| For the average fishermen, the urge to go fishing is | | | | information and came away with that "I should have |
| usually proceeded by the time honored ritual of | | | | been here yesterday" feeling. |
| checking out THE FISHING REPORT. | | | | For my inspiration to head off to the river, I need |
| Most rivers and lakes in traditional "fish bearing" areas, | | | | only get my fishing reports from the "drive by fishing |
| appear to have some sort of guru who compiles daily | | | | report"??? |
| catch and success rates of the men and women | | | | Let me explain. |
| who toil the waters casting and trolling for fish. | | | | I was tooling along the boardwalk of the main drag in |
| In most cases it is a local newspaper columnist OR | | | | my hometown of Jacksonville Oregon the other |
| river guide turned columnist who reports or gathers | | | | day,minding my own business deep in thought of |
| the information we all crave before investing our | | | | some silly idle brain cell expulsion of energy. When a |
| precious time into fishy endeavors.In some cases, on | | | | voice rang out," did you hear about my fish?" |
| line fishing reports can be useful but then we all | | | | Outside of the fact, that I was not sure if God had |
| know how reliable the internet is for accurate | | | | finally answered my prayers and decided to |
| information. | | | | personally have a conversation with me, I knew |
| Oh yeah--I write columns on the internet. So, I take | | | | somebody was trying to get my attention. I looked |
| it back. The internet is a wonderful source of | | | | around and there hanging out the window of his pick |
| information, take everything you read as gospel. | | | | up truck was Jerry. |
| Now back to our regularly scheduled program... | | | | Relieved that I wasn't going to have to grow a long |
| ...Several calls or e-mails to and from guides and | | | | beard and wander the desert while carrying stone |
| respected fishermen allow for a fairly accurate | | | | tablets, I heard Jerry holler at me again. |
| assessment of water conditions and "bite" of the | | | | "Did I tell you about the fish I caught the other day?" |
| fish.Bait of choice and actual fish count numbers also | | | | The fact that he asked me a second time, and was |
| help us to make decisions as to where and how we | | | | willing to slow the traffic behind him to give me some |
| chase after our prey. | | | | up to the minute report on fishing told me this might |
| We open our outdoor section in our local daily, and | | | | be big news. |
| read the report like a want ad, expecting to see a | | | | "I caught a twenty-four and a half pound steelhead |
| report that says: "Hey A.J.--Yeah you--- grab your | | | | up on the North Umpqua." |
| rod head out to the old military bridge, walk up to | | | | I replied in a fashion that certainly would disqualify me |
| the first riffle upstream and cast to the inside pocket. | | | | from any future Mosaic job openings,and of course |
| There are thirteen steelhead sitting there waiting for | | | | asked him--when? |
| about a half ounce of roe, spit some tobacco juice | | | | "This past weekend." |
| on it for luck and be sure to use about a half ounce | | | | I repeated my "first impressions" of HIS luck, and |
| of weight,let it sink to the bottom and bounce it | | | | then traffic pushed him along and he was out of |
| lightly. You will feel a slight pause and heavy feeling | | | | there. |
| on your eight pound test--that's a fish dummy --so | | | | Now that is my idea of a fishing report. |
| lift your rod and start yelling like a little boy." | | | | I knew it was accurate, because he added the half |
| Of course, what we really get is: | | | | pound in his report. I had the location, and I had the |
| Fishing is really picking up in the middle stretches of | | | | approximate time.It was short and to the point. And |
| the river, with many catches being reported on | | | | for those of you that are unfamiliar with southern |
| roe,flies,worms,plugs,herring,small dogs and lures. | | | | Oregon steelhead-- that is a huge fish. |
| Some fishermen are occasionaly picking up fish by | | | | At that point I had just received all the inspiration and |
| side drifting bait while others are having some | | | | information one could possibly need to go fishing. |
| success back bouncing or picking off a few fish from | | | | In other words, as long as fish are present there is |
| the banks.The numbers of fish are generally good | | | | always the chance that I may be the lucky person to |
| and guides are finding pockets of fish scattered | | | | be on the other end of that battle with an incredible |
| throughout the river.... | | | | fish like that. |
| For the most part, you can cut and paste that report | | | | Isn't that what it's all about? |
| and use that as your fishing report for any river. | | | | So if you need to check out the fishing report |
| Except for the small dog part. | | | | before heading out for a day or week of fishing-so |
| That is the problem with fishing reports. They are | | | | be it. But really, if you have the basic knowledge of |
| useless. | | | | knowing where, and how to catch the fish that are |
| By the time you get the information, everything can | | | | present in the lake or river system. Just go. You can't |
| change. Fishing conditions can change hourly, daily,and | | | | catch 'em until you get your line in the water. |
| even by the minute, so--- to go armed with | | | | And who knows, maybe it will be you giving the daily |
| yesterdays news is just waste of time. Just ask | | | | "drive by fishing report" in your town..... |
| anybody who has ever gone to a place with old | | | | |