#8 Freshwater Sharks

The fall of 2006 will never be forgotten and most likely never be duplicated. It was one of those seasons of Story book prowess. The rains came early and the river got big quickly and stayed that way for the entire season. It seemed that every week we got a decent rain shower that keep the river running just above her banks and into the grass. If I recall properly we were fishing her at 1.4 on the graph with crystal conditions quite regularly. This along with a bumper fall return had literally tonnes of fish throughout the system. One outing in particular we brought Norland’s father-in-law with us. Gerry is a stand up guy but he is more of a boat fisherman than Steelheader. Once a season or so Gene would play guide and bring him up on a day that he felt he could get Gerry into a fish or two. Gene had asked if I minded if Gerry accompany us for the day. I had no problem with it as long as it put us on the river. This Friday was the first big water day of the season and the timing was playing out perfect. If my memory serves me correct we started lower in the river at a common run. It was a weekday morning and we were shocked at just how many people started to show up to the river after we arrived. After a couple of quick fish we decided to hike up river and loose the congregation. The river was literally running perfect and what we were about to encounter none of us would have imagined. There we were on a river with perfect conditions in the middle of a huge push of fresh chromers straight from the lake. I can't recall just how many fish we hit that day but it was bordering on ridiculous and to the full extent of the word. We eventually found ourselves just below the fabled Wintering Hole hitting lightening hot chromer after chromer. This is where #8 came to hand. My number 8 most memorable fish is this river shark that came from a deep trench on the far side of the rapids. With the high water it was a new holding area for us. This trench was literally packed with fish and this particular one gave me and the 15’ Frontier a run for our money. Eventually fate intervened and I managed to swing her into the grass. I remember Gerry was virtually speechless when I handed him the camera and lifted a giant pristine chrome hen from the moderately stained water. I think he did a great job of capturing the moment and I thank him for that. We caught a lot of fish that day and this one will always stay with me. I cannot fathom just how big that push of fish was but we managed to stay on top of them and experienced a day we will never forget. Yet another testament to a tremendous system.

#9 Jetboat Chrome and the Mighty Mo

As we all know last winter was a nasty SOB. With the early November dumping, Decembers Snowmageddon, and the big thaw we were in for a long Steelheading Jones til spring. I had been following some Muskegon MI River guides online for a while and had an itch to fish that river. After our season closed we were naturally feeling somewhat shorted and as if we had lived through half of winter already. The MO guides were banging huge fish and decent numbers of them regularly and it was really becoming hard to read the reports. I threw the idea by Norland fully expecting him to tell me to GFMS when he bit. That is when the emails started between Jeff Stuhan of Mykissmaniaoutfitters and myself. We agreed upon a day and made the trek over to Newaygo to go Jet Boat Steelheading. All we really knew was that Jeff had a great boat, lots of balls, and a river full of big fish. We really weren’t sure what to expect but I had a feeling we would find a few fish. Michigan has always taken care of me. I don’t think I had Norland completely convinced that this was going to be one of those days but he needed a day away from life and agreed to give it a shot. Well as it turns out the rest was history. We launched the boat under ramp conditions that few would ever consider using. In fact we were the only ones on the section of river we fished that day. I could tell Jeff was not quite sure if us two Canadian Float fishermen would be able to catch any fish with our “Bobber’s” but he was quick to discover that he was in for a hell of a ride this cold January day.
We managed a few little fish at Jeff’s first spot and a couple more here and there until we floated down river to a section with a well defined current break and slack water drift. This is where #9 came from. This Muskegon Giant had us in chase down the river. She was ahead of the boat then under the boat then behind the boat and eventually into Stuhan’s well placed net. The pictures pretty much tell the story but there were three grown men in the middle of the Muskegon River screaming and hollering like 10 year olds. She was a very grand fish and I will never forget that day. I will never forget that spot on the river either. We made numerous passes over and over again each time picking up fish after fish. At one time Stuhan got on his radio and called a fellow guide buddy that was fishing high in the river by town and informed him “the Canadians are rippin em up”. I sincerely believe Stuhan had as great a time as us on the river that day. LOL!!! It was such a fun day and nice to see Gene really enjoying the trip. I think that trip was a turning point for Norland. After that I think he really started to side with my passion for the West Side Rivers of MI. If the stars align and temps hover around freezing we just may find ourselves on the Big Mo in the coming weeks. Here's hoping...

