Computer in the Shop

Hi Friends, Postings will be minimal till July 6th. We will be back after that. Have Fun Fishing. Mia, Marty, and Tegan

Catfish Fry

Catfish Fry
Not for purist, obscene content.

If yer a kid at heart then some times ya still go fishin. I’ve always wanted to catch a catfish on the John Day River but have never had chicken gizzards, treble hooks, or split shots in my fly box. When camp has been set up and ya have nothin better to do; heck, why not break the catfish code. Well; ya start by lookin through a fly box full of poppers, damsels, and whooly buggers because yer on the river catchen bass not thinkin of fryin up a catfish. Ya figure, take a couple wooly buggers spaceem apart for weight and look through a cooler to find the smelliest meat. Well, yer not a bait fisherman but’ve used a few worms in yer childhood years, but bacon sure sounds good to a catfisherman. So ya cut a slab of bacon, fold it up and push it through the hook. Then it’s time to chug a PBR, row across the river and anchor up in a little back eddy.

After a couple casts and feeding line to the bottom of the river ya hook a few bass. Ya think, “bass must taste good to a bottom feeding cat fish.” Ya sacrifice the next bass caught, slice off a chunk, find a #6 Gamakatsu hook in yer tackle box, tie it on with nothin less then a perfection knot, and fling out the line give’in the catfish another chance. The line swirls around in the back eddy, more green line gets sucked into the currant. Ya reel in and make one more attempt at casting this heathenistic set-up of wooly buggers and bait. The bait lands in the foam line, on the outer edge of the eddy. The line gets sucked down an’ya feel the bass bouncing off the bottom and then the line comes tight and the reel starts spinning. Yahoo, fish on! The fish feels like a Spring Chinook on a 6 weight. Rod tip bent, line running out, ya reel in and it takes more line. Can’t be a bass, bass rise to the surface and cartwheel a few times. After a few minutes of playing the fish, ya get it to the bank and see long whiskers protruding from the face, and a big, wide mouth like Aunt Jemima ready to give ya a big smack on the lips.

Blackened catfish by the river is a treat. Ya sacrifice two cats and let one go, no need to take more then ya need. Ya row back to camp, fillet the two cat fish, dippem in egg. Next, ya coatem with flour, mixed with paprika, chili powder, and garlic salt. Ya wait for the oil to get hot then plunkem in the pan. The spices tingle yer nose hairs and yer mouth waters. Ya wait till they’re golden brown then slidem to a plate and squeeze fresh lime over the cooked flaky fillet. The meat falls apart between yer fingers, so ya lick yer lips and fingers while thinkin about that next catfishin you’ll be doin.

This ain't chicken.

Catfish Fry.

Bass Fishing on the John Day!

Juniper on the John Day

Bass are fun to catch!

The Eckland clan.

Tegan

Tegan was so focused this moment on figuring out how to turn the reel. She is such a determined child.

Cougar on the John Day

The wildlife on the John Day is spectacular, and what an opportunity to see a cougar stalking Big Horn Sheep. Photo by Alan Christensen Western Rivers Conservancy .

"Majic Juju" Bass Fly

The "Majic Juju" fly knocked 'em dead!
Tyed by Nathan Koenigsknecht, he can also be found building rods for CF Burkheimer .

Catch and Release

Here are a few great quotes from anglers that submitted entries for the release fish contest, on the flyfishergirl forum. Catching and Releasing wild fish is vital for future returns. Enjoy the read.

"Catch and release fishing is the future of our fishing. Not only that but quick catch and release."

"Not forgetting to wet my hands before picking the fish up."

"Having a routine like this for me, offers every fish I catch a greater chance of a quicker recovery time which in hindsight is probably the most important factor every fisherman should uphold."

"Gentle cradle the upper body with one hand just behind the pectoral fin and with the other hand, hold the fish behind the anal fin."

"Wild kelts should be handled with the utmost care."

"Often times using too light of tippet will result in over exhausting fish that even if C&R is practiced the fish will not survive."

"Fishing in extremely hot weather conditions is also harmful to fish (the same can be said for cold weather too)"

I agree, "C&R and proper handling of the fish" is mental training and a philosophy. There is always something to improve based on our knowledge

"I wonder how many catch and release core fisherman will sacrifice one non-native species to save a another?"

"When I teach, explain, or promote my love for fishing, the main topic I advocate is how fish should be cherished, treated with the utmost respect, and both caught and returned as safely and effectively as possible."

“Every fish is a great fish” and I can not emphasize enough how important that saying is for me.

"when looking in my fly box, I consider what I am fishing for. Using the correct hook size is an important factor and even more so is ensuring all my hooks are barbless."

"I try to minimize the amount of time it spends on the end of my line."

"Every piece of water has its trophy and ever river will have its day. Be it a 10lb Brown or a 12" Cutthroat."

The Tug is the Drug

" Holy Bass" Ann with another.

We got our bags ten minutes ago.
Sorry. I was calling your work number.
Coffee cake?
John Day box.
The tug is the drug.
Are we there yet?
Stop for the view? No consensus on that.
So what gets you excited about steelhead?
[Unprintable.]
Are we there yet?
Wasco has it all!
There’s the river.
That was the takeout.
Two hours to go.
Sure is hot.
Why don’t you open the gate?
Where are the cows?
How many six-weights?
Dan has a fish on.
Park the car.
Shove us off.
Where’s my John Day box?
Holy cow!
This is stupid good.
Jigs and grubs.
Bass in the boat.
Holy mackerel!
Look at that!
Dan has a fish on.
Holy mackerel!
Unbelievable!
My neck hurts.
There’s another one.
POPPERS!
TEGAN!
Yin and tonic.
Spanieisms.
You mean you didn’t bring the sleeping bags?
Bugs in hat.
Marinara on hat.
Whipped cream with that?
Layering with tablecloth.
Roasting.
Tablecloth off.
Still roasting.
More layers off.
OK. ZZZZZ.
Where’s the coffee?
This is a stupidfest!
FOAMER poppers!
Was that thunder?
Don’t panic. Keep working.
That’s a double.
That was lighting.
Count the seconds.
That’s a triple.
Row faster.
How many triples was that?
How many hundred was that?
Fried chicken?!
Key lime?!!!
Where’s my headlamp?
My fiancé…I guess.
You fish. I’ll row.
Bass-o-matic.
I won’t fish. You can’t make me.
Hawks.
Eagles.
Scudzilla.
Sheep.
Relentlessly spectacular.
Dan has a fish on.
Turk’s Tarantula.
Turk’s jerk.
Scotch.
Watch the hills.
Cigars.
MyfiancéIguess’s house.
Snakes?
ZZZ…
Bass before breakfast.
You slept with your headlamp on.
Ibuprofin?
All streamers, all the time.
Bass on.
Double.
Sculpzilla.
Bass on.
Bass on.
Triple!
Majic juju fly.
DEER HAIR POPPERS!
Wail on them stupid.
ALL POPPERS, ALL THE TIME.
Bass in the shade.
Bass lost in the boat.
All y’all.
Bass in the sun.
PA (personal aroma) building in non-linear fashion.
Entrance of the Gods into Valhalla.
Loudly singing Wagner.
Don’s steelhead run.
Quick dip.
Big eddy.
Position A.
Another triple!
There’s the bridge.
Damnit.
Pack up the rods.
That’s that.
Next time…..
Hey…Dan has a fish on!

words by: The Gang Wester River Conservancy