Post by Slartybardfast on Oct 9, 2011 11:52:38 GMT -5
Floated the Dowagiac river in Niles Michigan with Troutking in the canoe yesterday. The first time we tried that last year I destroyed the framework on a set of outriggers. So needless to say I was a little concerned about the day but that river taught me a lot last year and I have worked on understanding how to effectively control a boat in fast water. Phishingincident made a statement last year that now makes a lot of sense "To have any control of a boat you need to be going faster or slower than the current." So my approach to navigating this very fast, obstacle laden river was to go slower than the river. It worked very well and helped that I explained to the person up front what my tactic was. Slowing the canoe down by paddling backwards I could move the boat sideways across the river to avoid obstacles. This technique however will initially point the front of the boat directly at the obstacle you are trying to avoid and cause the front rower some distress. I basically think about pointing the back of the boat in the direction I want to go. The club will have a wading safety class and a paddling safety class in 2012 to help members understand and reduce the risks associated with being in a moving body of water.
On to the good stuff. We saw many areas of polished gravel and lots of king salmon but the bite was slow. I also saw a few steelhead behind spawning gravel but didn't have any takers. I did hook up briefly with something that we think was a steelhead but it broke off before we had a look at it. I was floating a caddis and an egg under an indicator next to log jam. The indicator paused for a second and I came tight. I thought i was hung up on bottom until my line ripped though the water and changed direction a few times. Felt great while it lasted.
Troutking hooked up with a king just downstream of a spawning red and I got a great shot of the fish boiling then the hook coming loose.
We thought Troutking had this one in the mouth but when we picked her up the fly had snagged her just outside thou mouth. She was dropping eggs when we lifted her up for the photo so we quickly got her back in the water to do her business with the boys.
On to the good stuff. We saw many areas of polished gravel and lots of king salmon but the bite was slow. I also saw a few steelhead behind spawning gravel but didn't have any takers. I did hook up briefly with something that we think was a steelhead but it broke off before we had a look at it. I was floating a caddis and an egg under an indicator next to log jam. The indicator paused for a second and I came tight. I thought i was hung up on bottom until my line ripped though the water and changed direction a few times. Felt great while it lasted.
Troutking hooked up with a king just downstream of a spawning red and I got a great shot of the fish boiling then the hook coming loose.
We thought Troutking had this one in the mouth but when we picked her up the fly had snagged her just outside thou mouth. She was dropping eggs when we lifted her up for the photo so we quickly got her back in the water to do her business with the boys.
