Saturday, October 10, 2009

"I'm Paddling in the Rain" (Don't worry, I'm using a camera and not singing)




I had planned to get away yesterday even though the weather wasn’t the best. But, according to forecast, the heavy rain was suppose to stay south of us and even then was suppose to end around noon. So a friend and I took off north, to a section of the Rogue River neither of us had run. The weather forecasters were wrong. It rained. At times it rained hard. It did slow down a bit later in the afternoon, but it never stayed gone. It kept raining. And the temperature was somewhere between 48 and 50 degrees (That’s a little under 10 degrees C for my readers outside the US).


But what a beautiful day to be on the water! And we didn't have to worry about navigating around other boaters. Wearing full rain gear, we set off down steam. The rain drowned the sounds of civilization (that was never far from us). The fall colors are almost at peak. The silver maples were bright yellow and gorgeous. We were joined by flocks of ducks—wood ducks that screamed as they took off in front of us and mallards that appeared more tame. There were a number of great blue herons, a few kingfishers.


And the trout! We did some fishing and did catch a few fish, some trout and a chub. There is nothing like seeing the flash of a trout as it goes for the spinner. I was using Panther Martins and my friend, who caught more fish than me, used a large Mepps spinner. I took along a fly rod but didn’t use it as it’s hard to use when someone else is in the boat. We should have brought waders. Of the fish we caught, we let go. Most were small except for one brown trout caught by my friend—and the season for Browns ended on September 30th.

20 comments:

  1. The top pic is my favorite. Lovely to see fall colors, it isn't as vivid here...yet.

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  2. Wonderful pictures. What good fall colours! We still are reeling under that summer wave. I have started to hate Delhi!

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  3. Water above and water below. Nice raincoat and nice peaceful view. We just got drizzle. Netchick forecasted this visit.

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  4. The weathermen are always wrong.

    The leaves are beautiful though, so I think worth a little rain.

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  5. Kontan, you'll have color soon. The NC mountains are beautiful in the fall.

    Gautami, I grew up with heat and humidity, been there, done that

    Colleen, it was very peaceful...

    TC, somewhere I heard that economists exist to help weathermen feel good about themsleves

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  6. Rain rain go away...that's what I sang in Oh a few weeks ago

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  7. I love being on the water, and especially when the leaves are changing - but in the rain? Not so much.

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  8. What a nice excursion into the colours of autumn. Very nice pictures!
    Did you eat the trout that your friend caught?

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  9. Mistress, we were dry in July and August, now it's raining a lot (and may even snow tonight). This isn't good news for there's a construction project that I'm getting concerned over it being closed in by winter.

    Ralph, thanks for stopping by

    Kenju, but you remember the rainy trips!

    Leni, no, we let it go. The season had closed for that specie

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  10. I want green with my trout, not greens mind you just a longer season of green. *sigh* At least one of us got what he wanted.

    ;-}

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  11. Sounds like a very fun day. These are the kinds of days that build wonderful memories.

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  12. Great photos as usual.

    Some of my best floats have been in crappy weather, including a memorable winter float in temps below freezing -- one of the best times I've ever had.

    Cheers.

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  13. But I want to hear you sing :) Beautiful pictures once again

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  14. Walking Guy--it was nippy this morning over here, 28 degrees! Actually, I want a little drier and warmer fall--it'd make the rest of my life easier

    Charles, inclement weather always makes good stories

    Randall, I like a good winter trip, but I've only done day trips in boats. I've backpacked many times in the winter

    Pia, Trust me, you don't! (want to hear me sing)

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  15. I've never obtained the ability to fly fish from a boat. For me, it has always been a solid ground sport.

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  16. 10 Celsius, or about 283 Kelvin. Brrrr, nippy!

    I think we're still a few weeks away from fall colors here. Still seeing lots of green.

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  17. Sage
    I love to get on my heavy poncho, and go for walks in the rain .... I especially like how the rain drowns out the sounds of civilization; now if I can find some rain for the mind.
    Thanks again for the beautiful photo.s. I went for a ride yesterday afternoon on Solomon road, saw a lot of turkeys!

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  18. How did I miss this one?! Nothing like water everywhere... unless of course you're cold, wet and have nowhere to go! Just keep paddling...must have been quiet. Nice pictures...

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