An actual Trip Report

The brookie and salmon population on the Rapid is alive and well.
Absolutely bored beyond caring anymore with the political bs on roof,
the radio/tv/party chat/family get togethers, etc, I just had to get
away, and what better than Maine and the Rapid.

I pulled up to the Lakewood dock about 2 hours before dinner, so I had
time to rig up, suit up, and hid the dam. Nary a soul in sight - I
had the place to myself. I picked Zimmerman's Run and tied on the fly
that I last used in July when Riverman was with me - a very small
(22?) soft hackle with a black body. It has a name, I am sure, but
I'll be damned it I know what it is. It works, and that is what's
important. Within two or three drifts, a small brookie (8") fell for
its charm. Another small brookie soon followed and then another. I
was happy to catch these small fish because I believe it shows that
the bass have not yet had a negative impact on the river.

On Thursday morning, I continued at the dam, again with no one in
sight. I saw a fish or two rising beyond Zimmerman's Run, so I tied
on Harry Masaon's Killer Caddis. A couple of drifts brought to hand
yet another small brookie, followed by a couple of small landlocks.
Switching over to a green bodied soft hackle #18 in size, I swung it
in the current and picked up a couple of more salmon, but of a good
size (15+ inches). Wading out to "Home Plate" I cast the green soft
hackle up into Zimmerman's Run, and soon got a snag. Well, I thought
it was a snag. After the second hard yank, the "snag" began to move.
And then it really moved, into the current and beyond. A couple of
minutes later I landed a nice 18 inch brook trout. It was a
serendipitous catch and one I certainly didn't deserve, but...... d;o)

I seem to be allergic to watch bands - both wrists break out when I
wear any watch, soooo, I no longer wear a wris****ch. I guessed the
time by the sun's position, and arrived back for lunch at 1210.
Missed my expected time by ten minutes. Pretty good for an old fart.
After a nice lunch (delicious split pea soup and BLTs), I retired to
the hammock next to the cabin. With a pillow for my head, I slept
until 1600. The cook says I snore.

Friday I went downstream to the Island and Wing Dam. The flow was
1400 cfs, so I needed the boat to get out to the island. Fishing a
variety of soft hackles in sizes 16 - 22, I picked up some nice salmon
and brookies. Again, I had the place to myself. There were a few
fishermen upstream at Chub's Pool, but I had the Currents and Wing Dam
to myself. Then the wind came. By the time I peddled back to camp
there was a steady 35 mph wind that had whipped up some large waves on
the lake. I've never seen it so rough. It was an excellent time to
retire to the hammock, but with a pillow AND a blanket. Even if it
rained (it didn't), I doubt I would have moved. There is something
magical about a big hammock, hung in the shade and close enough to
hear the waves breaking on the rocky shore.

Home to 170 posts on roff! I read my favorite folks and to hell with
the rest. Some sad news on two accounts: My neighbor, a lovely lady
in her mid 40s was hit by an idiot 17 yo kid, driving at 8pm without
his lights on and speeding. She is in critical care at Umass
Worcester. Also, of very deep importance to the family, my oldest
daughter's husband has been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimers.
He's 46. The family will meet with the docs at Mass General in Boston
the week after next to discuss options and what can be expected..

Now, back to your regularly programmed bull****.

Dave

On Sat, 06 Sep 2008 14:14:20 -0400, Dave LaCourse
wrote:

on roof,

Sheeese. Before the net nannies chime in, make that roff. Oh, the
pain........

Dave

Dave LaCourse wrote:
The brookie and salmon population on the Rapid is alive and well.
Absolutely bored beyond caring anymore with the political bs on roof,
the radio/tv/party chat/family get togethers, etc, I just had to get
away, and what better than Maine and the Rapid.

I pulled up to the Lakewood dock about 2 hours before dinner, so I had
time to rig up, suit up, and hid the dam. Nary a soul in sight - I
had the place to myself. I picked Zimmerman's Run and tied on the fly
that I last used in July when Riverman was with me - a very small
(22?) soft hackle with a black body. It has a name, I am sure, but
I'll be damned it I know what it is. It works, and that is what's
important. Within two or three drifts, a small brookie (8") fell for
its charm. Another small brookie soon followed and then another. I
was happy to catch these small fish because I believe it shows that
the bass have not yet had a negative impact on the river.

