Fished the N Frk Nehalem today (Saturday) with my son and Smily. We put in at Ericksons and drifted to Aldervale. We saw about 10 or so boats.
The river was a little on the high side (50") but had good color when we put in around 9 am. As soon as we dropped our lines in the rain started and never stopped. We had a quick take down on a bait diver with sand shrimp and green spin-n-glo. The river was flowing pretty quick so we blew down to a nice stretch of water and my son hooked up with a 12lb chinook on a wart pirate. We were using a new scent method for plugs and some homebrew scent on this setup. This was our only fish for the day. Heard of 3 other steelhead caught by boaters and alot of steelies caught by the bankers at the hatchery. The rain got to us so we were out of there with a pretty nice nook.
Had a great time with Smily, he was pretty good on the sticks of my boat :smile: . He did.....ok Andy I won't tell if you won't.....hehehehehe!!
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[ 12-09-2001: Message edited by: FM2 ]</p>
Jennie@ifish
12-09-2001, 05:27 AM
Joe at the hatchery said he couldn't count the fish taken out of there yesterday. All the fish seemed to be at the hatchery!
We had to work really hard to get our fish.
We put in late, and finally found a slot that put out four fish.
We got four hatchery fish and one wild.
I froze out after about 6 hours, right after the King. We got soaked! After that, I put down my rod and shivered until bedtime last night!
Ericksons wood stove never felt so good!
Great year so far on the North Fork.
Lots of pressure.
Jen
Jennie@ifish
12-09-2001, 07:15 AM
My experience on the North Fork, yesterday:
"Toot toot!" resonates through the canyon. This is Jim's way of saying, "We're off!" On to the next hole...
Everything that comes from the back of Jim Erickson's boat makes me giggle and smile! He is a positive and confident angler and teacher.
The North Fork Nehalem hatchery area was elbow to elbow with weekend anglers.
"Just more people to watch me catch fish!" He jokes.
It's no joke! Soon, my soaking wading shoes struggled to find room to stand. The rubber floor was filled with sloshing water and fresh steelhead.
We were guests on Jim's home river. He's fished, and resided on the North Fork Nehalem since 1964. He and his wife, Loretta, had a fishing school on this river from 1983 until 1991. Jim and Loretta introduced hundreds of people to the joy of their first steelhead, and the beauty of their home land, on the North Coast of Oregon.
The rain poured, the river was full of fresh fish. I nearly forgot we were in a world full of worry over fish habitat. The hatchery area was producing heavily, and nearly every bank angler had a catch at his feet.
It was a perfect angler's dream.
"Toss one out there!-- You'll get one chance at this!"
Bill and I were ready. We jitter, as we follow his instructions to a tee. It can get frustrating. "Put on another slinky!" He yells, maneuvering the boat in between riffles. Bill and I wrestle with tackle bags, throwing around plugs, tying up, elbowing each other in the cramped raft. He settles us between two raging channels, and sets us into a pillow of flat water. This floats us slowly enough to hurry, rig up the slinky and ready ourselves for further instruction.
"Throw 'em out under those alder branches". Zip, zip, zip! All three rods scream into the combat zone. It's a wonder they don't tangle, but we all get our shot.
Every hole, every canyon, every riffle has a story. Stories of films made with TV personalities, or government officials. He knows where the fish will be. He tells us how they travel. "Up through the hole on the right, they move across this apron here, and follow the riffle on the left." We work the apron of water clear across.
"There he is!" Bill sets the first hook.
After four fish in one hole, Jim notes, "Do you know how many anglers zipped through this hole in anticipation of the next? They miss it every time, in a hurry to beat you out to next hole."
Mr. Erickson is a true believer in letting the race horses go down first. "Sleep in, let them miss the fish in their race, then we'll go clean up." And clean up we did. Putting in at 10 in the morning has it's benefits!
The river was fairly high, making some of the more dangerous rapids a breeze, some more dangerous. The approaching roar of the water increases to an ear pounding level.
"Don't move an inch!" He shouts at us, dead serious. We are facing an angry, churning, standing wave at the Queen.
There is a series of drops midway through this challenging drift. It starts with the Tank hole, on to the stair steps, and dead on to the Jack, the Queen and the King.
I froze as we stared straight down into a suck hole. Past that I saw nothing but a wall of water. As we descended into it's mouth I closed my eyes. I felt water. Cold, winter, river water everywhere! Half of the river went in my hair, half up my sleeves and down my back.
Soon the world came back to me, and I could see a flat road of water ahead. "WHOOO HOOO! Jim! Row up river!!! Let's do that again!!!"
"We did, once for TV!", he said, nonchalantly. I looked behind me in disbelief.
