Got out to the creek today around 1:30, thinking that not many folks would actually be fishing on Mem. day and was right about that.

Started at access 5, noticing that someone had hung a snake (presumably a rattler) from the fence under the tree by the road.  It was quite decomposed, but I don't think people ordinarily kill harmless snakes, so let's assume it was a rattler for the sake of argument, and because it's better foreshadowing.

I made the circuit, landing a few little ones, hooking a few more little ones, but generally not seeing many fish or having much luck.  There was a sporadic mayfly hatch (they looked like tricos) - but I'm sure they were just baetis.

Fish were keying on a greenish baetis nymph.

On the way out, I found a filet knife, in great shape, with an engraving on it.  Made in Finland.  Very nice.

On the way back to my car, as another car was leaving the parking lot, I almost stumbled on a snake:  dark brown with white bands.  Scared the crap out of me.

Turns out it was a california king snake.  Beautfiul.

<a href="http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic-art/1068868/97242/Califonia-king-snake">California king snake</a>


I moved upstream, stopping at the bottom of the guide hole on a lark.  I figured, well, I'm going to see if I can get across at these flows and get rewarded with some killer fishing.

I found a cooler floating upside down in the creek full of waters and iced tea (no beer :( ) just before I got in.  I pulled it out, fully intending to grab it to take home later.

Got in the water at the big pool, and tried a few ways to get to the base of the main riffle.  Wound up having to stay close to the bank, fighting spiders, nasty webs, stickers, mud and deadwood.  It was not fun.

I eventually got to the bottom of the rapids, with only one small dunking.

Getting across though - not happening at 600 CFS.

I backtracked and headed up the side creek.  About 100 yards up, I bushwacked to the main stem and got stuck in what seemed an endless forest of dead trees and brittle grapevines.  Don't get your rod stuck in brittle grapevines, frickin impossible to get your rod out.

As I was trying to extricate my rod, about 4 tubers came down the creek, having just come through the rapids above the guide hole.  Darwin missed those guys.  But he found me.

I got ready to make a break for it, two certainties in mind

1.  If I stepped any farther into the creek, retreating was not an option.
2.  I might not be able to get back across without swimming.

As it so happened, I got across without getting wet; nearly falling 3 or 4 times, but never really in danger.  Having said that, doing what I did was stupid and crazy.  But that's the way I role sometimes.  Like I said, Darwin found me.

I did make it up to the guide hole and the fishing was predictably good, but the one lunker I hooked took me down into the rocks and got me hung up;  I could see him swimming around, still stuck to my dropper fly.  He busted that soon enough and I had to retie.  Probably got 20-30 fish in there - nothing over 12 inches.

By then it was around 5:30, I was cold, and the sun was behind the trees.  The odyssey was about to begin.

For any of you who don't know poison oak by sight, learn to identify it.  Lucky for me, I know how to do so.  Despite that, I likely have it; there was so much of it on the trail up stream on the far side of the creek that I can't see how I wouldn't have touched it a few times.

I was worried about poison oak, and trying to watch for rattlers, scrambling on the trail that's already overgrown after just a month of higher flows.  I didn't see any rattlers on the hillside, but I did manage to slip and nearly rip my left knee out of socket as my down hill leg gave way on some lose rocks.

But, I got out of that fall with a scraped hand only.

I made it to the top of the rapids, and to the long channel below the deer sign.  Fast water, and big wind made it unfishable.  Picking my way through poison oak and sticker bushes, near the water, I heard an exceptionally high-pitched humming noise - like a cicada bug at work in the midwest.  Turns out it was a rattler on a rock right near my right foot.  Poison oak or no, I leaped to the next rock and turned to see an adult rattler staring at me, pretty pissed off, and rattling like a son of a bitch.

I was going to take a picture, but before I could, he shook his head in disgust and slithered off.

Now, with the sun getting low, and no fishing to be done, I contemplated how to get across.

I clambered my way to the area I knew the redds were, figuring I'd get at least some relief.

Had about 3 foot deep water until about 20 feet off shore, and then it was decision time.  No way I was getting across without swimming, so I manned up and back stroked my way, waders filling up, cold as hell, till I reached shallower water.  Went in over my waders twice more, before it was done.

I just sat there shaking my head at how dumb I can be sometimes.

But it got worse.

The way out was more dead grape vines, poison oak, and stickers.  I made it through all that having to whack a poison oak bush on my right so I could avoid the one on my left as I leapt up to the road.

I squished my way back to the car, and did a damage assessment.  turns out my waterproof pouch for phone/wallet isn't so waterproof.  My phone is likely ruined, though it still powers on though it has no display.

Not sure I have poison oak, but i would be surprised if I don't.

Second time I've encountered a rattler in the last few weeks, once getting into the weeds looking for golf balls, and today.  Both cases were avoidable.

I completely soaked all my gear, including vest and all flies.  Most will probably rust, but it's supposed to be hot tomorrow so i hope it will all dry.

I think there's poison oak all over all my stuff.  I may be getting it for months to come.

Not a good idea to cross putah when you don't know you can get back.

At least, not when you have a family.

Peace

JL

-- Edited by JL on Monday 25th of May 2009 08:55:19 PM