Siltcoos and labrador update...

First off, I will be starting a Siltcoos/Tahk Coho thread in late Sept. to post updates on conditions and the runs.

Some of you might recall that I enjoy 'torturing' my labrador retrievers by taking them along on almost all of my outdoor adventures.  In the case of 'Pepper', a 75# rescue from AZ that didn't swim, it included her being uniquely skilled at staying on and enjoying being on the back of my Outback to 'help' me catch big fish on big water. She never caused an outing to be cancelled or shortened and didn't care what sort of crazy fish I was putting in the net right in front of her nose, assuming I had treats for her after I dealt with the catch.

My new labrador is "Uhtred" (named for Anglo-Saxon Earl 'Uhtred the Bold'), he is a pure AKC chocolate labrador from a small family farm in Scio (Kuenzi Retrievers), he got dark chocolate fur from his mom and an athletic 'run/hike/swim all day' build from his dad (not a big wide chest some labs have), and gold/hazel "ring of fire" eyes that some chocolates have.  We got him at 8 weeks last fall and despite trying, he hasn't killed me or himself yet.  He will be 1yo on Labor Day weekend (Go Cougs). 

Uhtred is the exact opposite of Pepper.  He is a friendly energetic well sociallized young lab that loves meeting people and dogs on trail or beach or boat launch and absolutely loves to swim.  We recently hiked the PCT from Mt.Hood to Mt.Jefferson, with plans to keep going to past Crater Lake but our second night we were camped under that huge electrical storm that started all the fires and a couple days later, just past Mt.J, heavy smoke from the Akawa Butte fire diverted us off trail near Detroit Lake. 

Bottom line, I have a great trail/hiking/beach companion but as I get ready for fall salmon, it's become clear that I will be on the kayak fishing solo (it's going to feel like playing from the front tees).  I took him to Siltcoos yesterday to troll a bit for SRC and as we were leaving the launch area, he decided it would be more fun to just swim along beside the kayak.   After helping him back over the side and onto my lap (love the Outback stability!), he just went forward and stood on the bow for a bit, then he jumped in for more swimming and so forth, as we trolled a spinner down to Booth Island. 

I'll take him out on Siltcoos or Tahk during coho on a nice day, before the water gets too cold, see if he improves but as for the Siuslaw river or CoosBay, no freaking way.

As for Siltcoos in August, lots of water and bass boats, 68F but also lots of algae in the water, not the big toxic sort of deal but not much clarity to the water as of now.

cheers, roger





 

Thanks for the update Roger. So sorry for your loss of Pepper, but happy that you found Uhtred. Hope to see you both on Siltcoos in the fall!