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Hit the rio before work again this morning. figured I would try my shot at catching 2 for some folks at my work. There were a few moments when I was wondering if I would have to leave empty handed.

Morning started like this, arrived at 5:30am O'dark thirty. Sipped a hot coffee and got myself a nice little spot. It was pretty chilly so I tossed on my fishing jacket, which at this point needs to be washed. It is a cotton carhart covered in stains of blood and dried scales. For some reason I only wear it for a bit in the morning and then take it off, so it never makes it out of the van... good grief it is getting washed today because I had to really talk myself into putting it on.

So I get all ready, a few fish are rising and I flip out my first jig of the morning, at this early time you can't really see anything in the honey hole, so I just play it by feel. I few little taps but the fish are really spooked as I have noticed lately. So I just keep at it, changed up jig patterns 3 or 4 times before I brought my first buck in. I could not believe my eyes as I coaxed this fish in. First it was not breaking surface, not spooling line just kind of head shaking all the way in real lazy like, so I figured it was going to go crazy once it got close. Nope he just wanders in and then I see why. Hook nose fire truck!!! no way.. Not cool et all. First real truck of the year and I was bummed I figured it would be weeks before we started seeing them.

Back at it... being so slow I snapped on a #4 dark green vibrax and let er rip...nothing, moved to #4 blue, nothing. About this time another fisherman joins me, I asked him if he uses walakes but he never heard of it, he was drifting eggs. I moved to #5 dark green and fish on. A bit more lively a few air assaults and then I bring it in, little 6-7lb hen. Again got the darker back with a little blush to it and grey belly... not good. I thought about bonkin this one, but then realized I would not keep it for myself so I should keep the standards high. The other fellow had walked over to take a look and he said "ooh a chromer" but I think he was just being nice. so released.

Now I am getting frustrated it is about 7:30 I have been at it 2 hours and only had 2 fish and maybe 1 or 2 hits. I can see the fish, they are moving about but they are spooked like nothing else, the bright fish are on the move and not interested. So I change tactics, dicknite time, on goes the 50/50 wee. And as I am changing up I notice the other guy is now tossing what looked to be spinners.

Drift after drift for 30 minutes, nothing. I am running out of time, and I am loosing the magic window of tide & morning hours. So I yank the Dick and move back to a Jig. Time for the Flashorexia.

I figure I have 30 minutes to go before calling it. And no sooner do I say that then a nice little school moves in, deploy jig, activate flicker and fish on. This one I have to be careful with because on the first jump I can see it is a nice chrome hen... I patiently work the fish in hoping it will be quick enough that I can re-deploy while the same group is milling around. I net her, bonk and re-deploy... Bingo fish on from the same school, into the air, and houston we have visual on another chrome hen. I bring her in and bonky bonk goes number 2. Time is now 8:45. I am going to be late getting too work but I don't really care, the gals in the office will be happy. I thought about tossing it out a few more times but passed on it. The other fellow asked if he could check out the jigs I was using and I put my hand over the box and said no its a secret with joking laugh. He did not think it was funny and before he could walk away I said I'm just kidding around check it out. I displayed my arsenal of Coho destroying jigs and he asked if he could buy one. I am partial to my little creations so I had to pass. As I was cleaning up and moving out I watched a few more fish move through. We both complained about how spooked they were, all the fish I caught had net marks and I figured either people were snagging down stream or the nets are really affecting the fish. Maybe both.

Easily the hardest day of fishing in terms of spooked fish, numbers of fish and brightness of fish. Not looking good.

BentRod

10/3/2012 12:12:00 PM

Nice fish! Well, you certainly do seem to know what you're doing. Nice work.

tele_maniac

10/3/2012 12:17:00 PM

Beautiful fish JumpinJim! Always enjoy your reports.

jumpinjim

10/3/2012 12:23:00 PM

Thanks, yea well bummer is that I have yet another trip out of town so I will be gone for another week starting tomorrow. Bummed bout it too. I think when I get back I am going to start Honing my skills with the Snap T ... that should produce some much less productive reports, and much more frustrated antics which I promise I will be honest about.

knotabassturd

10/3/2012 2:05:00 PM

jj- was the egg drifter a longtimer on the river if U struck up a conversation with him (like back to the 70s)? Gravelly voice, roughly late 40s? Might know who that is but probably someone else... At any rate, glad to see you have caught enough to keep you and a few friends happy. Have fun on the trip (ya right...).

jumpinjim

10/3/2012 2:40:00 PM

@knot, yea he he had a raspy voice maybe early 50s. Had a tan hat on and was talking all the talk about his egg cure... then I nailed the first fish and he acted like it was a lucky one, kept saying just watch the trusty eggs. The egg bite always works on the green, you just have to know how to feel it. After I had popped my last fish he was silent about the eggs. I like joking around and I was going to crack a joke and say "maybe you over handled your sac, but don't let me get under your skein"...I didn't because he really did not seem like he appreciated jokes from younger folks.

oneshot

10/3/2012 2:53:00 PM

good reporting! you got those jigs really dialed in, making and slaying.. :)

montana_sam

10/3/2012 3:00:00 PM

How long do the Coho run? I no the rains have not come, with rains bring fish?
Nice Fish!

jumpinjim

10/3/2012 3:59:00 PM

Problem is Montana, all these fish are getting hammered in the nets and those that aren't are doing circles in the brackish water in and out of the bay waiting for the river to cool down. So by the time it does finally rain the fish are going to be all fire trucks and boots.

jumpinjim

10/3/2012 4:00:00 PM

Oh and BTW, my boots make those fish look smaller then they really izz. I wear a size 15 ... ;P

knotabassturd

10/3/2012 4:26:00 PM

Ya size 15 women's :-) (kidding of course)... OK I know who that was. LOL you have to get to know him for him to lighten up. There's a bit of curve so glad you didn't drop the humor on him ;-) He's been around the block so go easy on him. It is all good reading your reports! Even if I can't get out... Good stuff. BTW, is that a modified bruiser?

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