Only A Turtle Showed Up

Can't ask for better weather today on the American River.  The Pro and JU fished from 10:30 am through 3 pm.  We were in search of salmon.  We were pulling wrapped sardine plugs; however, we had no takers.  We saw two other boats the entire day, and they didn't get any hookups either.  The Pro did catch and release an undersized striped bass.  But soon....  because it is, after all, the ProFisherman and Johnny United Drifting Through Fish Lane.  We are back, baby.  Fish on!

Very low water level and not enough current

Nice sun bathing turtle

The Pro just released an undersized striped bass.

A Tale of Two Days

I was at work on Friday, 9/20, when I received a text message from the Wiz.  Although, there was no text communicated, there was a picture attached.  It was difficult to concentrate after that....  "Where?"  I inquired.  "One of our favorite fishing holes."  Came the replied.  Here's the attached picture from the Wiz:

Half of the school of trout, the other half was upstream.

Day One - Saturday, 9/21

It just happened that we will be near the fishing hole the following two days.  Through the generosity of my sister, we got an offer for a free stay at Harrah's Lake Tahoe for Saturday, 9/21, and Sunday, 9/22.  Included was $150 credits for food and a yacht ride on Lake Tahoe!  Wahoo!  Views from our seventh floor room:

Looking East

Looking West

While we settled in around 1 pm, the clouds were building up.  Mrs. Miracle, MT, Ms. Mystic, and JU were not to be threatened by the clouds.  We headed out around 2pm to our fishing spot.  The rain arrived.  We came to our fishing spot and found the Wiz' fishing report was still the same even though it was the following day.  MT fell as sleep as the therapeutic sounds made by the rain drops bounced off the Fish Mobile.  Mrs. M volunteered to read her book and keep an eye on MT while Ms. Mystic and JU braved the pouring rain down to the fishing hole.  We first tried the Thunder Bolt.  It took about half a dozen casts just to land one trout.  We then tried Power Eggs and got no bite.  We put on real worms wacky style on number 6 hook.  We landed another after about 3 tries.  JU decided to try something new.  Then it was a fish for every drop.  You must read on to the next day to find out what it was.  The results:

'Nuff said!

On the way back to Harrah's, we were treated to a spectacular snow falls.  It was not even 5 pm yet.

The day before the First day of Autumn 2013

Will we get back in time before chains are required?

We are warm-weather creatures.  So can you say, "Ccoold?"

Day Two - Sunday, 9/22, First Day of Autumn

Did it not just snowed yesterday?  What a difference a day makes!  The First Day of Autumn arrived with fantastic weather for warm-weather creatures.  We began the day by giving thanks to God at Our Lady of Tahoe Catholic Church.  The Church was surrounded by pine trees, located in beautiful rustic surroundings.  The eight of us took up the entire pew!

Breakfast followed.  Then it was time for a cruise on Lake Tahoe via the Bleu Wave.  Free buffet and two complementary drinks per passenger were included with the cruise.  The relaxing trip was two hours in duration, from 11 am through 1 pm.  Scenes:

Triple decker yacht

I'm ready.

Wait, who took the picture?

This way to the bar

Drinks on the house

Even Ms. Dixie II came to join the party.

Left over snow from yesterday

Famous Viking Castle at Emerald Bay

JU on the Captain's chair?  Indeed.

After the cruise, we came back to Harrah's to find the kids swimming:

"I didn't get to swim," said MT.

What's two plus two?

Is it safe to come out yet?

I give up.

Hello.

What!?!

We gotta go now?

Let's go fishing!

Let's go hide....

JU woke up from a nap: "Hey, is it fishing time yet?  We gotta go home soon."  Thus, JU and his Angels hastily packed up to go back to the fishing hole.  It was the top of the Divine Mercy hour (3 pm).  The weather was fantastic as compared to yesterday.  Who brought the sunshine?  Using the newly discovered method, JU and his Angels limited out easily.  Look at one of the following pictures to learn the new secret weapon.  Note: JU got skunk with the fly fishing pole...  again.  However, Miss Mystic landed a 17-inch, 1 and a half pounder rainbow with a tiny imitation fly hooked to its mouth, showing that it escaped a fly fisherman.  Maybe JU will do better next time with the same fly :-)

My first fish!  Too small.  However, by the end of the day, I landed 7!!!  Released 2, of course :-)

New secret weapon: pink hot dog?!?!?

JU's Angels

I say, "Fish."  You say, "On!"

Can you say, "Mountain Climber?"

Introducing..... "Miss Sunshine!"

And where was Number 1?  Miss Princessa?  Oh, well.  Camp central was at Harrah's after all....

Feather River

The Pro and JU hooked up to do some salmon fishing in the Feather River.  Pro caught his limit on the opening day in the middle of July.  This was the first time fishing at the Feather for JU.  We got to the fishing hole before sunrise.  We didn't have any flash lights, so we waited until we could see.  We did see another boat launched across the river; they had lights.  A few minutes after, we launched also.  Before we got near the other boat, we heard: "Fish on!"  This was music to a fisherman's ears.  We anchored next to the only other boat on the river.  Within five minutes, the first salmon was landed by the other boat.  We had a feeling that it was going to be a great fishing day!  We quickly let three sardine wrapped flat fish out.  We waited... and waited... until the sun came up.  As it turned out, that was the only fish landed by boat that we witnessed all day.  We tried every thing we knew such as drifting roe, back and forward trolling sardine wrapped flat fish, bottom bouncing flat fish, Jet diver flat fish, flying C's,  and finally jigging.  All for naught.  The amazing thing was that fish were rolling all around us, and the fish finder was going bonkers with the fish indicator.  It was a rare occasion for the Pro not to land a salmon.  We got two grabs, but no hookup :-(  JU never had a bad day fishing.  Just hanging with the Pro was a great blessing.  The old adage was true that day: "That's why we call it fishing, not catching."

Way before Dark Thirty

Sunrise at Feather River

Beautiful water and fish jumping all around

The only boat with one landed

Featuring: The Fishmobile!

 "To the Batmobile! Robin." Said Batman.

Wonder Woman has her invisible plane.

Now, JU and the Miracle Squad have...  yes...  the Fishmobile!  What better way to find out if it works by giving it a test run.  Remember the trip when the seven of us slept in a seven-passenger van?  The same van is now converted.  For the entire summer, JU and the Miracle Squad worked on its conversion.

Last Friday, 30 AUG, we pulled the Fishmobile to the side of the house for a test run.  At first, five volunteered to sleep in the Fishmobile.  But around 11 pm, only three hard cores entered:  JU, Mrs. Miracle and MT.  JU got the front quarters while MM and MT slept in the back room :-)  Five minutes in, MM could be heard snoring.  MT felt trapped and was finding a way out.  she managed to climb to the front quarters and looked out the side windows searching for the stars.  Near midnight - that's an hour of star gazing - she said, "I am bored, I want to go inside the house!"  Her wish was granted.  This gave JU an opportunity to sneak in the back room and snuggled up for a good night's rest.

Front quarters

Added padding for support

Back room

Look at all the spaces underneath

4' x 6' bed

Aahh...  Rest at last