Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Fishing the Pere Marquette


After a day of rain and cold, yesterday morning looked to be perfect. But then, I’d never fished for Steelhead in the rivers and learned that cloudy days are the best. There wasn’t a cloud in the sky yesterday as we drove north. And the further we went, the more snow was left from the weekend’s storm. We got to the Pere Marquette around 10:30 PM, suited up and hiked back into the river. The water was higher than my friend had expected and at places I found myself in fast water, well over waist deep, pushing the limits of chest-high waders. Once I tripped and almost went swimming, catching myself before diving headfirst, getting only my left arm soaked, which made a cool rest of the morning. After lunch, I changed into dry clothes and the afternoon was more pleasant. We were in a fly only section of the river, using artificial fish eggs on a heavy fly rod. I’d had one strike, Lee caught the only fish I saw, a 6 inch long trout, nothing like the 10 pound Steelheads that supposedly come in from the Great Lakes to spawn. We didn’t see any fish spawning on the gravel beds, where they drop their eggs to be eaten by other fish that lurk in the holes behind the gravel bars. At least we weren’t alone, proving that misery loves company; no one else along the river was catching any fish, either.

My friend watching his line as the faux eggs bob downriver, just above the bottom.



Drift boats floating the river, looking for spawning fish.
Another sign of spring is Skunk Cabbage. This is a unique plant that develops its own heat and melts the snow and ice from around them. They grow early in the season, in swampy areas, and provide pollen for early insects. Their name comes from the smell they give off when they’re broken (or crushed underfoot). Yesterday, I saw many such plants sticking up in the snow, a sign that despite winter’s attempt to hold on, the seasons are changing.
As the bumper sticker reads, a bad fishing beats a good day in the office…

25 comments:

  1. Only you could make wearing a trash bag with a backwards fanny pack look good, Sage. Ok not really but at least you have the blue on. :-)

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  2. I thought everyone -including non-fisher girls like me - knew cloudy days were the best time to fish?

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  3. Murf, thanks for the backhanded compliment, I think

    TC, yeah, but even in clear skies, you can find shady areas or deep holes...

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  4. YOu are a glutton for punishment, aren't you? Standing in an icy river with snow all around?

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  5. So, how big was that fish?

    Had to start my allergy pill regimen already... but don't tell... I like to pretend it's not happening. Who me {as snot begins to flow from my nostrils}, no, I don't have a cold or allergies. Let's just look at the beautiful sunny day shall we.

    Denial at its best.

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  6. Your word verification made me hungry. It said 'gratin'.

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  7. you have so many adventures. All I do is move

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  8. Great pics but especially love the drift boat with the snow in the background.

    Where is Pere Marquette located, UP?

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  9. Once I took a tumble in a local trout stream and filled up chest waders to the brim. Not good.

    Cheers.

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  10. Kenju, it's the challenge of it all

    Lisa, sorry, no fish, but I'm on my seasonal nose spray regiment...

    Pia, but you make moving so interesting!

    Karen, the PM flows out into Lake Michigan at Ludington--we were near Baldwin

    Randall, yes, that's especially dangerous if you have the boot type waders--the type we used down on the coast--that can hold gallons of water. These type allow just enough water in to bring in the chill

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  11. My life too mundane compared with yours. All I seem to do is write poetry!

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  12. What would you do if you catch one? Would you release it? Or would you cook it?
    I don't want to fish, but I do want to eat one. Yummy.

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  13. Oh, sign me up! It's been a few years since I've been flyfishing. I use ultralight equipment, and *shudder*... lures and bait these days. Beautiful stream-

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  14. Thanks for showing me what a COLD fishing day looks like...still better than a day at the office.

    Nice photos!

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  15. Gautami, but you write such wonderful poetry!

    Mother Hen, this area was catch and release and these fish wouldn't be as good as them out of the lake or the smaller trout

    Beau, Come on up! We are blessed with some nice streams.

    Scarlet, you're Florida fishermen don't ever get to experience this!

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  16. Great photos from your fishing trip. I especially liked your first photo. Speaking of fish, I made baked catfish tonight for supper. Yummy!

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  17. My CPA of 22 years is a young 82, however, he had to give up golf and fly fishing. But he told me that he can still take Joy in consulting younger people how to best fly fish! I agree wit The Mistress of the Dark: All great photos here, Sage!

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  18. Sage...I just don't know what to say...one toe in the still frigid waters and everything would have shrunk including my desire to fish.

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  19. Tim, fried catfish with lots of pepper in the breading, yummy.

    Mistress, thanks.

    Michael, too bad your CPA had to give up fishing--I remember the ending of "A River Runs through It, where an old Norman MacLean is still fishing, alone, as everyone has gone.

    Walking Guy, with waders and wool pants and polypro long johns and you're set to go

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  20. There's something spiritual about being out in nature.

    It looks like your trek was a good one, even with a wet arm.

    Thanks for stopping by.

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  21. I haven't been fishing in such a long time. ...and I've never tried fly fishing, though I know those who do it fall in love w/it immediately.

    Beautiful pics.

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  22. I love living in the city, but I have to confess, this post gave me major homesickness.

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  23. I've never tried wading and fly fishing. I've only fished from the shore. But it is on my list of things to try someday.

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  24. Very cool!! The last photo could use some serious "editing".

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