Two Days, Two Rivers

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Eli
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Two Days, Two Rivers
<p><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">I spent my birthday weekend on the banks of two rivers. Saturday was all about the annual White Sucker run. We scouted this stream the weekend previous and it was completely devoid of fish. A week later, we were bang-on. At the base of a large riffle, hundreds of coloured-up males were jostling for position, and of course showing absolutely no interest in feeding. The females were downstream and a little more cooperative. The technique was simple enough: park a half a crawler as close to a fish as possible, tighten the line, and wait for the taps rod in hand. It didn&#39;t take long to hook up the first open water fish of 2015 - an average size hen.</span></p> <div> <p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/70937256@N08/16597846223" title="1 by Eli Fridland, on Flickr"><img alt="1" height="333" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7693/16597846223_7dda65bc41.jpg" width="500" /></a></p> <p>...and two more shortly thereafter..</p> <div> <p><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/70937256@N08/16598110643" title="3 by Eli Fridland, on Flickr"><img alt="3" height="333" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8741/16598110643_e6c0288c9d.jpg" width="500" /></a> </span></p> <p><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/70937256@N08/17030542658" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;" title="4 by Eli Fridland, on Flickr"><img alt="4" height="333" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7584/17030542658_64457e6887.jpg" width="500" /></a></p> <div> <div> <span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">I focused my efforts on a very small submerged gravel bar. By noon, there were dozens and dozens of fish slowly moving upstream. Every now and again a fish would pause over the bar, head down tail up and hoover something up from the pebbles. Probably one in a hundred fish was a male and I withheld the crawler offering from numerous females, hoping to get a male fish. I hooked a large male only to have the hook pop when he rolled on the surface. Shortly afterward, I set the hook prematurely on a smaller male and bumped him. After that, I decided to just target the large females. A wise choice that was too, as several of them turned out to be tanks.&nbsp;</span></div> <span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/70937256@N08/17192363306" title="7 by Eli Fridland, on Flickr"><img alt="7" height="333" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8743/17192363306_c9596b9d56.jpg" width="500" /></a> &nbsp;</span></div> <p><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/70937256@N08/17216615572" title="11 by Eli Fridland, on Flickr"><img alt="11" height="500" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8791/17216615572_4e64f3b094.jpg" width="333" /></a> </span></p> <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/70937256@N08/16598107843" title="8 by Eli Fridland, on Flickr"><img alt="8" height="333" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7606/16598107843_9baa0df237.jpg" width="500" /></a> <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/70937256@N08/17192361406" title="9 by Eli Fridland, on Flickr"><img alt="9" height="333" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7614/17192361406_3843b2d0ae.jpg" width="500" /></a> <p><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;"><span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">This one is wall-bound (in a photo) as it is my largest Whitie to date. <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/70937256@N08/17032138449" title="10 by Eli Fridland, on Flickr"><img alt="10" height="333" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5321/17032138449_006f475b0a.jpg" width="500" /></a> </span></span></p> </div> <div> <span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">An oaf&nbsp;waddled&nbsp;up and decided to make conversation and inform me that he had been catching large walleyes in a&nbsp;deep hole upstream from where I was and that that is where I should be fishing.</span></div> <div> <span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">&quot;Walleye is closed. They&#39;re spawning.&quot;</span></div> <div> <span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">(vacant troglodyte stare) &quot;You can still catch and release them...&quot; &nbsp;&nbsp;</span></div> <div> <span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">&quot;Oh is that what&nbsp;<i>closed</i>&nbsp;means!?&quot;</span></div> <div> <span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">(blinking)</span></div> <div> &nbsp;</div> <div> <span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">With the exception of that little exchange, it was a thoroughly satisfying day.</span></div> <div> &nbsp;</div> <div> <span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">The next am, clean-shaven, I headed to a different river for some multi-species action. First fish of the morning was my first Silver of 2015.&nbsp;</span></div> <div> <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/70937256@N08/17216614402" title="14 by Eli Fridland, on Flickr"><img alt="14" height="375" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8713/17216614402_92963b63f3.jpg" width="500" /></a> <div> &nbsp;</div> <div> <span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Then my first cockroach.</span></div> <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/70937256@N08/17030776180" title="15 by Eli Fridland, on Flickr"><img alt="15" height="375" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7642/17030776180_3c49ab3232.jpg" width="500" /></a></div> <div> &nbsp;</div> <div> <span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Another Silver. Good to see the run has started.</span></div> <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/70937256@N08/17192355606" title="16 by Eli Fridland, on Flickr"><img alt="16" height="375" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7669/17192355606_41037d97bb.jpg" width="500" /></a></div> <div> &nbsp;</div> <div> <span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Then something with a little more pull to it..</span></div> <div> <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/70937256@N08/17192354776" title="18 by Eli Fridland, on Flickr"><img alt="18" height="375" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8739/17192354776_00fea9a93c.jpg" width="500" /></a> <div> &nbsp;</div> <div> <span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">My friends joined me and everyone caught.</span></div> <div> <div> <span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Kyle with a nice Silver.</span></div> <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/70937256@N08/16597838033" title="20 by Eli Fridland, on Flickr"><img alt="20" height="375" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8721/16597838033_0edb127749.jpg" width="500" /></a></div> <div> &nbsp;</div> <div> <span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Tom being Tom.</span></div> <div> <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/70937256@N08/17192353896" title="23 by Eli Fridland, on Flickr"><img alt="23" height="375" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5466/17192353896_d5df9366c8.jpg" width="500" /></a> <div> &nbsp;</div> <div> <span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">These guys moved in thick for about an hour and became a bit of a nuisance, but it is what it is. &nbsp;</span></div> <div> <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/70937256@N08/16597839053" title="17 by Eli Fridland, on Flickr"><img alt="17" height="375" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7714/16597839053_0cc1dd465e.jpg" width="500" /></a> <div> &nbsp;</div> <div> <span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">I have a bit of a sensitivity to direct sunlight ever since my sunstroke last July and I unapologetically sit under an umbrella when the sun is beating down. And catch Mooneye and Shorties.</span></div> <div> <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/70937256@N08/17030509620" title="19 by Eli Fridland, on Flickr"><img alt="19" height="375" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5457/17030509620_a495152f2f.jpg" width="500" /></a> <div> <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/70937256@N08/16595596994" title="24 by Eli Fridland, on Flickr"><img alt="24" height="375" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7623/16595596994_9b9845b29b.jpg" width="500" /></a></div> <div> &nbsp;</div> <div> <span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">A slightly bigger carp that screamed drag on the hookset.</span></div> <div> <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/70937256@N08/17192089536" title="22 by Eli Fridland, on Flickr"><img alt="22" height="375" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8723/17192089536_88257db4b9.jpg" width="500" /></a> <div> &nbsp;</div> <div> <span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Last Silver of the evening.</span></div> <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/70937256@N08/17218031295" title="26 by Eli Fridland, on Flickr"><img alt="26" height="375" src="https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8695/17218031295_ed57a2b37f.jpg" width="500" /></a></div> <div> &nbsp;</div> <div> <span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">Everyone had left and I was reluctantly packing up when the rod tip swung around and I was forced to delay my departure by ten minutes.</span></div> <div> <a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/70937256@N08/17217468621" title="27 by Eli Fridland, on Flickr"><img alt="27" height="375" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7646/17217468621_647e15626a.jpg" width="500" /></a> <div> &nbsp;</div> <div> I&#39;m hoping to change things up somewhat this summer. Stay tuned.</div> <div> Have a great softwater season everyone. Take lots of photos.</div> <div> &nbsp;</div> <div> <span style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">&nbsp;</span></div> <div class="gmail_extra"> <br clear="all" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;" /> <div style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"> <div dir="ltr"> &nbsp;</div> </div> </div> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> <p>&nbsp;</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> <p>&nbsp;</p>
andy
andy's picture
great stuff
That's some quality fishing there, Eli. your largest white sucker is an absolute pig, and that Shorty is trophy sized as well. Fantastic action. Good to see some Canadian open water reports!
zippyFX
zippyFX's picture
Nice!

Nice fish Eli! A successful softwater day with hopes of a successfull year!

Carp Chaser
Carp Chaser's picture
Some beautiful fish, good var

Some beautiful fish, good variety as well. Yeah those whites are huge! 

"There's always a bigger fish"

Hengelaar
Hengelaar's picture
Sweet action! Man, them is so

Sweet action!

Man, them is some large whites! And just a whole bunch of fish. That looks like a lot of fun.

 

I was gonna make fun of having your head/neck in a muff, but after your sun stroke unpleasantness, I guess it's allowed.

 

I spy a little quiver tip tube...

Fishn sure is neat

TonyS
TonyS's picture
Great report!  Some tanks in

Great report!  Some tanks in those pics!

Bubbajoe
Bubbajoe's picture
Well done.   Sun sensitivity

Well done.  

Sun sensitivity is no joke.  I too have to cover up full time when I'm on the water now. It's a PIA but better than the alternatives. 

TonyS
TonyS's picture
Agreed sun/heat stroke is no

Agreed sun/heat stroke is no joke.  Had it once or twice years ago.  Also was on meds for a short time 15+ years ago that meant I turned into a lobster if I so much as looked at the sun - and then ears scabbed over from being burnt so bad.  Living Colorado made me fear the sun even more after getting sunburn.  On my eyes.  I take the sun seriously now.  I'm out there with pretty much total coverage these days.  If I'm not covered I'm hiding under a tree/bridge like a troll...

 

 

krazyk
krazyk's picture
Fantastic work, Eli! How much

Fantastic work, Eli! How much do you think tht big female white sucker weighed? Looks like it had to be pushing 4+ lbs! And great photos too as always! :)

Chain Pickerel: All the bad assery of a Northern Pike wrapped up in a smaller, prettier package.

Mike B
Mike B's picture
Nice fish Eli, you have the b

Nice fish Eli, you have the best random people encounters -- thinking about those annoying kids you told off in front of their parents on the dock in Alaska, lol. Post-sunstroke symptoms? Eesh! Feeling guilty. I Shoulda threw up a tarp at our fishing/camping spot. But you just wouldn't stop fishing.

mike b

Deftik
Deftik's picture
Awesome report dude, I've bee

Awesome report dude, I've been on the hunt for the behemoth whites myself, glad to see youre having better luck than I!

Jason E.
Jason E.'s picture
Some great multi-species acti

Some great multi-species action there.  I actually wish I could catch a bullhead or two this time of year...