A day on Eel lake

Not really wanting to go fishing, i figured I'd do some yard work...maybe some laundry...

Yeah, right!!
I get up and my wife says "You oughta go fishing for a bit today...it's nice out"...
Pants...check
Shoes...check
Throw everything in the truck and go-man-go...check

I get to Eel lake, where I've never fished before, and unload.
Waving at a guy fishing off the fishing dock, i rig up a set of fenders with a worm chaser and hit the water.
A little trolling with no luck and I ditch the worm and tie on a wedding ring w/worm behind the fenders...A little more trolling with no luck.
I know both rigs work really well, as I have killed trout on these setups in lakes around Baker.

Looking through my bag, I spot a little spinner that I've carried around and used since I was a kid (it was given to me by an old-timer back then).
I pull the fender rig off and tie on that little 3" long spinner (blade is a silver teardrop) with a worm chaser...

I flip it behind me and counting, start my paddle.  I count "30" and flip the bail...the tip of my pole starts its dance as the blade kicks in...
I paddle up past a PB carrying 2 portly fellows, a FF, downrigger (and the kitchen sink i think) and hear one say "He's crazy...you'd NEVER catch me out here in something like THAT!"
Multiple responses dancing on my tongue, I wave and holler over asking how they've done today.
They holler back saying they'd been there all day (it was now 2:00) and hadn't even had a bite.

I no sooner get past them when WHAM!! ... my pole nearly gets jerked overboard!
Dropping the paddle, I set the hook.  Evidently, I had let out more line than i thought.  About 120' behind me my "catch" goes vertical...about 2 1/2' vertical...
Game On...
I take line...he takes line...I take more line...he goes vert again...5 or 6 times like this...
This guy spent more time airborne than in the water...

Finally getting him in the net, I hold him up for the PB guys to see...they already had their poles stowed and moter cranked up heading for the launch...
I couldn't help it...
I whistled and gave them a big fishy wave....
They saw...

I know what I am...my wife tells me all the time

This was my first Cutthroat ever...I've caught countless trout of different species, but never a CT
No idea on the weight, but measured in at 15 1/4"...with great color...

I get back to the launch at 4:30...the same guy is still fishing from the fishing dock...
He asks how I did.  Holding up my catch, I tell him "Just one".
He tells me that he asked all the PB guys (7 or 8 PB's when I got there), and nobody, even off the docks were catching anything.

I load up and take my catch to a friends (who doesn't get to fish much).  When I give him the fish, he starts doing the happy-dance in his yard (much to his neighbors amusement).

Days like this just go to show that fishing is always better than laundry.

That, right there, is what it's all about!  Thanks for sharing! 

We drove back from Bandon to Independence via HWY 101 yesterday. All those lakes look so nice and fishy. I'd love to spend a bunch of time there and explore them all. Glad you were rewarded with a fish.

I paddle up past a PB carrying 2 portly fellows, a FF, downrigger (and the kitchen sink i think) and hear one say "He's crazy...you'd NEVER catch me out here in something like THAT!"
Multiple responses dancing on my tongue, I wave and holler over asking how they've done today.
They holler back saying they'd been there all day (it was now 2:00) and hadn't even had a bite.

I no sooner get past them when WHAM!! ... my pole nearly gets jerked overboard!
Dropping the paddle, I set the hook.  Evidently, I had let out more line than i thought.  About 120' behind me my "catch" goes vertical...about 2 1/2' vertical...
Game On...
I take line...he takes line...I take more line...he goes vert again...5 or 6 times like this...
This guy spent more time airborne than in the water...

Finally getting him in the net, I hold him up for the PB guys to see...they already had their poles stowed and moter cranked up heading for the launch...
I couldn't help it...
I whistled and gave them a big fishy wave....
They saw...

Sounds like a nice day.

Way to shut up those powerboaters! I get so sick of hearing "get a real boat", "your in too small of a boat" etc etc. It always seems to be the overweight dudes (who never wear PFD's) lecturing me about "safety". I always like to point out that they are not wearing PFDs and tell em to eff off in the most polite way possible. [End of rant]

It always seems to be the overweight dudes (who never wear PFD's) lecturing me about "safety"

They probably know that fat floats, so they think they're OK. For the record, I augment my "natural" PFD with a real one.

It always seems to be the overweight dudes (who never wear PFD's) lecturing me about "safety"

They probably know that fat floats, so they think they're OK. For the record, I augment my "natural" PFD with a real one.

I didn't mean to pick on overweight people. I'm talking about the type of folks who clearly know nothing about kayaking let alone kayak fishing yet feel the need to tell you how "dangerous" it is, yet totally disregard safety themselves 

Excuse the threadjacking/ranintg but that kind of ignorance really grinds my gears,,,

Like a boss, dude.  Like a boss.  Nothing finer that shutting them up with results.  Those lakes are on my to-do list.  Sounds like a rad time.

Like a boss, dude.  Like a boss.  Nothing finer that shutting them up with results.  Those lakes are on my to-do list.  Sounds like a rad time.

Jade, Eel lake is sitting right on edge of Tugman State Park.  Nice quiet little park worthy of tent camping, fishing, and general lollygagging. 

That lake/campground was my starting point for my son and I's 2010 summer camp away from the wife and daughter. Great time! 

Thanks, INSAYN. A generalized Reedsport area bender sounds like a blast.  My drive from Arcata had me staring with wonder at the surrounding lakes.  Tents, piggies, fishes, keg...I'm feeling tingly.