Rapid River article

Flyfish writes:

Well my latest Orvis newsletter came in yesterday with a "nice" little
article pimping for restoration money that claims "the best brook trout
fishery" is the rapid.

That will go a long way to lowering the pressure. Idiots.

This week-end is the great bass tournament at Pond in the River. The fish and
game folks told me there would be 40 people fishing the Pond in hopes of
getting rid of some of the bass. They will be lucky if they catch 40 bass
total. The best way to rid the river of bass is to turn it into a cold water
fishery instead of the warm water one it now is. FPL's total mismanagement of
the water flow is part of the problem. The bass have been in Umbagog since
1984 and have only recently become a problem. The Richardsons were overflowing
with water in early winter, but instead of bleeding it off normally, they
opened uf the dam and lowered the lake by 7 feet. It is about 5 feet low right
now and the 390 cfs remains. If you call TU and speak to the Maine bigwigs,
you will think you are talking to FPL's CEO.

Also, if the flow is 390 cfs (like it has been since May 14), the river is easy
to fish and the locals flock in. Put the flow at 900 and the fishing pressure
is lowered because the "catching" is harder. Harry (the dam keeper and local
poll taker for fish and game) counted 51 people on the river on Memorial Day,
from Cedar Stump all the way to Upper Dam. Sounds like alot of pressure, but
it was easy to find a place to fish.

I've heard from a number of people that the Lower Dam structure will be removed
this August. The state fears that if it collapses into the river below the
dam, it will be a negative impact on the brookie spawning beds. So, if you do
not have some pictures of it, best to take a few now before it becomes history.
Too bad, really. They will leave the wooden shoots and rock structures.

Also, the condo prolem is dead - or so I've heard. They can't find a way to
get the people in except by boat. However, two cabins *will* be built on Rifle
Point between the cove and the dam. Even more pressure, but not as bad as it
would have been with twelve condos.
Dave

http://hometown.aol.com/davplac/myhomepage/index.html

Forgot to add:

Last Saturday, the 5th, a fly fisherman tried to run the river from Middle Dam
down to the Pond. He made it just past Harbeck Pool before he capsized. He
tried to wade ashore and got his foot stuck between some rocks. Fortunately
there was a big rock to hold on to. When his waders filled, he did the
smartest thing and cut them off. The water temp was 53 degrees and he stayed
clinging to the rock for more than an hour before someone heard him. A friend
(Murry) waded out and tried to free the man's foot, but couldn't. So Harry
lowered the dam to less than 100 cfs and they managed to free him. A
helicopter and ambulance made it in from Rangeley, but the guy refused their
services. Most of his stuff (back pack, vest, etc) was found, but not his 4
pice Sage rod. So..............

Harry
Dave

http://hometown.aol.com/davplac/myhomepage/index.html

On 13 Jun 2004 16:12:48 GMT, irate (Dave LaCourse) wrote:


Forgot to add:

Last Saturday, the 5th, a fly fisherman tried to run the river from Middle Dam
down to the Pond. He made it just past Harbeck Pool before he capsized. He
tried to wade ashore and got his foot stuck between some rocks. Fortunately
there was a big rock to hold on to. When his waders filled, he did the
smartest thing and cut them off. The water temp was 53 degrees and he stayed
clinging to the rock for more than an hour before someone heard him. A friend
(Murry) waded out and tried to free the man's foot, but couldn't. So Harry
lowered the dam to less than 100 cfs and they managed to free him. A
helicopter and ambulance made it in from Rangeley, but the guy refused their
services. Most of his stuff (back pack, vest, etc) was found, but not his 4
pice Sage rod. So..............

****in' A Tweetee Birds! Someone practicing Random Acts of Stupidity.

Why the hell would a *fishing* person be running the river? It ain't like
you're gonna have any chance to actually cast a fly!

What was he trying to float down in? A 'yak?

/daytripper (I didn't even know Frank was up there last weekend! ;-)

/daytripper (I didn't even know Frank was up there last weekend! ;-)

I'll have you know that I got out of my little dip in the Rapid on my own,
the only thing not intact was my pride.

--
Frank Reid
Reverse email to reply

Full Immersion Frank writes:

I'll have you know that I got out of my little dip in the Rapid on my own,
the only thing not intact was my pride.

