We went to Shady Cove on the Rogue River in south central Oregon.
A beautiful slice of Oregon.
We went with a guide to show us all the spots along the river. 5 am we started. What is it about fishing that requires getting up so early in the morning? R and I both got a strike about 6 that first morning. It didn't take long to figure out that we were both working the same fish, our lines got crossed or something. Vernon, the guide said he saw my rod tip dip first and cut R's line. It took me over five minutes to tire the fish out and land him. My hook was firmly in the cornor of its mouth but Vernon found R's hook deep in its throat! It must have swallowed R's bait just before hitting mine. As you can imagine, it was the subject of conversation for the rest of the weekend: just exactly who's fish it was.
About 21 pounds, and a native, not a hatchery fish. You can tell that by the fact that it still has it's adapose fin, the little fin on it's back close to the tail. That area of the Rogue is a salmon spawning ground. Fish you see or catch there have already made the trip back from the ocean, not like fish caught in the Columbia or Wilamette who are on their way back to their spawning grounds. There you can only keep hatchery salmon. You have to give the natives a chance to get back to their birthplace and make even more natives.
That was the only fish we caught the first day which intensified the debate over who's fish it was.
The second day Vernon saw a doe and her fauns on the way to pick us. We went back to get a glimpse and sure enough they were still there, the mamma feeding by the side of the road and a couple of shaky legged fauns, one trying to get some breakfest from mom. We took a couple of pictures, but it was too dark, they didn't turn out.
As for fishing, I caught another native in just about the same place as we hooked the first fish the day before. Only about 18 lbs this time, but no doubt as to who's fish it was.
R had to wait until early afternoon before he caught his salmon. Also about 18 lbs, it put up quite a fight before he was able to land it.
It's a little hard to make out in the picture, but this one was a hatchery fish, the adapose fin is missing.
The trip was a success, more so because we caught some fish.
Next up: we'll be getting an English Springer Spaniel puppy on Tuesday. A little brother for Bailey. This is going to turn the household routines upside down for a while. R is getting a female from the same litter. A new companion for him. I'll post pictures soon.
