Chris and I left home around 5 pm and arrived up at Sawdust Hill around 10:40 p Saturday, unloaded, popped the tent, inflated the matresses and sleeping bags, put the warmer on, and were at the stairs by 11:20 pm. We can set up camp fast. Chris worked all day and HAD to sleep. I told him I'd catch 2 fish and come get him. He said wake him around 4 am. What I saw below me what could only be appreciated and described to someone who is an "A" personality. 200 steps down, a shoreline with ppl spread out- lanterns lit. A few tarps stretched out. This was a 200 - 10000 yr old tradition, ppl doing what has been done on these waters since the indians and before. Gathering and taking fish during the annual return of the salmon. Being a high source of protein, these fish could be stacked and froze, there are indications ppl 1000 yrs ago found a way to freeze or preserve the fish to keep through the winter. The river is only 100 yds wide, 2 - 10 ft deep, rather fast moving waters. The salmon run to these shallows and lay eggs, the males bump the females to knock the eggs out, their sperm trailing behind fertilizing them as soon as they come out. The eggs settle in the rocks and bed streams and hatch. But now the waters are black. They are alive. A fish jumps here and there, and sound of a fisherman 'Fish coming down" follows. As I finish the steps, to me, its as good as any bar scene. Men and women talkin, sharing cigarettes and maybe coffee or beer. Joking, laughing, barking, families taking turns in the limited spaces. The premium fishing holes have ppl about 2 - 3 ft apart, the lesser ones have almost 10 yrds apart. But it is packed. How can I relate this to a bar scene you ask ? Ponder that one for a moment. For I amongst men going hunting !! I happened to meet two very basic men that I met from the week before , and they happened to be in the premium fishing hole. I happened to have a few beers I brought down for them so we chirp. They caught a dozen and are tired, but I can take their spot. It will be the only beer I drink all night cause for some reason, I do not like to drink when I fish or hunt. The night is so alive. Someone near barks ' Fish on' and his line is screaming. We all reel in. Someone else little further down - "Fish going up" (Fish is running upstream). Sometimes its annoying to have to reel in so much, but when its your turn you really appreciate having the bank to walk so you can fight you fish. IT lasts 4 - 25 minutes. IT all depends. My first fish is a screamer and runs hard. I slow play it and as I get it near the shore someone yells, 'need a netter' ?? I tell I'd appreciate it and he swipes and misses, swipes again and we land em. Betweeen that and the second fish I set the hook on something that is a snag, a stump I think, but a feel a tail push and it moves! I have just hooked a bus ..... And it takes all my line out, and when it jumps, everyone clamors about the size. It sounded not like a fish but a boulder that fell in the water from 100 ft high. I run down the river to gain some line, but as soon as the line slacks its gone. Just nothing there. I reel my line back in silence. My second fish is a 20 lb monster. My shoulder and hands are sore. Back feels good and tough. This fish is big enough to be one of the biggest on the bank, but was easy after the mystery fish. Was that a sturgeon I hooked ? I'll never know. So of course Im not satisfied with this one. I look at all the ppl on the shore. Men, women, teens. In waders and jackets and hats of every sort. Some are taking turns, some are side by side. Quiet chatter. A Dog sleeps next to a boy. I look forward to the days my kids will be old enough to join me. That time will arrive though, most likely time will be somewhere between the Cedar Point / Disney trips and the camping trips in Yosemite Nat'l Park.
I take the two fish and haul em up all 400 stairs (it always seems like more when you have to walk up), bag em and go wake Chris. "Its 3 am bro get up and get the camera for these fish". He can tell I'm excited and takes a few pics. He dresses, we go to the 24 hr fish cleaning station and dice em up. Steaks and flanks. Getting back down there someone left premium spot #2 open so we jump on it, I get the lines ready, and tell Chris I think I have the sinker, hook, bounce technique down. Takes just the right speed, weight, current to place the hook in front of these fish. They aren't biting, but you can piss em off if it's right in front and with it being dark, they aren't spooked by your line so the fishing is the best and also why all of us fools are out fishing in the middle of the night. I throw his line to show him the technique, and as if right on cue, hook a fish - set the hook and hand it to him and say - "here take this !". Felt pretty cocky then. He lands it, we fish, and nothing for a 20 min. "Somethings wrong" I tell him. I make a sinker weight adjustment, change my speed, and BAM ! another "Fish On - Comin down !!!", I yell. Oh boy am I feeling it now !! I land a few, he lands a few. He has caught the rythem and starts to go to work in the shallows. Then his reel breaks, so I give him my reel and go sit down. I haven't slept yet and its 5:30 am. I pull the hood of my parka over my head, and then I wake up !! I must have drifted off, its light out, but Chris is right there. He goes on to tell me it's been almost a half hour, he brought in a real nice 15 - 17 lbr, met a few friends that helped him net it and where was I ???? Wow !! I tell him I am going back to camp to change socks, but will be right back. I drive back and put the heat on high, strip down in the tent and sit by the heater to warm my freezing cold feet. Its about 40 F, crisp but not not cold weather, foggy but not quite sunny, and the forest is alive with birds and clawed critters running on the trees. It those moments you sit back and appreciate being alive, right there, right now. I change into fresh warm clothes, stretch back on my sleeping bag cause I am so exhausted ............. and wonder why Chris is in the camp ???? What ??? I fell sooooo asleep that I left him down there, he had to walk back with the fish 1 mile alone !!! He brought back only 3 of the 6 cause they were so heavy ! IM in trouble !! But he was easy on me and we got em cleaned had breakfast, napped til 11, fished til 1 and were home by 5 pm Sunday. A whirl wind 24 hours produces 2 + 6 fish caught, 5 big ones on ice, and pics as per attached !! And now you've been to fish camp !!!
