(continued)

June 27 2008 (0930-1500)

Real quick report!  Marv worked the tracks area and took 3 nice lakers, 6 to 11 lbs on the big one.  Blk/sparkle Apex at 110' and Mango Apex 40-60' for the smaller ones.  I worked the Totem and north, 3 lakers biggest 9 lbs, best hook prpl Apex at 110' which also took a 3 lb rainbow.  I lost two BIG fish up just past Hermit, I'm guessing big bows, one on a #4 chrome Len Thompson at 74' and the other gold Apex at 48', both stripped line out like it was free but after major head shaking both gotoff.  End of story! Best fishing in the Am again, after lunch they just seemed to disappear from the sounder and the hooks!  

June 26 2008 (0800-1400)

I zipped up to the Narrows to meet Glenn for a day trip, I thought he was late showing up in his boat until I saw this (photo) pull up behind me!  I guess it is aluminum and he did say he was coming in his "aluminum"!!  I got in a quick 20 minute fish before I picked him up though and took this nice bow (photo) on a Cop Car Coyote down at 40' just south of the Narrows.  That fish and a nice laker on a ong/yel Canoe at 110' and the day was set for lots of fish!   Tons of fish marking where I took those two and that's where we stayed for the day! Now I didn't keep track as well as Glenn did but I believe the total at the end of the day, for him, was 6 lakers to the boat and 3-4 lost and I lost...........2 on the hook set?  We had a new rigger clip we were using and had trouble getting it set just right, ya, whatever!   Then, this nice bow (photo) he took on a blu/whi glow Apex down at 120', the same hook that took most of the lakers!

We worked the drop-off areas in that 90-130' range, fish marking pretty much all over the place, even up in the 20-40' range.  We tried all kinds of stuff for the shallower fish but not luck so stuck to the ones that were deeper and that kept us busy.  The other hooks that had fish on were the prpl Apex and grn Canoe spoon and again down deep.  We just about moved locations once until Glenn got that nice bow and then figured we might as well stay where the fish are marking and biting!  I believe that's Captain's Rule #457, "why move where you don't know if there's fish when you are already catching fish", or something like that.

Great to meet up with you Glenn, that just may have been the best laker day I've had this year so far and hope you picked up a few tips on the outing.  Glenn kept track of all the hooks used and even took pics!  I know he'll have a helluva selection in his boat the next time he heads out.   Hope you had a smooth flight home, look forward to taking you and your son out next time!

June 24 2008  (0700-1300)

Well our "company" made an executive decision as to what to do with that hundred bucks our Provincial Gov't decided to "give" us!  I voted to put gas in the boat and assist that carbon footprint thingy while the wife wanted to buy stuff for the house?  I figured with our two cheques we got we could either 1:fill the boat up  2: half a tank for the boat, full tank for the car and a case of beer  or 3: just buy a ton of beer and have the boys over!  Needless to say I was voted down on all my choices but I did still go fishing today!  Started out by the tracks and did a couple passes up and down that stretch, nothing.  I trolled over to the Eagle (nothing) and finally up to and past Murdock.  It was out in the deeper water I took 2 bows in that 1-2lb range, both on a Cop Car Apex and both down at 42'.  That was it however so I trolled back to the Eagle and fished around there for a bit.

It wasn't until almost noon that I took 2 smaller lakers right in front of the Eagle, both on a blk/chrome Canoe spoon down at 48'.  I then took this nice bow (photo) on a brass Firewing Croc.  I had just let out about 200' of line and was going to clip it onto the downrigger when the line ripped out of the reel!  Nice clean fish, not another bite on that hook for the remainder of the time out fishing!   One more good sized laker right in Old Town Bay (you know the bay, the one they're gonna have a dock reaching from one side to the other and cut off all boater access to the bay???) on a ong/yel Apex down at 72'.  Quite a few fish marking in the bay but not to many interested in the lures I was offering.  A little surface activity today, looked like small koks jumping here and there, no sign of any fry though.  The lake is actually starting to clear up, not as much debris floating around but you still have to be on the lookout for the odd log here and there.  Came in early to go get that "carbon" money spent!

