- Joined
- Jun 3, 2010
- Messages
- 1,516
Opening day trout for me is like all the major holidays combined. So far never missed fishing that day and hope to keep it this way. Went to my favorite trout camping spot. The hike in was only one mile but packed what must have been over 100 lbs of gear. The river was raging and it didn't look promising for fishing.
If I had to speculate the high water was the results of a storm earlier in the week with a late season melt. Set up my 6 and 4 man Kifaru tipis but only put a stove in the 6. The lows would be around 30 F. Cool enough to hang out in the 6 once the sun goes down but not so much that extra guests couldn't sleep in the 4 without heat.
The water was high in my favorite fishing spot along the river.
All along the banks there were little streams of ground water seeping into the river. This was bad news for fishing. My friend got somekinda giant Pike looking thing and his son one small trout. They were fishing downstream at the time so we didn't get any photos beyond a cell phone shot which I haven't been sent yet so can't post it. The pike critter looked real nasty. Not sure how he got it in with a trout rod sporting 6 pound test.
The little guy working the pump for our water. This pump is near a lean-to not that far from the river side camping area
Hanging around the stove.
Must be nice for everyone. Temps inside over 75 F as I work the stove hour after hour. LOL! Actually despite the need to stock the fire 2 or 3 times an hour it can be relaxing for the operator as well.
Breakfast. Water melon and pancakes cooked on a MSR pocket rocket aka the microwave of the woods.
My friend's son is a Scout, he told a funny story of scouting survival training. Going for one of the badges they built a shelter and fire. They were allowed 4 matches. Everything was going so well they burned the remaining 3 matches and then pissed, yes actually pissed out the fire. Wasn't long before the freezing night returned with a vengeance along with regret. That brought forth another challenge. For the past 20 years in that troop a "tomahawk" was offered as a prize to any scout who could preform (with proof) a bow drill fire. So far no one has claimed the prize. Seeing how fishing was so poor I told the youngster he would earn that hawk this weekend.
I am no expert on friction fire but was the only person there who done it before so we set off from the river into the cedar forest for materials. Cedar bark for the tinder bundle.
Making up some fire boards and spindles.
After he did the burn-in it was time for his first friction fire attempt.
He got a coal but failed to blow it into flames. But being a Scout he wasn't about to give up.
Looking good.
This time the coal wouldn't go out.
Bingo! His first friction fire!
His father wanted to give it a try. Notice the smug look. Cuz the kid knows he did something before his old man.
Cutting the V.
He did it but no one bothered to take pics. It can be seen in the video for those who are interested. Next up, flint and steel with natural uncharred tinder.
First flint and steel fire. In this case chaga dust plus a cedar bark tinder bundle mixed with a bit-o-birch bark.
Edit to add photo of pike critter fish.
That's about it. Tried fishing again the next day but despite some dropping in the river's level it was still too flooded. Some gear items that really worked out well were the Sawyer mini filter, Enzo trapper knife and little cell phone charger that uses 1XCR123 battery. Thanks for watching.
[video=youtube;4ZVRUUUZDSc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZVRUUUZDSc[/video]
If I had to speculate the high water was the results of a storm earlier in the week with a late season melt. Set up my 6 and 4 man Kifaru tipis but only put a stove in the 6. The lows would be around 30 F. Cool enough to hang out in the 6 once the sun goes down but not so much that extra guests couldn't sleep in the 4 without heat.
The water was high in my favorite fishing spot along the river.
All along the banks there were little streams of ground water seeping into the river. This was bad news for fishing. My friend got somekinda giant Pike looking thing and his son one small trout. They were fishing downstream at the time so we didn't get any photos beyond a cell phone shot which I haven't been sent yet so can't post it. The pike critter looked real nasty. Not sure how he got it in with a trout rod sporting 6 pound test.
The little guy working the pump for our water. This pump is near a lean-to not that far from the river side camping area
Hanging around the stove.
Must be nice for everyone. Temps inside over 75 F as I work the stove hour after hour. LOL! Actually despite the need to stock the fire 2 or 3 times an hour it can be relaxing for the operator as well.
Breakfast. Water melon and pancakes cooked on a MSR pocket rocket aka the microwave of the woods.
My friend's son is a Scout, he told a funny story of scouting survival training. Going for one of the badges they built a shelter and fire. They were allowed 4 matches. Everything was going so well they burned the remaining 3 matches and then pissed, yes actually pissed out the fire. Wasn't long before the freezing night returned with a vengeance along with regret. That brought forth another challenge. For the past 20 years in that troop a "tomahawk" was offered as a prize to any scout who could preform (with proof) a bow drill fire. So far no one has claimed the prize. Seeing how fishing was so poor I told the youngster he would earn that hawk this weekend.
I am no expert on friction fire but was the only person there who done it before so we set off from the river into the cedar forest for materials. Cedar bark for the tinder bundle.
Making up some fire boards and spindles.
After he did the burn-in it was time for his first friction fire attempt.
He got a coal but failed to blow it into flames. But being a Scout he wasn't about to give up.
Looking good.
This time the coal wouldn't go out.
Bingo! His first friction fire!
His father wanted to give it a try. Notice the smug look. Cuz the kid knows he did something before his old man.
Cutting the V.
He did it but no one bothered to take pics. It can be seen in the video for those who are interested. Next up, flint and steel with natural uncharred tinder.
First flint and steel fire. In this case chaga dust plus a cedar bark tinder bundle mixed with a bit-o-birch bark.
Edit to add photo of pike critter fish.
That's about it. Tried fishing again the next day but despite some dropping in the river's level it was still too flooded. Some gear items that really worked out well were the Sawyer mini filter, Enzo trapper knife and little cell phone charger that uses 1XCR123 battery. Thanks for watching.
[video=youtube;4ZVRUUUZDSc]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ZVRUUUZDSc[/video]
Last edited:
If not for Lyme I could careless about the ticks but nearly everyone I know got sick from them.
