Finally back on the water!

[pdxfisher]

I had not been feeling great the last 6 weeks - kidney failure had been getting the better of me. I had several false starts over the last 6 weeks where I would load up the night before but then feel miserable when trying to get u, but p and go in the morning.  Stinks to feel bad during the best part of the season but you have to play the hand you are dealt.

 

Well, I decided to try to give it a go again on Friday. I figured with taking an extra day off I would have plenty of time to recuperate if the fishing wore me out too much. I was torn on where to go since I know the Columbia is on fire this time of the year with big fish but the Willamette is a lot closer and less taxing to fish.

 

After going back and forth I decided to ease back into things and make a trip to the Willamette our of 10th street. It ended up being an OK but not great day. I caught 29 bass but they were mostly dinks. My best was only 2lbs and I struggled to catch fish over a pound. Still, overall it was better than sitting at home again

 

Water temp was ~58F and the fish that I caught were mostly in 6-12' of water. None of the fish I caught showed any signs of spawning (tails were all pristine). I am not sure if they have spawned and recovered or not spawned yet. I only saw fish chasing bait one time all day. Usually you see that a fair bit on the Willamette. I never did figure out where the bigger fish were holding but I know where they weren't

 

Probably my best lure was a jerkbait but I did not fish it that much since it is a lot of work and it was killing my shoulders. I probably caught the most on (and fished the most with) a 3" white swimbait. I also caught fish on a flat-side crankbait, spy bait, Ned rig, wobblehead jig and a drop shot.

 

Some of the bites were really hard and some were super soft. It seemed like the bites got softer as the day wore on. Overall I can't complain too much. I was able to get out and I really enjoyed just being out on the water in my kayak.

 

Here are a couple of pics from the day and a pretty boring video.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[A-Jay]

Sorry to hear you've been on a tough road

but glad to see you floating again.

Bet that felt good.

Congrats on getting out there and sore lipping those brown bass.

A-Jay

[pdxfisher]

Thanks A-Jay! Felt great to be on the water. Hopefully it was healing as well

[Swamp Girl]

I'm sad that your health challenge is keeping you from the water, but I'm glad that you finally got to fish. I always enjoy your videos. I just subscribed to you at YouTube, my fellow paddler and cyber-pal.

 

Two things about your video:

 

Thanks for including the footage of when bass break free. That happens to me too and some trips, it happens a lot. Those heavily edited videos that show only successes skew my view of my competence.

 

You are a smooth, skilled angler, which I see when you land and release fish. 

[pdxfisher]

Thanks @ol'crickety! It only seems fair to show some of the missed opportunities. Plus it often helps me remember the day better when I review them later. It is often the missed fish that really stick with me.

 

Thanks for the complement! I am not sure how skilled or smooth I am but I catch enough to keep me happy. It would be cool if you ever started making videos I would love to watch you wrestling in some of those swamp monsters you call bass!

[Swamp Girl]

Ha! @AlabamaSpothunter wants me to do videos too, but buying lakefront poverty and having a driveway built has emptied my pocketbook. You are a skilled angler. That's obvious in your videos. I was amazed at how many bass you caught at that confluence. Pretty place to fish too!

[pdxfisher]

6 hours ago, ol'crickety said:

Ha! @AlabamaSpothunter wants me to do videos too, but buying lakefront poverty and having a driveway built has emptied my pocketbook. You are a skilled angler. That's obvious in your videos. I was amazed at how many bass you caught at that confluence. Pretty place to fish too!

 

Maybe some day you will get a video camera, we will just have to wait

 

That confluence is actually a little slough arm. A couple of weeks ago the fish at the mouth (according to one of my buddies) were all 16-18" so it was a little disappointing to be catching dinks there. Although I guess that I can't complain too much since he went two days after my trip and could not get a sniff there. Around this time of the year that slough starts to get this stringy, filament-y weed growth. Usually when that happens the bass move out and carp move in. I think I barely caught the tail end of the exodus with the better fish having already left.

[T-Billy]

Congrats on getting back out and catching some fish. Prayers for continued improvement with your health.

[gim]

My Great Grandfather once told me "if you don't have your health, you don't have much."

[Zcoker]

At least your health gave you the opportunity to get out again! Looks like you made the best of it.