My East side salmon adventure 10/14

[WEEZER]

This report is going to be long but please read!
Started out on the Ausable and was quite pleased at the ammount of fresh fish that were holding in my run! Problem was that they were very very spooky! I have fished steelies in this run before(Never chins) and the steelies are generally not this bad. I wondered for a minute until The Torpedo casting circus decided to come down the path!
I managed to hook a 10-12lb buck in the scissors,Played him for a minute and then handed the rod off to a very young boy(Who did a great job landing the fish). That's about all I did on the Ausable for 6 hours!!!! There are a quite a few fish in the system right now but I'd say there will be a lot more coming soon.
While I am still talking about the Ausable what's the deal with those damn torpedos!!!??? 80%+ of the "Anglers" were using them!!! I won't be buying anything at the stores/Baitshops that sell these devices anymore!!!!!!!Especially the little party store on the corner(Yeah you know the one!) They encourage the use of torpedos!WASSUP WIT DAT?
I decided to leave and head off to some different rivers. nothing doing at my first stop!
Then I headed to the Rifle. I didn't find any fish in my usual spot so I headed off to a new Rifle location! I found a couple of active redds and I landed a couple of small bucks.
HERE COMES THE INTERESTING PART!!!
I hook this absolute pig of a chin at about 6:20 or so. He had me well into my backing in like 2 seconds!!!(Nearly lost a knuckle too ) I knew that If he got anymore line on me he would try to get under a log jam and then I would surely loose my flyline so I got on the bank and started running/reeling towards the fish!
Anyway after two log jam tangle-ups, filled waders, 200+ yards of chasing I had him tired out. That's when I jumped a deer from the shoreline and heard another wierd noise. I finally landed him(15lb Buck, very fresh!) It was just about dark so It took me about a half an hour!
I was admiring my catch(More like crying I was so happy) when a loud splash scares the crap outta me! I looked over and It was an arrow! No more that 25 feet from me! I saw the sillouete of the guy in the tree. I guess he took offense to me being there but dammit he shot an arrow right next to me !!!!!
I kept that fish(the first lake run fish I have ever kept from this river) I felt I earned it!
This is WEEZER's official last chin trip of the year!!! The run is all but done in the Rifle and I can't stand fishing next to torpedo tossers!
Stelmon is you are reading you better get out NOW, or you are gonna miss it! You don't want to hit the peak run if you want to hit FRESH FISH on an eastside river!!!
Sorry so long

[Steve]

WEEZER that guy should be prosecuted for attempted homicide!

[Ladykiller]

Hey Weez, I want my arrow back. I swear to god I was just shooting at those carp you were catching :-) Just kidding man, I'll see you tomorrow probably, I want you to tell me again where that spot was so I stay clear of there. You know how big of a mouth I got, I would have gotten my big kiester shot If i was there.

[Erik]

Did you get his arrow? I think I would have had some choice words for that jerk! This world sure is getting screwed up. Hmmmm, isn't the rifle designated trout water? If memory serves me right, your not allowed to have a bow next to a designated trout stream. I'll have to look it up but I'm pretty sure thats what the book says. In the mean time you might want to point this matter out to a local law enforcement officer. Even if its okay to hunt next to a trout stream it sure isn't legal to shoot at folks!

------------------
Phish

[WEEZER]

I had every right to be there! I never left the water onto private property! This guy had his treestand within 10 yards of the river, which in my opinion is asking for trouble!!! I ran into my other bowhunter too, he has his stand within ten yard also but he always acknowledges my presence and Never gets upset(at least he doesn't act mad). Actually when I passed his stand yesterday I think he was sleeping!
IF ANYONE WOULD LIKE A GOOD LOCATION TO HUNT DUCKS ON THE RIFLE LET ME KNOW!!!! i BET THE AREA 50 YARDS UPSTREAM FROM THAT GUY'S STAND WOULD BE A GREAT SPOT TO HUNT!!! (Kidding of course! Now that I know there is a hunter in that area I won't attempt to fight a fish that far downstream again!!!)

[WEEZER]

Oh yeah something I left out! I got checked by two different CO's today!!!! One on the Ausable and one on the Rifle. This is a really big step in the right direction.
Fishing with me is always an adventure....

[stelmon]

Hey Weez,
Sorry to hear u had that expirence. that happen to me like a month ago. Was fishing for bass just having a fun time being out side and all of a sudden I hear kabam. Some one shot at me. So i decided I am getting the hell out of there. So I go 2 the other side of the lake and start fishing. I hear kabam again and then a wuush. the guy shot at me again. So i just letft. But I am going to be up there this week no matter what. Thinking of going on the other side of the dam to get away from those torpedoes. Do u know if it is good for salmon over there. Cant wait
Tight Lines


------------------
Dan the Fisherman

[toto]

Stelmon, the chins and steel can't get past the Foote Dam. As for the chins I am getting tired of them,no offense fish gods, but what the heck. Go NW streams for a report.

[stelmon]

I no that. Y r u telling me that. No offense but every1 should no that.

------------------
Dan the Fisherman

[WEEZER]

Stelmon, It really sounded as if you were asking info on the section above the Dam!!!
You really are an Ausable rookie aren't you? How many times have you fished there?
Here is my suggestion; get a map(From Frank's NOT THOSE STUPID TORPEDO VENDOR BAIT SHOPS UP THERE!) Take your whole day and try to learn as many holes as possible(Who cares if you catch fish!?) Then come spring you will know some of the good holes, Gravel and all the access points that you will need to be sucessful in the future. I have been fishing steelies,Chins and trout for a while now and I make it a point to learn a new river or a new stretch of old river every year!
For instance I learned three access Points on the Betsie this year, two new stretches on the Little Man, and I added another area to my home river as well. Did I expect to slam the fish????.....NO!!! Did I catch any fish while exploring....NO!!! Will I catch fish next year????HECK yeah!
One last point! It doesn't take a Brain surgeon to find an active redd and a couple of fresh fish on the Ausable! It's not a tricky river to figure out.

[stelmon]

NO NO i meant like is it good fishing on the other side of the dam not up river but where the torpedoes arent. I have fished there for 5 to 6 yrs. Sorry if I mis lead any1
Tight Lines
Dan the Fisherman

[Ladykiller]

Okay now let me get this straight....you wanna leave the side that the guys are casting torpedoes from and go to the other side right where they are casting torpedoes towards...yikes! I would not want to get hooked into one of those puppies!! I bet I could cast clear across to the other side with one of those.

[Erik]

I think he means the north side of the river up near the dam. If someone can cast all the way acrossed the river even with one of those torpedos I would be surprised. At any rate if I were you stelmon, I would stay away from the dam all together! Do you think fish that are constantly being harrased by those snaggers are going to want to bite? Believe me theres better spots on the Ausable. Like weezer said, get a map and explore. Its really more fun that way anyway.
Fish long and prosper

------------------
Phish