Last Chance

[Onslow]

Decisions decisions. Should I hit the tailrace at 5 AM in the cold for striper, or should I play it safe?

Headed out to a familiar place. I had an epic Winter day here two years ago.

The air temps were warmer at higher altitude than low.  Thanks goodness!  If the current long term forecast holds, it may be at least a month before the water will be ok in these parts. 

The catching was scant.  I believe it took 1.5 hours of fishing to earn the first fish.

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Some appeared to still be paired up on the redds.  The redds were only about a quarter of what they were 2 years ago.

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About halfway through the trip, some good rapids can be found. The largest of the day was landed right in front of an abandoned cottage.

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I continued up the river where I had previously fished. Lots of Summer huts, houses, piers.

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The catching nearly ceased after 11:30.  I caught one more 8 incher and spotted one ab out 18.

I could hear an ATV in the woods.  I had come across some deer feeders along the river.  Eventually an older couple emerged on the trail on aforementioned ATV.  We spoke for a bit. He sounded like a Jersey or New Yorker.

I went back downstream a bit, then took to the woods to shorten the trip out. I had waded 2.4 miles but thankfully only had a 1.5 mile hike back to the van.

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[Yallerhammer]

Good deal! It was 9* here this morning, with snow still on the ground.