Adrenaline was pulsing through my veins. I had faced death and lived through it! (Well... not quite, but it's that kind of rush!)
It was a cold, rainy, dreary day on the North Fork, but I was doing fine until I got drenched.
When the adrenaline wore off, I was faced with the aching, bone chilling cold that disables your fingers, and throws your muscles into spontaneous spasms. I needed a fish to refuel my personal heater. I worked as hard as I could at it, but could not produce. I was just too cold and awkward at that point. No matter how graceful the rod, how smooth my Calcutta reel, my casts ended up jerky. I snagged up, lost lead, dropped shrimp, smashed eggs, couldn't tie on another rig.
I was done.
What a grand site it was, to see Jim's house around the last bend. My frozen bones slowly made it up to the house. I was greeted by Loretta, who was pleased as punch with our catch.
I was pleased as punch with her wood stove and gracious offer of hot coffee and food!
I thawed out as the guys cleaned fish. (Aren't guys grand?)
Life is good, Jim. Your river is good.
Thanks so much... and until next time....
Toot, toot!
brshooter
12-09-2001, 11:53 AM
My wife is disabled. She can't wade in the rivers and has trouble finding bank access where she is can move around. Took her down to the North Fork Hatchery this morning so she could fish from the handicap platform. It took her an hour to hook three and land two. She landed a 8-1/2 pound buck and a 12 pound buck. This was her first experience with winter steelhead. Was she ever excited. She had never seen fish jump like that. She is already talking about going down there next Saturday and Sunday. Maybe I will get a chance to sneak down below the deadline and get a pole in the water for myself.
I think it is great that they have facilities for disabled anglers like this. It gives my wife a chance to participate in something we both love.
Jennie,
I have always wanted to make the drift you went on. I assume Jim Erickson books these guided trips? It must be rafts only on this stretch of river? How do I get in touch with Jim?
Smily
12-09-2001, 02:58 PM
It was a pleasure to meet FM2 and his son. Of all places to go fishing we ended up on the Nahalem. I think it was the only one fishing that was worth a hoot that day. FM2 knew the river well and must say what a beautiful river it is. He got down to business with explaining what needed to be done to catch fish and I was all ears. The only bad thing was he anchored the boat next to this decaying Salmon and the instructions he was giving seemed to only let me hear was line in the water, let the rod jerk three times, then Jerk back. Something like that. :grin:
We all tried something different and it was not a hot bite day but did end up with one in the boat. The picture tells no lies. His son was well behaved and handled that fish like a pro. Jen, sure would have liked to know some of Jim's secrets. I did have one good take down though.
What a cold and wet day it was. Here is the part I'm not suppose to tell but I can't hold it back anymore. :grin: Yes FM2, you can tell your story If you like, I hope it's the same as mine. Or a close factsimly. :rolleyes: After a few hours go by Freezing out there in the cold and wet boat, FM2 says I got a heater, let's fire it up. Mind you I also brought a heater that I had left in the rig. He assured me one is all we need. When he goes to fire it up, it didin't lite up. He says it's "OUT OF GASSSSSssss." :shocked: Who would bring a heater and no fuel???? At least we both had a sense of humor about it. It was never life threatning. Limb threatning yes. Life, No. :tongue: What happenned is that my fingers got really cold. While preparing to get things ready for the trip, I had looked in my Garage and couldn't find my gloves anywhere. Well, Fm2's Son was generous to lend me his gloves and I used them to from time to time just enough to warm my hands up. I need to be little more organized when going out on these trips. :wink: Here is the funnier part. The last time Fm2's son loaned me his gloves I felt this buldge in my rain jacket. I had looked to see what was in there and lo and behold, my gloves. Who would have put them in there? I was in shear embarrasment after finding them, kind of like finding out when FM2 was out of fuel. :blush: Yes red faced and all. I'm sure none of you other fishers ever forgot anything while out there fishing.
That is my story and is the whole truth and nothing but the truth. If FM2 says anything different. I will go to the other room and put my hands over my ears and Hummm a happy song. :tongue:
The day came to end. And we loaded up and left that wonderful river and was wondering, When are we gonna do it again??
Had a blast With FM2 and his son. Anytime there's an open seat. Don't forget to holler.(sp?)
Smily
Jennie@ifish
12-09-2001, 03:30 PM
I don't think Jim is guiding anything but give away trips, like for fund raisers.
He does shuttles though, and loves to talk about stuff.
Hey, Jim? Come on?
J
Smily, you and your family must have made it to church this am to confess, glad to see you have a conscience and "spill the beans" :shocked:
Ericksons secret is, buy a pontoon boat like his and float from the hatch down to his place :cool: extremely productive holding water up above but also extremely dangerous for drift boaters :shocked: . Keep those jigs and birdies handy also!!! :smile: