Still learning

Fished the lower cowlitz the other day. It was the first time I had arranged to leave my truck upriver and have someone pick me up near the mouth, so I was very excited about all the water I'd be able to cover. My plan was to try and anchor before some of the deeper slots I had seen others fishing and throw spinners or bobber and jig. That didn't work out too well though.

As I was about halfway through my journey, with no success, I could see steelhead jumping and small bait fish flinging themselves out of the water just beyond a private dock. I was very hopeful that I would be able to produce in this area after not marking a single fish on the finder all day. My excitement quickly turned to frustration.

The plan was to send an offering of eggs and coon shrimp tail on a jig head down river under a float. I was actually pretty proud of the presentation but the current wasn't moving fast enough to accomplish this. I decided to move closer and give it another try. The flow of the river turned from stagnant to running pretty fast the closer I got. I anchored up, set my bobber at the potential depth and gave it a try. First cast I got hung up good on a snag so my plan was to pull the anchor and move the kayak to try and unhook myself only the anchor wouldn't budge. I spent a good while trying to free it from the bottom. The "weak link" ,a small zip tie, would not break and I was afraid I might go over trying to free myself. After a bunch of 4 letter words I made the decision to cut it loose. Floating down river, still trying to free my coon shrimp/egg presentation,  I marked about five or six fish on the finder. While this was happening, I spooled most of the line off my spinning reel and broke off my new 30# braided line. I was determined to keep fishing so I tried throwing spinners with my level wind as I drifted aimlessly down river. On about my third cast my reel developed one of the nastiest rats nest I've ever had so I called it a day.

It was a very frustrating day but I'm going to try and learn from my mistakes and be able to atleast enjoy my time out on the water.

Keep at it, we have all had days when everything seemed to go wrong. Just be thankful that you got out the other end. Sounds like a fun float.

Young Jedi there is no try, only do or do not. You did fish, so what you didn't catch. There's not a fishy person on this board that was born that way. It all comes from experience. The only shortcut is to make yourself available and get out with folks that have failed more than you that have pulled it together. Watch and learn from them, or keep going out and flail on your own until you find success. Better days are ahead of you.

If it makes you feel any better, I'm still learning too.....

-Mark-

Everyone knows "poopoo occurs" just keep fishing!

I've always said in life...."the day I don't learn something is a wasted day"