#10 Handicap Platform Chinny and the Smile

Norland did a wonderful thing for us all last January. He decided to produce a top 10 list of his most memorable catches over the years and shared them with us all. It brought me much enjoyment reading each entry and waiting for the next on the countdown. It helped me weather some of the toughest days of a long winter and gave me something to look forward to on a fishing front. It was a very kind and unselfish act so I talked to him on one of our outings this fall about producing my own list. So with his blessing I plan on sharing with you all my personal top ten most memorable catches from the digital camera era. Its a funny proposition as it forces one to look back on the mass of photos one has accumulated over the past 7 years and grasp the true reality of just how many fish have came to hand and relive a lot of experiences. We are all truly fortunate men and are blessed to have access to such fruitful waters. So without further hesitation I present you with #10 which I have entitled "Handicap Platform Chinny and the Smile"

If you read this blog or know me on any sort of personal front you will know I have developed an affinity for fishing Michigan's West Side rivers over the past 3 years.
This particular trip had us on the Big Manistee chasing chromers in November as our rivers were bone dry. This trip was one of the many whirlwind shots we were doing to avoid disrupting family life too much with overnight stays. We arrived early to the State Run Facility on the Brethren side of the River and drove down to manicured parking facility by the boat launch. The fishing that morning was tough and I had managed a decent steelie right out of the gate and I believe Gene had blown a nice fish early on as well but aside from a bunch of browns it was a rough go for the next 3 or so hours. We were making our way down river away from the damn and I decided to walk up to the Wheelchair/Handicap platform to see if I could get a better view of the river and get a better feel for what kind of water was out there.
While waiting for Gene to join me I threw a cast out and picked up another Manistee Brown. Gene joined me and threw out a cast of his own and did the same. We had pretty much decided to throw in the towel for the day when I cast out to the middle of the river and made a long drift down to a moderate elevation change in the river when my float disappeared. I quickly set up on what I figured was another brown only to have the 15ftr bend to the cork. I immediately knew it was a big fish but what could it be. This fish was taking no direction from me and was determined to head for the lake. If you know the position we are in you will see the humour in it. Here we are on the Wheelchair access platform high above the river behind the railings. Chasing this fish is a really poor option but it was really our only option so over the hand rail Norland goes. I pass him the rod and over the railing I go and into the water. If you have ever fished the Big Manistee you will know that she runs strong and carves deep channels in the gravel forming long bars and ridges. I found myself in the middle of the river on one of these ridges running out of real estate while the fish was determined to hit the lake. At one point my feet went out from under me and I did the curly shuffle mid river hoping not to go over backwards. I managed to regain my footing and parked myself at the end of the gravel bar. The water was screaming around me trying to push me into trouble all the while this giant fish was pulling me forward. I was in a piscatorial predicament but I couldn't stop myself from smiling. I don't know if it was the fish or Norland yelling at me how useless and pathetic I was and how I had no chance at landing this fish. LOL! I came to a decision that I had no options available to me but than to put the brakes on this beast and hope for the best. And that is what I did. I clamped down on the Mykiss and hoped for the best while struggling to make my way back against the current and over towards the shore. The 15' Frontier was pushed to the limits and won my praises that day. If anyone was watching from the shore they would have gotten their access money worth in entertainment because we landed this beast and it was a great feeling. As I write this I am smiling from the memory. She was a great fish and a true titan of the river. I really hadn't caught a Chinook for many years she sure gave me a run for my money. She was also full of roe at a time when we really needed some. The Salmon run was all but over and we decided what better time to selectively harvest a fish for the cause. I will never forget this fish and just how great the experience was. She made my trip and my top 10 list.

I will miss

It's been a mere 48 hrs since the Ontario seasons demise and already I find myself feeling the affects. It's been less than 84 hrs since I last visited our special place and I find myself feeling as if something very precious has been taken from me.
Something so special that words would fail to quantify the true meaning and value. I know it's a temporary reprieve but nonetheless I will miss the experience over the coming months. I will miss the anticipation. I will miss the preparation. I will miss the second guessing and mental evaluations. I will miss the early morning rendezvous and the stares of "WTF" as we pack the car. I will miss the weekly update discussions of our personal lives as we shiver in a now thawing Tercel. I will miss the rants about work and life. I will miss my opportunity to listen instead of being heard. I will miss the quiet times when I get lost in my thoughts. I will miss the hike back through a pristine forest. I will miss laying fresh tracks on new snow. I will miss the sound of fleeing deer. I will miss the feeling of relief arriving to a vacant starting point. I will miss the reflection of the far shore on the water. I will miss getting lost in the hypnotic emerald abyss. I will miss those perfect casts. I will miss that sense of being dialed in or "in the zone". I will miss Noland's random tangles. I will miss the chance encounters with the Bald Eagle. I will miss the jubilation of triumph. I will miss the agony of defeats. And not to go without mention I will miss the ever so delightful proclamation "Fish". It's been a mere 48 hrs since the Ontario seasons demise and already I find myself feeling the affects...

