Last Day of Our Acquaintance

Every year, each stream has it. Some years you don't know that it will be, but it is. Some years it's plainly obvious. This year, given the forecast, was such an obvious year. Wednesday we knew we would fish Thursday. Thursday's forecast was for +18C and mainly sunny. Friday was forecast to be +5C. The rest of the forecast was cold, snowy, cloudy, rainy. When it's Oct 21 in the rockies, with that forecast, you pretty much know that this would be the last day of our acquaintance for the 2010 season in the high country. So, without further delay, a few shots of our last day up on high...

4 hours

My waders are being repaired. The ones that fit me enough to allow me to hike the Ram that is. The other pair I have at home right now ride high on the inner thigh, and the boys let you know quickly that walking 15km isn't going to be met with open arms. It was a frosty morning in the high country and while the hike in was easy in my wading boots and quick dry pants, I had a hunch my boys weren't going to be overly excited about their treatment down in the shady, frosty canyon waters. But, it was 11 am and they'd be happy enough by 2.
The fall weather continues to provide wonderful fishing. While the Ram in the canyon is slightly off color, levels are way up for this time of the year, and the water is really cold but for 4 hours of the day (which is about when the fish are active), if your expectations are in line with all those factors, things can turn out wonderfully. It was pretty hard not to enjoy +22C with nary a breath of wind or spot of cloud.

The fishing through the entire west country is great right now where conditions merit. The Clearwater, RDR, and lower Ram are all out, but most every other water is in good shape. The lakes are fishing very well.

More weather

If you're headed to the Ram drainage, the canyon may well be muddy water for a day after this afternoon's storms swept in. Not a long storm, but an intense one that will likely show up on river flow reports by the morning. Streams with exposed soil in the Ram - upper Red Deer R area will certainly be off color. The forecast is for a continuation of unsettled weather. Such storms have been rolling through the region for a couple of weeks now. Perhaps the back half of August will have more stability?

Another lesson

We've been puttering around small lakes in our jon boat for a few years now, using a small marine battery pack from Canadian Tire. We bought a second as back up, never really intending to attempt to fish larger lakes or longer reaches of river with them. They served us well, but a spring trip to MB Parkland had us cursing the short lived power that kept us from exploring the entirety of the lakes there. That wasn't the first time that we'd had some limitations - some of the floats on the Red Deer R have seen a little more rowing than we care to admit. But, we've gotten by and there's never been a big impetus to replace the battery packs.
Until last night.

I was out on a local water, enjoying late night fishing. A few very nice trout were caught, I had the place to myself, and eagles, deer, and a series of waterfowl and songbirds kept me company. It was very pleasant. The fishing really came on strong. As dusk settled, I saw the silver edges of two huge thunderheads in the distance. But there was lots of time and the fish were turning on yet. I cast to a few risers as I made my way. Time passed and the thunderheads drew near. What was pitch black turned to daylight, streaks of lightning flashing the shoreline and trees to full daylight. Time to get going! About that time I was giggling to myself that only a week earlier a group of us were scathing the fellow in Ontario that was killed by lightning in a tube just 2 weeks ago. You never expect it to be you. I kept track of the lightning to thunder time. Most were over 10 seconds, but a few claps came 7 seconds. My electric motor slowed. I rowed. And I rowed. The claps drew down to 7 seconds avg. I knew I was pushing it. The motor was nearly dead when the lightning switched from mostly behind or from the side to a blinding fork bolt with nary a second delay to the clap.

And I was 200m from my car at 11:45 pm.  Bugga!

So, there I sat, in a stand of trees. Waiting. And I waited. The lightning was intense, wonderful to watch, a joy to be in. But, for the life of me, I couldn't fathom how much less I could have enjoyed the time than getting soaked under a tree 200m from my car, waiting until 12:45 before the lightning and small hail lifted so I could get off the water just as the second cell hit.

It's 8:20 on Saturday morning. I hear the stores open at 9. Guess where I'll be?  1000 amp deep cycle battery anyone?
It's amazing the things we don't worry about until forced to. Something so simple as running 2 battery packs should have been enough, and have been enough the 3 trips on the same water, simply weren't when needed. Just a reminder to us all to make sure that you have plenty more than enough of whatever you might need... because you might need just a little more some time.
Cheers!