Wayne Kohan
Life of the Party
I love this time of year for lake fishing. Rich and I headed out early to a nice basin lake. We decided on a nice hike as well, so we reached this lake by the lower trail, nearly a three mile hike each way. But before we got started, I had a blowout.
Hmm, I was using the old cheaper float tube because it weighs a few pounds less. Rich asked if I wanted to chance it and since I had three separate air chambers, and the tube itself was intact, I decided to give it a go. I did make sure my inflatable life vest was secure before I jumped in the water.
So we headed on down the trail. The hike from the lower access is about 2.75 miles each direction. Elevation gain was only 63 feet and I averaged a heart rate of 109. (More on that later.)
After getting everything ready, we busted through the reeds and headed out on the lake. Fishing was decent, but spotty. We fished for about 7 hours, caught fish on multiple flies. I landed about 15-20 fish, lost about the same number, double or triple that number for Rich.
The fish were fat and feisty
The weather was gorgeous as was the scenery.
If you closely at the picture above, you can see Rich not fighting a fish, which is unusual.
The fishing remained decent but sporadic, I was getting worn out by the sun beating on me, I forgot my hat back at the truck and totally spaced out on the thought of sunscreen, and my tube’s tear was enlarging, so we decided to head back. The return trip started out good but became miserable with my sun-burned face and the sweat pouring into my eyes. Elevation gain heading back was a little more at 180 feet but with my dehydration and sunburn and fatigue from fishing all day my average heart rate jumped to 153. I was gassed when we got back to the car, but felt better after a quart of Gatorade and a quart of water.
Overall a great day of fishing, might have to hit it up one more time before it closes for the year. And I won’t forget the sunscreen. Or my hat.
Hmm, I was using the old cheaper float tube because it weighs a few pounds less. Rich asked if I wanted to chance it and since I had three separate air chambers, and the tube itself was intact, I decided to give it a go. I did make sure my inflatable life vest was secure before I jumped in the water.
So we headed on down the trail. The hike from the lower access is about 2.75 miles each direction. Elevation gain was only 63 feet and I averaged a heart rate of 109. (More on that later.)
After getting everything ready, we busted through the reeds and headed out on the lake. Fishing was decent, but spotty. We fished for about 7 hours, caught fish on multiple flies. I landed about 15-20 fish, lost about the same number, double or triple that number for Rich.
The fish were fat and feisty
The weather was gorgeous as was the scenery.
If you closely at the picture above, you can see Rich not fighting a fish, which is unusual.The fishing remained decent but sporadic, I was getting worn out by the sun beating on me, I forgot my hat back at the truck and totally spaced out on the thought of sunscreen, and my tube’s tear was enlarging, so we decided to head back. The return trip started out good but became miserable with my sun-burned face and the sweat pouring into my eyes. Elevation gain heading back was a little more at 180 feet but with my dehydration and sunburn and fatigue from fishing all day my average heart rate jumped to 153. I was gassed when we got back to the car, but felt better after a quart of Gatorade and a quart of water.
Overall a great day of fishing, might have to hit it up one more time before it closes for the year. And I won’t forget the sunscreen. Or my hat.