June 23 2008

Marv out on the lake again today and got into some real nice rainbows.  He worked the middle of the lake between the Totem and the tracks and took a couple of bows in that 5 and 10lb (photo) range, both on the Mango (orange) Apex down at 40', along with a small kok.  He then took one more bow around 6 lbs on a gold Apex over at the Murdock log booms, what a great day fishing there bud!  You can't complain about the size of those fish!

June 21 2008  (0800-1300)

Took Tim and his dad Roy out for a days fishing, nice weather but real picky fish!  Marv sent me a report from yesterday and did real well on bows up to 9lbs with most of the action around Hermit Cove. He did the big "troll around" Murdock to Hungry to Hermit to Tillis to Totem and to the tracks, so a big loop.  His best hooks were the blk/gry Apex, prpl Apex and blu/chrome Apex and down to depths of 110' for the rainbows.  We started our trek today at the Totem to see if them lakers were hanging around, a few marking but not as many as yesterday.  With the blk/gry Apex Roy took the first "wee" laker (photo) down at 110' within a minute of the hook being down but, that would be it for lakers around here!  We did manage one small kok and one small bow on a blu/chrome Kwik Fish on the surface but nothing else.  So, we trolled along the Totem stretch and then picked up the lines and headed over to Hermit.  A few boats actually fishing around this area so that was a good sign and, there were a few fish jumping around the log booms.  It took a couple of hook changes but the flasher/gold Apex at 74' finally got Tim this (photo) nice bow, lots of air time with this one!  A little further into Hermit Cove and Roy reeled in another bow in that 1-2 lb range, this one taken on the surface on a prpl Apex and, one more good knockoff on a Ong Apex down at 110' and that was it for this spot.  We again pulled the lines and headed to the tracks and did one last troll but no further action so called it a day.  Good to meet you Roy, glad you were able to make it out, finally.  See you at the auction next spring Tim!

I did a little fishing this AM before I picked the guys up, out in front of Silver Sands again, fish rising in various spots.  Pulling that same Apex I did yesterday I got into fish right away but they wound up being squaw fish, albeit nice size ones!  Those and one smaller bow and that was it.  Quite a bit of activity at the drop-off area on the north side of the flats, looked like fry getting chased but could have been by those squaw fish!  I'm guessing that if a guy spent a bit more time there you just might get into a few bigger bows.

June 20 2008  (0700-1230)

Another quick morning trip, taking a couple of guys out tomorrow so wanted to see what was happening on the lake.  I didn't get past the outer marker and saw fish jumping and rising right in the bay in front of Silver Sands so, put in a couple lines!  In about 2 hours I picked up a half dozen bows but, I doubt if I'd have gotten 4 lbs of meat outta the lot!  There were bigger fish rising but I never got into them.  The hook that took them all was the pnk/chrome Trout Killer Apex, put down on the rigger about 6', nothing else even took a bite.  After the "action" quit I moved on and trolled along the tracks, zip, over to the Totem zip, even tried jigging but no takers.  From there I pulled the lines and went to Murdock and worked my way back across the Eagle and right back where I started, not so much as a bite!

I found it interesting out on the lake in watching the larger boats coming and going, the interesting fact was that they weren't going full tilt like they normally would.  I think gas prices have put a wee brace around the throttle hand and most folks are not burning up the stuff like they used to, me included.  I personally think this green house gas stuff is a bunch of bunk, as are the overinflated gas prices.  Why the heck do you think all the glaciers that carved out our landscape are gone?  It sure the heck wasn't green house gases a couple million years ago, just that the entire planet has warmed up!  Geepers creepers, if it hadn't warmed up I'd be ice fishing all the time and burring alot more fuel sledding!  Anyways, I should make that another rant of mine I suppose.  There is of course those who also don't believe in the green house gas theory, or  even gives a fat rats rear about gas prices, this guy (photo) was just launching when I came in, I'm guessing one of his fillups would last me the season! Nice boat but, no rod holders so no go for me!

June 17 2008  (0730-1200)

Quick morning trip out and a pretty good morning fishing!  I stuck to the Eagle/outer marker/tracks area, planned to pick the wife up at noon and go "visiting" after lunch at Knuckles' cabin!  No hits in or around the Eagle so made a pass by the outer marker and got a nice fish, 18-20" (photo), on a 50/50 Apex behind a 8" flasher and down at 74'.  Why 74'?  That's where the fish were marking!  Over the next couple hours I took 2 more bows of the same size on that flasher set up and one small bow on a blu/chrome Croc.  Then, as usual, the bite was over and not another hit!  That's OK, worked out perfect to pick the wife up at the dock and head out for a beverage at our friends!  Water level actually down a few inches but temps staying about the same.  Fishing should be picking up!  

June 14 2008

Quick report from Bill D. out at Crescent Bay.  He was fishing just north of there up in the Hermitage Bay area and did real well for rainbows!  They took 4 good fish up to 25", best hooks were the blu/chrome Kroc and a gold Lyman plug, down at 38-42'.  I haven't fished that area much but as I mentioned to Bill, the fry seem to seek out the "quiet" areas at high water and also try to avoid the muck in the lake.  That seems to be the case down in the Herald Prk area and also up at the Narrows where koks and fry remain active.  Thanks for the report Bill, break out that digital camera! 

June 12 2008  (0930-1430)

I can't remember the last time I took a crew out and laughed so much all day and actually caught fish!  Pete and his dad George were out to do some work on a place in Kelowna and took a day off to come out with Captain Poppy.  Pete  and I worked at Kelowna Det. together in the 80's and I met his dad on a elk trip we went on down around Creston, also in the 80's, and I haven't had the pleasure of Georges' company since.  If there were ever a person that enjoyed life and laughing more than George, I'd like to meet them and find out what number stamp from the "George Collection" they were from, what a hoot!  Fishing?  Well, between the gut busting laughing and antics, we even got fish!  I opted for the Narrows, just to slow down on my end of the lake and reports have been good from up there.

The lake is a real mess color wise up towards the Narrows, its got those big streaks of yukkkk flowing through it all over the place but, not as much debris on the surface as down south.  The lines went in just south of the Narrows and on the east side, my usual fishing spot for this area.  Three guys so we tried 3 lines, all at different depths and different lures.  I don't think it was 3 minutes and the first bow hit a Cop Car Apex down at 40' on the middle rod.  Pete tried to get his dad up to take it but George was in the middle of a laughing session and couldn't be bothered!  So, Pete took the rod, the line had already come out of the clip and was bouncing wildly.  It took Pete about..............................................................1 minute to lose the fish!  George of course got that look of disgust that only a disappointed father can get when his son screws up so bad!  How am I doing so far Pete?

So, that rod went back down and not 15 minutes later it again took a fish, this time the line ripped out of the reel,  just a screaming, and a big rainbow was splashing on the surface.  George and I took a vote to let Pete "redeem" himself as George could not live with himself knowing that his #2 son wasn't of OUR caliber!  So, Pete grabbed the rod, again, and, that's right, again lost the fish within a 2 minute mark!  Real nice bow too, at least, from what we could see of it 75' behind the boat.  I think this was the only time George stopped laughing and mentioned something about adopting me!  OK, Pete was banned from any further use of the rods, short of changing hooks on them FOR US.  As we got closer to the Narrows George finally got to bring in a fish of his own and, on that same Apex and  at the same depth as the previous two.  There were alot of fish marking in the 20-60' range throughout this area so, that's where that hook stayed and for good reason.  Not a big fish but in that 2 lb area, a good warmer up for George, and, an excellent job of bringing the fish to the net, not like Pete!  We trolled around the Sea Store for a bit more and went into deeper water when George got into this (photo) nice bow, this time on the surface line that sported a blu/chrome Kwikfish.  With about 200' of line out and the fish ripping another 40 or 50 out, George was tuckered (photo) by the time he got it in but, he hung in there!  Did I mention Pete lost both his fish?

The bite went for a dump just after lunch, no hits but fish still marking at various depths.  I kept a deep line down for lakers but as luck would have it, not a laker all day.   Just before our last troll out of the area the deep line did take a fish, a grn Canoe spoon down at 110' took a bow of about 6-7 lbs!  The line ripped outta the clip and the reel was screaming but neither George or Pete would grab it!  Pete wanted to smear a little ka ka in the Captains face and said "lets see you bring it in!".  So, with the gauntlet tossed down, I picked up the rod and, of course, proceeded to expertly bring in the beauty fish!  George gave me a congratulatory slap on the back while Pete slinked away and hid up in the helm area.  I think this is when George felt sorry for son #2, because a plot was adrift when Pete and I positioned ourselves with MY nice fish for a photo op.  George manned the camera, we explained to him how to use it, and he then took not one but two pictures of us with MY big bow!  It wasn't until we were packing up to head home that I decided to have a quick look at the days pics and, no pic of me with my fish!!  No doubt a plot by the two of them to foil the Captain in a "no evidence" rule that no pic no fish!  In any event guys, I had one helluva time out there with you and your both welcome by the Captains fire any time  you like!  Great to see you again George, you and your smile haven't changed a bit in the last 20 years so whatever your doing, don't stop!  See you next time your in town Pete and you owe me a flight!

Oh ya, a couple of Dufus's (of course) on the lake today, the first I didn't get a pic of in time.  A SeaDoo took off from the Sea Store and stopped right smack dab in front of us, not 75' away!  I told Pete to "hold our course" and I was gonna give them a blast from the bow but they lit their craft up and took off.  What the heck is with that?  The second one was a houseboat (imagine that!) that swung right towards us and past us at no more than 30' (photo),  the operator hanging his head out the window yelling "how's the fishing!".  I wish I'd had a bucket of bilge water to wake him up!  The worst thing is that it's just started, 2 + months more of them!  Fishing?  Looks like the Narrows has the nod for now.  There was some fry/kok activity in the area while we were there and judging by the excellent fish markings there was a big feed going on.  On the way home we saw that the 2nd Sea Store was being floated up to the Narrows.  It won't be long and that area will be "unfishable" again due to the large amount of boat traffic so get there while its quiet!

June 11 2008  (0730-1330)

Pretty slow day again, water is up a couple inches and temps are still down.  I gave Murdock and the Eagle a try first thing but no action.  It wasn't until almost lunch time and over by the tracks that I finally took a couple of nice bows!  Both in that 2-3 lb range, both taken on a glow grn Apex Trout Killer down at 42' and about a half hour between fish, and then nothing!  With no more trolling action I tried jigging for an hour and change at the log booms and Totem area, not even a bite.  Just goes to prove what I've always said, nothing marking, not much chance at fish!  Buddies are coming out tomorrow so I think the Narrows is the place to drop a line!  

June 6/7/8 2008

Tom was down for the weekend, took out his buddy Bruce who hasn't been back to Sicamous in 10 years or so, I wonder why???????????? Anyways, they were out Friday morning when I was out, and got zip, but they headed up to the Narrows later on in the day and got in an evening fish.  This is when they got fish,  Bruce taking the biggest bow (photo) on a brass Croc down at 55' and then another smaller bow and a kok on a pnk/whi Canoe spoon down at 75'.  On Saturday they gave the Narrows a shot first thing in the AM, and took a couple of bows on that brass Croc again, this time down at 40'.  From what I remember of Saturday morning the weather was the pits!  I was going to go out and meet up with the guys but after looking outside at the monsoon I of course cancelled.  Kudos to the guys for even being out there!   That was it for fish "up north" so they headed back to Sicamous and gave Mara a try for the afternoon, the water clarity was almost nil and lots of junk around, zippo for Mara.

The boys gave Shuswap one last try Sunday morning and headed back to where the fish were, the Narrows.  Tom took one of those huge 12" lakers on the brass Croc down at 40'.  Then Tony got into a nice 27" laker, taken on a Cop Car Apex down at 67' and at the same time as Tony was bringing his fish in Tom took this nice bow (photo) on that same brass Croc and still down at 40'.  I believe we called that lure Merle's Magic before?  The final fish of the day was caught by Bruce, a nice 12' kokanee taken on the Croc yet again.  The biggest catch of the day however was when the boys were "taken down" by the CO's who were working the lake!  No problem of course with Tom and the boys but the CO's did make the comment that they were the only boat that hadn't received a ticket of some sort!  Way to go CO's!  Any chance someone has to turn in a poacher or see's some sort of illegal fishing activity on the lake, give the poacher line a call and catch these tick turds out there!  Thanks for the reports Tom, see you next time out!

