak for a little while, netted and landed several, while resetting the rigger and getting new baits back out and trolling on. Tried a mix of Epic Spinners, different colors, and different dodgers. Even threw down a Pink Squiddie. Seemed like everything got bites, but I also pushed through a lot of marks with no interest. I always have a hard time changing up baits.
[inline "One Bow.jpg"]

As expected Sunday was less busy, both in am and pm. But it seems like afternoon brings out the canoes and yaks. Chatted with a few other boats, and there didn't seem to be a whole lot of catching going on. Though the early morning crowd may have cleaned up, dunno. Would have had a limit by noon if I didn't feel so bad for those silly silver fish, and kept letting them loose before the net, some before they'd even had a chance to get close enough to wave (yeah, you know how). Some had some shoulders to 'em, and I swear the biggest ones got off RIGHT at the net, one even leaped right over it - skurvy dawg!
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Mostly the riggers were rolling, and I'd got into a rhythm, but did manage to find shallow water abruptly - even managed to backspool the rigger during one episode. Fun - birdsnests with the level lines is one thing, but with the wire cable, oh hell no!
Had told myself I'd try to leave by noon, so once 3pm+ rolled around - limit or no - I had to go (plus my battery was kaputz). Ended up with 8, and one bow I released (didn't want to give up a basket spot for a koke!), so - an improvement.
[inline "Koke Basket.jpg"]

Next time - I'll work on my efficiency! (and reeling/netting skillz!)
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#2
Good to hear you made it out. Nice report.

Wire bird nests are ugly to deal with.

Did you get any rain up there? I'd bet that boat ramp would get pretty ugly if it rained.

Never fished that water, appears it too is pretty low this time of year. Is this the only boat ramp they have?
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#3
Thanks. Always good to work on the sunburn a bit.

There's no "real" ramp, in - no cement, all gravel (or mud if you're at the wrong time of year!).
The first and last shots are the first launch site - down a steep rutted out road. The launch there is a pretty gradual slope this time of year.

The second shot with just my boat is at the back "ramp" - and it's gotten much steeper a drop in the past few weeks. The lower the lake gets, the more muddy the edge I think. That can be trouble. I don't know how bigger boats do it, but the whole lake is wakeless, which is nice (though there was one boat buzzing at full throttle, guess they missed the memo).

Speaking of which - dumbcluck - I forgot to put my mussel cert in my window - had a "warning note" left on my windshield - no citation - which is good, since I took the course, just neglected to put it on the dash. Thing is - they don't have slips there to fill out (which is what usually what jiggles my "rememberall"!).

I was lucky to get the wire worked out without a kink - ended up reversing directions on me for a bit! Awkward moments (NOT caught on film!)

Titch of drizzle, but not enough to really even wet anything. Hopefully I can make it back up, and work on my reeling and netting skills! Sometimes it's easy to get too excited about a hookup, and overthink things. I know my cat-confidence went up as my practice time increased. But these squirrely Kokes - if you lift, or give them too much slack - they know how to work it! Timing....
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#4
Good job John glad ya got some tasty morsels. If you smoke them up as good as your catfish you'll have a line waiting. One of these days I'll make it up after those guys. How deep are the feeding group at?

I fixed (temporarily) my boat steering over the weekend and thought I was back in business. Well learned a costly lesson, bought a cable over Amazon and of course they didn't have any dimensions on end fittings, but it looked good in the picture so I installed it to find it wouldn't fit in the steering unit, by now I had gotten grease all over it so I didn't think I could return it so engineer kicks in and I modify it to make it work. Only problem is I'm not as skilled of craftsman and I nicked the cable with my saws all as I was removing the outer wire wrap so it would fit in the groove. Well it went together and worked great until I was on the water getting ready to pull a tube when it broke and left me without steering again. Guess I need to go in a shop and make sure I get the right one.

Anyway someday I'll make it back on the water under full capabilities. Sure want to try the new electric rigger on those Kokes, maybe next weekend depending on hay. May see ya there if things work out. Later J
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#5
I had the ball down about 40ft, lower was just up from that, then 10 ft up from there. Seemed to be "the zone" - though I did pass through marks above and below that. Plus saw the occasional surface activity.

Sorry about your cable - might be a job for Don instead of Lee - he might try to sell you a new one. Just need more duct tape and paper clips!
How's your kicker doing? Ever figure out what made it stop purring? Danged boats, if it's one thing it's another, but it's always something!

I couldn't imagine not having the electric on the riggers, well - I could, but it'd probably involve a lot more creative metaphors being pitched over the side.

Gotta thank Petty for a few tips and tricks that I think at least helped my mangled rod handling methods.

And in case anyone is wondering - the ice is still a little thin there too. Might be a bit early for sleds, but you can start sharpening blades. [shocked]
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#6
Yote thanks for the tips, hope I get to try them but I didn't get the hay cut last night so I might be farming this weekend.

Kicker motor seems okay now. I think I had a snog in the carb or air lock in the fuel bulb so after a little working on those two things it seems to run fine. Biggest problem is it doesn't start very well the first time each trip. It doesn't have a choke so if I put my thumb across the air inlet to the carb and give a tug, it starts fine, but if not I can crank my guts out trying to get it started that first time. Crazy how each motor has their finicky habits. Guess that happens when you don't have new stuff. Thanks again for the reference spot. Did you happen to notice if the bigger fish were deeper than the average fish like they are seeing at the gorge? I know the fish at the gorge are quite different than the pigs but just wondering if you noticed anything there? Later J
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