I have asked myself the question of why I’m not fishing every possible day. After 7-plus weeks along this journey, I’ve come to realize that I am not physically prepared for this trip. For example, at the Russian River the most common phrase I’ve heard from other fishermen is: “We limited out in an hour”. Almost everyone on the river for more than a couple of days has found a pod of fish and have the pictures to prove it.
To fish the Russian River for Red Salmon successfully, a person needs to meet a couple of physical requirements: 1) An ability to be on the water at 5:00 AM as the daily runs fill up the river in the mornings; 2) An ability to walk in full gear a little over a mile, fish the confluence for a couple of hours, and then walk back to your vehicle; and 3) The ability to walk several hundred yards, minimum, in the river.
One day, I walked the mile-plus to the confluence, with no gear. I walked back, barely, and certainly could not have fished and then made it back to my van. Yesterday, I got my gear on, crossed the river, fell in quickly, and had to sit on the bank and on a log to get energy to leave. Hiking the trail back to the van, I stopped to rest a dozen or more times, and at each of the benches along the steep stairway.
Right now I’m suited for float tubing for a couple of hours on a calm lake. I’d love to take a guided walking trip along the Anchor River next week, half the price of a float trip on the Kenai, but I can’t walk the miles required, and / or fish for hours.
So, as with every adventure there are two things that take the forefront: 1) The people you meet along the way are the real foundation of the adventure; and 2) You learn more about yourself than you thought, and probably more than you wanted to.
Last night I was tired at 9 PM, and decided that I Was Going To Wake Up At 4:30 AM and hit the water at five. I had insomnia and didn’t sleep all night. At least I realized that entering a salmon stream without sleeping at all the evening before was not a good idea.
As rain is forecast for the next couple of days, I’m heading to a lake to float tube and hunt for large rainbows and dolly varden char. I’ll then head down to Homer to go after silver salmon. Youth is wasted on the young, and sadly, this trip is not for the old.
Tight Lines!
Hi Shane,
Well , you are an official Sourdough and by your journeys end you will be in wading shape to come home. Good your spills haven’t caused any injuries which would be yuck’e. Have you considered a wading staff, it might help. Also, drinking French Vanilla coffee in Alaska , Oh My !!! Nothing like a good shot of Hobo coffee to charge the ole system after you get passed the grinds. Sorry about the rain, not unexpected but still inconvenient. Damp clothes in damp weather is tough. Keep casting and good things will happen, after all your in Alaska. Don