One of the best and most challenging years of my life, was when I was on internship for my seminary education. I was assigned to a small church near Lodi, Wisconsin. Karen and I lived in Lodi in a townhouse. We had the upstairs, and the Peters family had the down. They were/are members of the church I interned at, and we quickly became good friends simply because they are wonderful, generous people, and they lived downstairs. So, we would grill out alot, have a few drinks now and then, and simply hang out with them. Jim and Sally would keep me sane and basically be good listening ears when Karen was in Platteville teaching. Along the way, Jim and I realized that we have a passion for fishing, so we tried to go fishing when we had some time off, and well, we didn't do so well, but we went and had a good time. I even tried to go catfishing with him one blistering hot July night. God, that stink bait was bad! Anyway, over the years, we have all kept in touch somewhat, always amazed at how much all of our lives change and evolve every time we all talk. So, last week I got a phone call from Jim, asking me if I wanted to go Coho Salmon fishing near Sheboygan on Sunday. Well, being one who loves to fish and also being the type of person who will always be up to trying something for the very first time even though I don't know how to do it, I agreed to go. With some extra additional items of purchase I thought I was going to be alright.
Well, the thing is, when one goes trout/salmon fishing in any sort of shallow brook or stream, one needs to have the clothing or footwear that would allow him to fish and not get wet. Well, I didn't quite think about that, but Jim did. He told me I could borrow a pair of his waders, but the clincher is, that these are "booty" waders in which the booties are made of neoprene (the material that keeps one dry in the water), and they fit into any assorted boots one would want to wear in the water. So, with my trusty pair of rubber boots, I try to slip in the booties, but alas they do not fit. Well, I am forced to wear my rubber boots, with jeans tucked into them and my assorted layers so as to not freeze.
We left Lodi, drove about 125 miles east, until we got to the little village of Kohler (yes, they make my favorite type of urinals and other toilets there as well), and we go to a secluded stream by a golf course. It is exactly what pictures look like when you think of trout streams. Very clear water, very cold water, and fast moving too. We get there, and I wrestle with the aforementioned boot thing, Jim suits up, I grab my box, and off we go into the water. We walk until we get to a place where we could actually see King Salmon resting as they are making their way up stream. It was awesome to be a few feet away from a 20 pound fish who is all muscle. The deal is that last weekend was the end run of the salmon as they have spawned out. So, that means that once they make little fish, they eventually lose energy and die. It was a bit strange walking along the stream and seeing rotting salmon carcasses strewn about.
I begin to throw my spinner bait and wasn't getting a damn thing. Jim actually snagged a dying fish, and then walked downstream and did the same thing again. So, we spent a good four hours there, and decided to leave. My right boot just so happened to get soaked as we made our way back to my truck, and I was pissed. When we got to the next spot, I took the boot off, changed socks, and put the damp boot back on. I tried my luck again, but nothing. Jim once again, had to show me how it's done. He actually snagged a salmon while it was running, in its dorsal fin. That is a bad spot to hook a salmon. You will fight that fish forever, and it took Jim a long time to actually land it. Beautiful fish though.
We then left, drove into Sheboygan, and went to the best Chinese buffet I have ever eaten at! They even had hot and spicy octopus...I quickly passed on it. We ate, and ate, and ate...it was worth it, and if you were there, you would have done the same thing. We then found our way back to Lodi, where I dropped the big guy off, and I went home to Janesville. All in all, it was a great fishing trip with a great friend. I got to try something I had never done before albeit without the right type of rod and clothing, but I tried. I saw some very beautiful country, hanging out in nature, and listened to a stream rush its water for hours...excellent! I know the Cohos are running in two weeks. I might have to give it another go....we'll see. I might get a craving for hot and spicy octopus between now and then...yummy! More later...
Well, the thing is, when one goes trout/salmon fishing in any sort of shallow brook or stream, one needs to have the clothing or footwear that would allow him to fish and not get wet. Well, I didn't quite think about that, but Jim did. He told me I could borrow a pair of his waders, but the clincher is, that these are "booty" waders in which the booties are made of neoprene (the material that keeps one dry in the water), and they fit into any assorted boots one would want to wear in the water. So, with my trusty pair of rubber boots, I try to slip in the booties, but alas they do not fit. Well, I am forced to wear my rubber boots, with jeans tucked into them and my assorted layers so as to not freeze.
We left Lodi, drove about 125 miles east, until we got to the little village of Kohler (yes, they make my favorite type of urinals and other toilets there as well), and we go to a secluded stream by a golf course. It is exactly what pictures look like when you think of trout streams. Very clear water, very cold water, and fast moving too. We get there, and I wrestle with the aforementioned boot thing, Jim suits up, I grab my box, and off we go into the water. We walk until we get to a place where we could actually see King Salmon resting as they are making their way up stream. It was awesome to be a few feet away from a 20 pound fish who is all muscle. The deal is that last weekend was the end run of the salmon as they have spawned out. So, that means that once they make little fish, they eventually lose energy and die. It was a bit strange walking along the stream and seeing rotting salmon carcasses strewn about.
I begin to throw my spinner bait and wasn't getting a damn thing. Jim actually snagged a dying fish, and then walked downstream and did the same thing again. So, we spent a good four hours there, and decided to leave. My right boot just so happened to get soaked as we made our way back to my truck, and I was pissed. When we got to the next spot, I took the boot off, changed socks, and put the damp boot back on. I tried my luck again, but nothing. Jim once again, had to show me how it's done. He actually snagged a salmon while it was running, in its dorsal fin. That is a bad spot to hook a salmon. You will fight that fish forever, and it took Jim a long time to actually land it. Beautiful fish though.
We then left, drove into Sheboygan, and went to the best Chinese buffet I have ever eaten at! They even had hot and spicy octopus...I quickly passed on it. We ate, and ate, and ate...it was worth it, and if you were there, you would have done the same thing. We then found our way back to Lodi, where I dropped the big guy off, and I went home to Janesville. All in all, it was a great fishing trip with a great friend. I got to try something I had never done before albeit without the right type of rod and clothing, but I tried. I saw some very beautiful country, hanging out in nature, and listened to a stream rush its water for hours...excellent! I know the Cohos are running in two weeks. I might have to give it another go....we'll see. I might get a craving for hot and spicy octopus between now and then...yummy! More later...
2 comments:
speaking of friends who don't update their blogs...
hello... where are you?????
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