One other photo Tom sent me, a real Dufus one if there ever was one!  He got this pic (photo) of a houseboat that was jammed sideways on the railway supports that hold the swing bridge!  Now how the heck do you do that, when all you have to do is steer straight through that huge opening!  If that wasn't bad enough, the crew on board were "mooning" vehicles as they drove by on the hwy adjacent to them.  Ya, big joke, so much for that damage deposit!

June 6 2008  (0700-1200)

Zip!  That was my morning, not so much as a bite.  Murdock to Annis to the Eagle to Murdock, lots marking but none biting.  I spoke to Tom around noon, he too had zip for the AM, short of a double header that never saw the boat!  I did catch one Dufus (photo) this morning by Murdock.  While I have the greatest respect for my elders, that does not apply when they cut less than 20' in front of my boat!  This guy had the entire lake around me but chose to come up along side my boat and then actually turn in front of me!!  What's up bud!  Holy snappen arseholes fella, take a boat course or something, maybe get glasses or let your wife drive!  The stupid part was that he had to actually go the long way around me to head into Sicamous rather than making a straight line from Murdock Pt.! Anyways, water went up a few more inches and temp down a bit, no fry activity seen.  Sheeeesh!

June 4 2008  (0730-1300)

Its so simple to catch fish on this lake, just find a fresh spot, at least I believe that's what I said!  OK, so we can all be wrong ONCE in our lives!  I started out the morning at Marble Pt., lots of gukkkkk and a total of one laker on a blu/chrome Flatfish, that was it.  So, I trolled across the lake to Crescent Bay, thinking the fish were hiding in the middle or something, they weren't.  Over at Crescent, fish marking but not biting sooooooooo, pulled up the lines and headed to the tracks.  Now at least here there was a  bit of action whereas yesterday here, not a bite and very little marking.  There's that jut of land that sticks out just south of Semaphore Pt. (I call it Val's Pt because she always fishes there!) and here there were actually fish marking and, the odd small kok jumping at the surface.  The first bow was taken on a large Hot Spot flasher with a pnk hootchie in tow down at 52', kinda right where the fish were marking. Nice fish, lots of fight.  There are those who think that you lose all the fight/fun when using these flashers.  All I can tell you is that having a fish on a line that has a flasher on it, is a better fight than having no fish on the line with whatever you are using that isn't working!  That's pretty simple!   I took 2 smaller bows in the same area but on a  hot pnk Apex Trout Killer down at 32' and, like usual, as quick as the fish were biting they quit.

I finished off the trip by doing a troll along the tracks and to the outer marker, then to the Eagle and the log booms, no bites.   I then went on a laker patrol to see if I could find some to jig up, seeing as the wind died down, but not a laker to be found!  That was it for the day, may as well stuck around locally instead of  wandering off up the lake but, you never know where them beggars are gonna be hanging out. 

Hey,  I've got a riddle for ya!  How many Federal employees does it take to change a light bulb?  Before you get the answer here's the story.  When I loaded my boat up today I spoke to a fella who works for the Ministry, we got blabbing about boats and stuff and he mentioned that he had a helluva time finding out who looks after the lights that are used for navigation on Shuswap Lk.  In particular, a light up at the Narrows had burnt out or just wasn't working so he thought it best to get it looked after. After numerous phone calls and non returned calls, it finally turned out to be Fed Fish that looks after the navigational lighting on lakes, makes sense since its a Federal law.  OK, the answer to the riddle?  I was trolling in front of the Eagle today and saw the big Fed Fish boat ( Zodiac 930 or 933 I believe?) with, 4 guys on board!  That's right, 4 guys to change a light bulb!  I can make fun of them because I was one of them Federal workers before, just once though!  Way to go guys!  Was that you on the boat Mark????????