Wishin' I was fishin'

Well, this post comes from Nashville, TN after spending the last two days in New York for work.  The combo of stuffy suits in New York and a springer skunk on my back really makes me wish I was fishing - for any specie.  To top it off, I am sitting out in 70 degree weather with a T-shirt and a pair of new sunglasses.

No new fishing reports at this point, but I did want to share an interesting, but welcomed trend that unexpectedly continued this year.  The past two springs, and now including this spring, I've found myself at one of my favorite fishing stores to order from on-line; Bass Pro Shops.  In 2009, the family and I went to the Mesa, AZ store, and in 2010, we found ourselves at the Katy, TX store.  As it turns out, here in 2011, the Nashville, TN store was just a few blocks down from my hotel.  However, if I wasn't missing the water already, spending the past 1.5 hours walking the isles of Bass Pro sure wasn't a help.

Bass Pro in Nashville, TN - Beautiful Blue Sky

On a side note for a Columbia River springer update - The states DFWs decided to open things back up Friday the 8th through Friday the 15th due to the really low catch counts.  With my work travels the 11th through the 15th the 8th through the 10th were really my only chance.  However, with some much needed family time and the Columbia only a foot below flood level, I was fine keeping the boat in the garage.

"Well, That's Fishing"

"Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains" - one of my favorite quotes from the 80's baseball movie Bull Durham - also a quote that pretty much sums up the 2011 Columbia springer season.

It's been a while since my last post so let me get caught up -  I skipped out of work the 24th and 25th (Thur/Fri) for solo springer missions.  It seemed things were on the up with this amazing picture of Mt. Hood over the Columbia in the sunrise as I dropped bait Thursday (secret fishing hole, don't tell).

Mt. Hood at sunrise

After two long days with no fish and only seeing one of the 100+ other boats catch a fish, Lu joined me Saturday the 26th for his first trip out on my boat.  Although the boat got blanked, I had a great time getting Lu out on the water and hope he's still up for the Buoy 10 season.

Lu and lots of rain!

Interestingly, I found myself fishing next to Buzz Ramsey at various times all 3 days and even saw him put one in the box.... so I know I was in the right area, doing the right things.  However, I did something I don't think I've ever done previously, I skipped out on a planned fishing trip and kept the boat in the garage Sunday (27th).  The fish counts and water conditions were just too poor to really statistically have even a slim chance of putting blood in the boat.  The fish checker at the launch had checked only 2 fish for 42 boats.  Yikes!!  And other launches had similar statistics.  

With high hopes for April and the last 4 days of the Columbia season (ug!!!), Tabasco T, Kokanee K, and I skipped out on work Friday the 1st - with my intention of fishing 4 consecutive days to finish out the spring season.

Columbia sportswear reps?

I am generally not one to make excuses but the conditions this year have been a disappointment.  With higher than usual rains (we set records for the number of days in March with rain), extremely high waters, and a massive snow pack causing water temps to be significantly lower than normal - the fish haven't shown up yet and even some of the best fishing guides were continually getting blanked.  As a result, it turns out Friday's trip was my last of the spring (on the Columbia) as I played each following day by ear hoping to hear better reports/conditions.

As I sit here on the evening of the last day reading fishing reports and gas prices flirting with $4/gal., I am glad I chose to hang out around the house and get chores done.  A fellow fisherman posted the following today which helps sum up the 2011 season -

"The Last Day" -- Got to the launch this morning only to find an empty parking lot and the Columbia within a foot from the top of the ramp. It's flooded! Didn't even put in.......

Well, I guess that's fishing - makes the epic days of boat limits that much sweeter - If things work out, I'll give springer fishing  a couple last shots sporadically in April/May on the Willamette - other than that, on to Trout, Bass, and Walleye fishing.