Trip Report From The Lower Wilderness

[hoglaw]

Well, made my second trip this year to the lower Buffalo on Monday. When I got on the water, the wind was howling. Sign number 1. That first rapid below Rush is a killer. I managed to keep all my gear dry, but got a 5/0 wide gap stuck in my shorts as I was kneeling down to prepare for it. The rod was trapped under a bunch of stuff, and I was past the point of no return. I knew if I went in that I was going to have a large gamakatsu firmly implanted in the back of my thigh and I was likely to break the rod in the process while losing everything else. Talk about a hell of a way to start the trip. Fortunately I was far enough left that I made it down without incident. If you're going to do that float, STAY LEFT on the first rapid.

Anyway, I shakily stood up and yanked the hook out of my shorts with no blood loss. The wind continued all day. It never let up. When wind and water matched up right, I managed to make some quality casts and hooked some pretty good fish. Multiple 17 inchers, and all but one came on a Sammy. I've never used one before, but all the WTD posts raised my curiosity. I fished anything else the whole trip. One fish on a hula grub, one bite on a jig and pig, and 30 blow ups on a sammy. It was crazy. The best fish I saw the whole time exploded on it and I stupidly set without waiting. He came completely out of the water and I almost hit myself with the lure yanking it back. I threw back in, and he blew up again. He missed, but I kept twitching. He tried to slam it one more time by the boat, but missed for the third time. Couldn't find him again after that.

Those sammy's are the real deal. My only complaint is that they're so sensitive, I think they're a little harder to walk than a spook. This was especially true in current. Maybe I'm overly critical though because I had no shortage of action. Also, I was using power pro braid. Do you guys find the play in mono helps the sammy aciton, or is braid the way to go?

Camping was cold last night. All the wood was wet, so getting a fire going was tough. I went to bed pretty early and had a dog to keep me warm. The next morning, I woke up to a heavy dew and blinding mist. Finally had calm wind. The sammy continued to be the ticket. Around 10, the wind picked up again. I was planning on staying another night, but I was beat up from fighting it for two days, so I just rode the current all the way home. It made for a long day, but it was a fun trip to close out floating for 2009. Can't wait to try the sammy everywhere else next year!

[joeD]

Hog- Where did you take out, Buffalo City? How do you rate the water, fishingwise, compared to the middle part of the river, around 65? I might do that LW area in a couple weeks. Thanks

[bobber]

glad you had a great trip from the look of it. i know it was a little touch'n go there!