I’m sleeping in too late. I fall asleep around midnight but get up at 11:00 AM or later. It doesn’t matter as I’m not a morning fisherman, but it doesn’t seem right. I woke up at 11:30 today to find the area very windy and cold. I went back into the van, read for a while, and then took a nap waking up at 2:00. I made it my goal to float tube the lake that day.
The boat inflated well, and I was surprised. I also was surprised that I didn’t have the cross bar for the stripping basket. It probably is still back in the box in California. I got in the water at 4:00, after an hour to get all my gear ready and get the fins on. I enjoyed getting out on the lake, once again, after 20+ years, in a float tube. I tied on a black with red and blue sparkle mohair leech, commonly known as a “Louise Special” on Lewiston Lake. Louise is the owner of the Pine Cove Marina and Trailer Park along with her husband, Matt. She loves the fly and it is the closest thing to a Doc Spratley that I have. And, extra sparkle never hurts.
I hooked my first fish after about 3 minutes on the water. It came out of the water 3 times and then dolphin tail danced another 3 or 4 times. It turned out my knot was bad and the fish broke off. There are a lot of fish in the lake, as I just puttered about 100 yards along the shore by my campground. I landed 7 of 14 hookups with at least an equal amount of strikes and bumps in 90 minutes. The fish are strong, running about 12 – 15 inches, fight like hell, and are hungry. This is a nice place to hide during the 4-day holiday here, and to get my bearings. I finally caught a fish. And there are bigger fish here as my camper neighbor brought in a 18 – 20 inch fish for dinner.
My body is feeling better. My calf is noticeable, but not too sore. My knee is unhappy, but sore and not limiting my movements. However, I have a tennis ball sized knot below my right scapula from casting for 90 minutes yesterday. My body will get into shape, and I’m not overeating here as all I have is salami, swiss cheese, tortillas, and canned chicken which I have not opened yet.
I almost went back out at 7:30 last night, but glad I didn’t. A storm blew in at 7:45 and rained hard for hours. I hid in my camper and read until bed time. I’m in BC, heading towards the Highway 24 “land of 100 lakes”, Prince George, to Dawson Creek, and then along the Alcan Highway, fishing all the way. No rush to get anywhere or do anything, except I’ll get a hotel on Sunday the 3rd to pay my bills for July and to upload these postings.
I’m glad I’m doing this. Everyone is very nice. Oh, evidently there is a guy from San Diego, in a van, heading for Alaska also. I’ve met two people who have talked with him—a camper neighbor and the owner of the fly shop in Kamloops.
So, tomorrow I’m going to fish, and relax, and enjoy being out here. This is an incredible fishing place. Tom, camper neighbor, has released 17 fish each day. He is a morning fisherman so he and I take shifts on the water.
Tight Lines!