Catching Fish

It has always been a joke with my family that if there is someone who pays a guide to take them out fishing and never catches any fish it is me, the infamous fisheries biologist.  I have spent 1000's of dollars all around the Caribbean, Mexico, and Oregon trying to catch many kinds of fish with only marginal success.

Well my luck finally changed last week.  I had booked a guide in Tillamook Bay to fish for Chinook salmon. I was just going by myself but then he called me and said he had to go to a meeting and could he schedule me with another guy.  I said sure and showed up in Girabaldi at the appointed time.  The stars must have been right because we caught seven Chinook ranging up to 38 pounds.  What a fun day.  I was sure the jinx had been broken and went out with friends and our old guide the next day.  Not a bite.  Maybe all this time it was the guide's fault, not mine.

Cisco's 2012

It is with great relief that the summer of 2012 at Cisco's Landing had come to an end.  I am grateful for three things.  The Cisco Kids worked their guts out this summer.  They may not know it now but they brought a lot of happiness to countless people and they were safe with only minor cuts an bruises.  I want to personally thank Lindsey, Tyler, Brooke, Coley, Lynzee, and Whit.  I couldn't have had a better crew.  I want to thank my customers who didn't destroy too much of my equipment but were safe all the same.  I am glad that at this point I haven't been threatened with any lawsuits which proves how competent my employees were.  I also want to show my appreciation for the Cisco Carp who provided countless hours of entertainment for tons of people and consumed 300 pounds of fish food in the process. We also appreciate Lee and Dixie Levitt of Lee's Marine for keeping everything running.  I also want to thank my wife, Doreen, for washing a million cleaning rags and keeping me in line.  After all the bills are paid if there is anything left over it will be a bonus.

Cisco's Landing is an interesting place. We try to meet everyone with a smile whether they are customers or not.  We try to learn as much as we can about the seasonal slip renters and support them, who form a great community on the docks.  As a concessionaire, we also try to provide a positive experience at the Bear Lake State Park Marina.  We appreciate their employees, especially Bill, who is a fixture there.  We pumped thousands of gallons of gas, moored hundreds of boats patched tubes and taught a lot of East Indians how to drive boats.

Now I have to pull, winterize and store over twenty watercraft.  This will go on through October when my thoughts will shift to salmon fishing and waterfowl hunting.  Let's hope for lots of snow this winter so the lake will come back up and we will all meet next spring with a smile.

Lakers

For years I looked at the spawning activities of lake trout  Salvenitus namaycush  (mackinaw) and assumed that they  typically spawned in mid to late October over large rubble.  That is what the books said and it was verified with gill netting and fishermen snagging lakers off the marina during the deer hunt.

In the last two years my observations on lake trout behavior has changed.  I now need to admit to something.  Fish biologists educated at universities with advance degrees don't know shit.  Their knowledge is based on what the "literature" says.  I was one of these guys but as I always knew down deep inside, the good fishermen knew much more than we did.  What I have learned is that lake trout begin the spawning process in late August, stage in deeper water and eventually move into the spawning areas that have the proper substrate which is large rock.  They spawning activities are a good effort but basically in vane in Bear Lake because the endemic species which are eggs predators suck up the eggs before they hatch.  Natural recruitment of lake trout is negligible in Bear Lake.

If you know right area, the depth, know the speed and use the right lure fishing is great in September.   We let them all go for another day.

Cisco's Sonar

Well, the Rich County Times has come to an end.  Amber McKee put her heart and soul into this publication which lasted for eight years.  It provided readers with local news, high school activities and general information.  For that we can not thank Amber enough.  Her selfless efforts resulted in more community involvement and understanding.  The Rich County Times was a true public service.  People can not be expected to continue things forever just because we want it.  I support Amber in her decision to cease publication and pursue other things in her life.  I am sure her decision was not easy but there was no one willing to take on the task of continuing the paper  I have mixed feelings.  The paper provided me a platform to ramble on about things I thought were interesting, but there were times that I really struggled for something to write about.  The pressure was always on every two weeks.

I will put more effort into my blog when something that I think that I have something other people would be interested in.  Bobby Coray has taken on the responsibility to put the Rich County Times online.  Just email her at rctonline@gmail.com to become a subscriber.  I will try to submit articles as time permits.

You know, there are a lot of people that are willing to criticize what others are doing. They are a dime a dozen but theey think they are so important.   In my long career in public service I have come to the conclusion that there are doer's and whiner's.  Amber McKee is a doer. We all owe her a debt of thanks and who knows, maybe someone will have the ambition to start a paper again.

Carter Catching Cuts

Most fisheries biologists are terrible fishermen because we usually catch fish with gill nets. It has always been a standing joke that if grandpa (me) is fishing there will be no fish caught.  My grandson Carter was hot to go fishing when he was up a few days ago so we took out the Bass Buggy at 10:00 am.  Doreen was along which is also bad luck but to our surprise he caught some nice fish just north of the Marina.  I can't believe how well the fishing is this area is holding up.  Usually it is over by now.  A lot of dock people are catching fish.  Maybe the "rockpiles" we put there are finally paying off.

Cisco Carp

I haven't made a post for a while.  I have been waiting for the tourists to come and the wind to stop.  Neither has happened yet but think it will happen this weekend.  The ones that are really anxious for the people are the Cisco Carp.  All their friends have arrived for the holiday and they need food and toes.

No restrooms for these guys.

It is amazing how boaters are creatures of habit.  During May and the first part of June we have some beautiful days at the Marina.  The water temperature is almost 60F and with the exceptions of weekends (which suck) but the parking lot is always empty.  A few more seasonal cruisers and sailboats have been launched but for the most part, boater have not shown up yet.  Maybe it is because there is so much green goose shit (sorry, no other way to describe it.  Anyway, I caught the long legged culprits yesterday strolling along the vacant Marina.