My "WWFD" button fell off my vest while wading at the top of Second Current. I
bent over to pick it up. Once it was in my hand, I lost my balance and did a
Full Reid. Although the water was only two feet deep, I had a heck of a time
getting up. I put the button in a vest pocket and dried off as best I could.
On the very next cast, while stripping the line in, the button's pin stabbed me
in the left forearm. Deep, painfull and bloody.

It is now on the vest with a little piece of 200 mph tape holding the point in
place. Surprisingly, few people have asked me about its meaning, but those
that do get a two or three minute description of who and what a Frank Reid is.

Dave

http://hometown.aol.com/davplac/myhomepage/index.html

On 14 Jun 2004 00:34:06 GMT, irate (Dave LaCourse) wrote:

Full Immersion Frank writes:

I'll have you know that I got out of my little dip in the Rapid on my own,
the only thing not intact was my pride.

My "WWFD" button fell off my vest while wading at the top of Second Current. I
bent over to pick it up. Once it was in my hand, I lost my balance and did a
Full Reid. Although the water was only two feet deep, I had a heck of a time
getting up. I put the button in a vest pocket and dried off as best I could.
On the very next cast, while stripping the line in, the button's pin stabbed me
in the left forearm. Deep, painfull and bloody.

It is now on the vest with a little piece of 200 mph tape holding the point in
place. Surprisingly, few people have asked me about its meaning, but those
that do get a two or three minute description of who and what a Frank Reid is.

Not to mention a live demonstration ;-)

/daytripper (Probably a good thing they were running under 400cfs...)

DT writes:

Not to mention a live demonstration ;-)

/daytripper (Probably a good thing they were running under 400cfs...)

Hey, I've gotten ashore after falling off the X rock at Second Current with 900
cfs flowing. Long slow swim to the rocks below Third Current. Lost my hat and
mag-eyes, but saved an old GL3 5 weight. 'Course, I was younger then.....
d;o(
Dave

http://hometown.aol.com/davplac/myhomepage/index.html

My "WWFD" button fell off my vest while wading at the top of Second
Current. I
bent over to pick it up. Once it was in my hand, I lost my balance and
did a
Full Reid. Although the water was only two feet deep, I had a heck of a
time
getting up. I put the button in a vest pocket and dried off as best I
could.
On the very next cast, while stripping the line in, the button's pin
stabbed me
in the left forearm. Deep, painfull and bloody.

Ah, those pins were imbued with some bad juju. I've lost two of my three
during dunkings. Next time, hell with the pin. I wanna fish with you up
there next year, so I'll wear the damn thing for the rest of the year.

It is now on the vest with a little piece of 200 mph tape holding the
point in
place.

What's the translation between 200 mph and cfs?

--
Frank Reid
Reverse email to reply

Last Saturday, the 5th, a fly fisherman tried to run the river from Middle
Dam
down to the Pond.

That should read "run the river in a kayak..." Damn fool didn't make 100
yards before he lost it. He is damn lucky they were only running 390 cfs,
otherwise he would have been a very large strike indicator somewhere in the
Pond.
Dave

http://hometown.aol.com/davplac/myhomepage/index.html

In article , Dave
LaCourse wrote:

Forgot to add:

Last Saturday, the 5th, a fly fisherman tried to run the river from Middle Dam
down to the Pond. He made it just past Harbeck Pool before he capsized. He
tried to wade ashore and got his foot stuck between some rocks. Fortunately
there was a big rock to hold on to. When his waders filled, he did the
smartest thing and cut them off. The water temp was 53 degrees and he stayed
clinging to the rock for more than an hour before someone heard him. A friend
(Murry) waded out and tried to free the man's foot, but couldn't. So Harry
lowered the dam to less than 100 cfs and they managed to free him. A
helicopter and ambulance made it in from Rangeley, but the guy refused their
services. Most of his stuff (back pack, vest, etc) was found, but not his 4
pice Sage rod. So..............

Harry
Dave

http://hometown.aol.com/davplac/myhomepage/index.html

Holly crap whatta moron! Where's Darwin when you need em? why go to the
effort to get a boat above Middledam then try and run that river? Maybe
for a thrill in a wetsuit but in waders????!!
Allen