On Thursday morning, I continued at the dam, again with no one in
sight. I saw a fish or two rising beyond Zimmerman's Run, so I tied
on Harry Masaon's Killer Caddis. A couple of drifts brought to hand
yet another small brookie, followed by a couple of small landlocks.
Switching over to a green bodied soft hackle #18 in size, I swung it
in the current and picked up a couple of more salmon, but of a good
size (15+ inches). Wading out to "Home Plate" I cast the green soft
hackle up into Zimmerman's Run, and soon got a snag. Well, I thought
it was a snag. After the second hard yank, the "snag" began to move.
And then it really moved, into the current and beyond. A couple of
minutes later I landed a nice 18 inch brook trout. It was a
serendipitous catch and one I certainly didn't deserve, but...... d;o)

I seem to be allergic to watch bands - both wrists break out when I
wear any watch, soooo, I no longer wear a wris****ch. I guessed the
time by the sun's position, and arrived back for lunch at 1210.
Missed my expected time by ten minutes. Pretty good for an old fart.
After a nice lunch (delicious split pea soup and BLTs), I retired to
the hammock next to the cabin. With a pillow for my head, I slept
until 1600. The cook says I snore.

Friday I went downstream to the Island and Wing Dam. The flow was
1400 cfs, so I needed the boat to get out to the island. Fishing a
variety of soft hackles in sizes 16 - 22, I picked up some nice salmon
and brookies. Again, I had the place to myself. There were a few
fishermen upstream at Chub's Pool, but I had the Currents and Wing Dam
to myself. Then the wind came. By the time I peddled back to camp
there was a steady 35 mph wind that had whipped up some large waves on
the lake. I've never seen it so rough. It was an excellent time to
retire to the hammock, but with a pillow AND a blanket. Even if it
rained (it didn't), I doubt I would have moved. There is something
magical about a big hammock, hung in the shade and close enough to
hear the waves breaking on the rocky shore.

Home to 170 posts on roff! I read my favorite folks and to hell with
the rest. Some sad news on two accounts: My neighbor, a lovely lady
in her mid 40s was hit by an idiot 17 yo kid, driving at 8pm without
his lights on and speeding. She is in critical care at Umass
Worcester. Also, of very deep importance to the family, my oldest
daughter's husband has been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimers.
He's 46. The family will meet with the docs at Mass General in Boston
the week after next to discuss options and what can be expected..

Now, back to your regularly programmed bull****.

Dave

Dave, that was very refreshing to actually read a post about fishing.

Thanks

Dave LaCourse wrote:
The brookie and salmon population on the Rapid is alive and well.
Absolutely bored beyond caring anymore with the political bs on roof,
the radio/tv/party chat/family get togethers, etc, I just had to get
away, and what better than Maine and the Rapid.

snip
Now, back to your regularly programmed bull****.

Dave



Thank you Dave. I also think small fish are a sign that a river is
healthy. We have been worried about Whirling Disease getting into our
area, so I am always happy to see small trout. As long as they are
present, all is well.

Sorry about your son-in-law. Alzheimer's is a family issue. It is tragic
for anyone to get (my mother had it), and hard for all to cope with.

Tim Lysyk

On 6-Sep-2008, Dave LaCourse wrote:

The brookie and salmon population on the Rapid is alive and well.
Absolutely bored beyond caring anymore with the political bs on roof,
the radio/tv/party chat/family get togethers, etc, I just had to get
away, and what better than Maine and the Rapid.

I pulled up to the Lakewood dock about 2 hours before dinner, so I had
time to rig up, suit up, and hid the dam. Nary a soul in sight - I
had the place to myself. I picked Zimmerman's Run and tied on the fly
that I last used in July when Riverman was with me - a very small
(22?) soft hackle with a black body. It has a name, I am sure, but
I'll be damned it I know what it is. It works, and that is what's
important. Within two or three drifts, a small brookie (8") fell for
its charm. Another small brookie soon followed and then another. I
was happy to catch these small fish because I believe it shows that
the bass have not yet had a negative impact on the river.