In the blink of an eye

2009
What can I say? In the blink of ones eye the year slipped through our hands. Time managed to pull a fast one on me and I feel as though this years season was almost over before it began. For the most part there is some truth to that remark for I got a very late start this year. Mostly due to work commitments and mediocre to non-existent river conditions. I have no regrets. The time I did get to spend on the water was quality time. Time spent in heavenly places with company more deserving of the likes of me. For these reasons alone I harbour no regrets. We once again managed to catch more fish than we deserve and spend quality time back in the Shire. 2009 was short lived but will always be remembered.
A special thanks to Norland...a man, a scholar, a friend, and a POS. Thanks for being there brother.

A Happy New Year to each and everyone of my fishing nerd friends. Thanks for visiting and stay tuned for future exciting 2010 adventures.

I leave you all with this photo essay of the 09 Fall/Winter Season. Enjoy...

"This little river owes us nothing..."

To quote a wise friend... "This little river owes us nothing..." As I sit here in front of my computer I think to myself how precisely true this simplest of statements is. I couldn't make a more accurate remark to summarize exactly how I feel about our little river and the 2009 Fall/Winter Season. Our little river has provided me great reprieve from life. It has provided me a means of escape. She has managed to once again keep me captivated in her raw beauty and the beauty of her offerings. This little river does indeed owe us nothing.

This morning we once again decided to push our luck and forced what was most likely our last shot at the home waters. While I lay in bed last night listening to the wind howl across the ponds behind the house I wondered if this would indeed be our last outing. I wondered if we would arrive to to a river completely iced over and void of life. I wondered if we would finally feel the true wrath of winter. And for a brief moment I wondered if we were in fact doing the right thing.
As in almost all aspects of life it is inherently easy to error on the side of caution and play things on the safe side. We have neglected to operate in this fashion in the past and have experienced some truly memorable outings as a result. If for nothing more than the enjoyment of the road trip I shook off those thoughts and fell fast a sleep.

The 6 am meeting at Norlands came early and we found ourselves loading up the Tercel deafened by the crashing waves coming off the Southern Huron Beaches. We glanced blindly at each other and as if words were not needed we visually agreed on the madness we were about to embark on. It is only when I step outside of those moments that I can appreciate the humour and stupidity that they must exude to those that are not afflicted with this passion. After all it is December 29th at 6am in the morning and we are going fishing under Squall Advisories. Lake Huron is in a rage state and it's a balmy -5C according to the Weatherman. It makes complete sense to me.

The ride up is fairly uneventful. We experience typical intermittent lake effect snow and work our way past the squalls safely. About 3/4 of the way up we run into our first road closure of the season. We decide to work our way around this route and take the back way into the upper sections of the river. In no hurry we take our time and arrive under full daylight. Now having the ability to easily check the river conditions we do and peer over the side of the bridge to witness a river once again under winters grasp. Shelf ice had reformed and the slush was flowing relatively strong. This dampened our spirits considerably and we decided to head into town for a quick coffee and weigh our options.
We decided the epic hike back into the shire was out of the question and any attempt at fishing would be best done from the upper river access points. So after a shot of Bowmore we gear up and head for the water.
The river was beautiful under the fresh blanket of snow and the surrounding forest was the same. I got different satisfaction from today's outing. I didn't feel the need to force the issue. I dealt with it early on and decided to accept this day as a means to an end. Today would officially mark the end and demise of the 09 Ontario Fall/Winter Season for me. I decided to accept it and not go kicking and screaming.
We could have pushed her hard and I have no doubt we would have found success but at what cost. We pushed the envelope our last two outings with great reward and I didn't feel a need to force it today as much as I felt a need to say good bye to a wonderful friend. " This little river owes us nothing... "
And on that note we said our good byes and casually made our way back home.
I will miss our little river.

Merry Christmas

Warmest holiday wishes to each and every one of you from my family to yours.


Here's hoping Santa may bless you all with stockings full of Drennans, micro swivels, soft shot, hooks, flourocarbon and most of all Visors.

Life as Norland II

It is a continuing sad sad story...

Life as Norland II from Brian M on Vimeo.