On Thursday morning, I continued at the dam, again with no one in
sight. I saw a fish or two rising beyond Zimmerman's Run, so I tied
on Harry Masaon's Killer Caddis. A couple of drifts brought to hand
yet another small brookie, followed by a couple of small landlocks.
Switching over to a green bodied soft hackle #18 in size, I swung it
in the current and picked up a couple of more salmon, but of a good
size (15+ inches). Wading out to "Home Plate" I cast the green soft
hackle up into Zimmerman's Run, and soon got a snag. Well, I thought
it was a snag. After the second hard yank, the "snag" began to move.
And then it really moved, into the current and beyond. A couple of
minutes later I landed a nice 18 inch brook trout. It was a
serendipitous catch and one I certainly didn't deserve, but...... d;o)

I seem to be allergic to watch bands - both wrists break out when I
wear any watch, soooo, I no longer wear a wris****ch. I guessed the
time by the sun's position, and arrived back for lunch at 1210.
Missed my expected time by ten minutes. Pretty good for an old fart.
After a nice lunch (delicious split pea soup and BLTs), I retired to
the hammock next to the cabin. With a pillow for my head, I slept
until 1600. The cook says I snore.

Friday I went downstream to the Island and Wing Dam. The flow was
1400 cfs, so I needed the boat to get out to the island. Fishing a
variety of soft hackles in sizes 16 - 22, I picked up some nice salmon
and brookies. Again, I had the place to myself. There were a few
fishermen upstream at Chub's Pool, but I had the Currents and Wing Dam
to myself. Then the wind came. By the time I peddled back to camp
there was a steady 35 mph wind that had whipped up some large waves on
the lake. I've never seen it so rough. It was an excellent time to
retire to the hammock, but with a pillow AND a blanket. Even if it
rained (it didn't), I doubt I would have moved. There is something
magical about a big hammock, hung in the shade and close enough to
hear the waves breaking on the rocky shore.

Home to 170 posts on roff! I read my favorite folks and to hell with
the rest. Some sad news on two accounts: My neighbor, a lovely lady
in her mid 40s was hit by an idiot 17 yo kid, driving at 8pm without
his lights on and speeding. She is in critical care at Umass
Worcester. Also, of very deep importance to the family, my oldest
daughter's husband has been diagnosed with early onset Alzheimers.
He's 46. The family will meet with the docs at Mass General in Boston
the week after next to discuss options and what can be expected..

Now, back to your regularly programmed bull****.

Dave

Thanks for the break with a TR
I am certain that you know Msss General and the doctors are the best.
I wish you and your family the best on that score.

We leave for the Crowsnest next week and I may also interrupt the political
bs w a TR.

Again - Thanks for an actual on topic fishing post

Fred

On Sat, 06 Sep 2008 18:53:05 GMT, Tim Lysyk
wrote:

Thank you Dave. I also think small fish are a sign that a river is
healthy. We have been worried about Whirling Disease getting into our
area, so I am always happy to see small trout. As long as they are
present, all is well.

Some areas of New England (VT and NH) are dealing with Didymosphenia
geminata, aka didymo or rock snot, an invasive algae. It attacks the
stream rather than the fish, making aquatic life non-existent. There
are signs as you enter Maine warning about bringing in alien species
on boats/motors. If it reaches these pristine waters I fish, it will
be via the boots of a fly fisherman.

Dave

"Dave LaCourse" wrote in message
...

nice report, David. Sorry about neighbor and family medical issues. Glad you
had good fishing. Dontcha love it when those 'snags' take off on you?? g
Tom

On Sat, 06 Sep 2008 19:55:52 GMT, "Tom Littleton"
wrote:

Dontcha love it when those 'snags' take off on you?? g

Yeah. A guide and I had great sport in Labrador with a friend who had
a "f*%#@$' snag" and we both watched it as he jerked and pulled and
jerked and pulled until the "snag" started moving upstream. It was a
large laketrout.

Dave

Dave LaCourse wrote:

The brookie and salmon population on the Rapid is alive and well.
... etc.

Glad to hear hear it. Good read, Dave.

Sorry about the bad news awaiting you back home.

- JR

On Sat, 06 Sep 2008 14:14:20 -0400, Dave LaCourse
wrote:

The brookie and salmon population on the Rapid is alive and well.

snippage

Dave

Good read. Too bad you came back to such bad news.

Tell me more about the #22 Soft Hackle. Particularly about the hackle
part. What do you use?


Geo. C.