Fishing trip with the Chief

[BilletHead]

   Not really sure where to post this but here it is. See there is content on canoe and kayak, fishing with fly rods and conventional gear, smallmouth and panfish, streams,wildlife viewing and photography, food etc. so it fits many places. Chief had been wanting to take us on a float on one of his favorite streams. I have not caught but a handful of small mouth and rock bass on the fly and Mrs. BilletHead none of these at all. Chief made the call and tempted us with a float and have fish fry on the river. Promised us that eight to ten inch rare Neosho small mouth were real good fried up . When we got the shuttle figured up I asked where the oil and fry pan was. Oh yea I forgot that. See no one wants to fish with me because they think I am a jerk so I have to fib to them to get fishing partners he said, believe what you want with this remark because most of you have made an opinion on the chief I say! We think he is a pretty nice guy and if you ever get an invite you had better go and have some fun. We started pretty early and floated, watched critters and fished. Mrs. BilletHead caught her firsts of small mouth and rock bass /goggleye. We will share our pictures and Chief can share his if he wants to. Pat gives her permission even if it embarrasses her. Actually she and I did pretty well in our not so speedy and maneuverable yaks. I will narrate as we go on our pictures. The float was quiet at first but as it warmed up the hatch started. Good grief it got crazy and we were told this was nothing. We are not used to this kind of stuff at all. Not only was there a rented canoe hatch but rental kayaks and anything else that could be floated in. Plus a hatch of lawn chairs in the waters edge with some pretty fried/ well done burnt to a crisp well inebriated folks that could cuss up a storm. We laughed pretty hard at times people watching. There were tattoos in places on ladies that are forever burned into my corneas that I may never get out of my mind. I am sure on some of these women at one time they were itty bitty petite tattoos but are now rather large, faded stretched out destroyed artwork. Too much skin exposed on some people. You would round a bend and see on a gravel bar a mini city had been formed. Most in the water taking their weekly bath maybe? All seemed to be having a good time which is what we all wanted to do. Ok here we go with some pictures,

   Mrs. BilletHead with her first fly caught smallie and rock bass,

  Her laying out some casts and floating,

   They we spied an empty kayak and no Mrs. BilletHead

 A getaway and a retreve,

More general floating stuff,

 Some wildlife, geese and the largest softshell I have ever seen. Big as a trashcan lid,

BilletHead even caught one. Doesn't look like it but it did measure sixteen inches.

    Now Chief caught many fish too but he hid when it came to photo taking We did catch him going after a hung up bait,

   So this is where I will up him in his own fishing world one time. He was casting over this large jam and he did catch fish there but hung up too. I waited until he got done messing around. Paddled down to the end of this jam and into it from the bottom up to the hot spot. No hang ups for me and three landed in there on the fly and missed three more. It was like looking into and aquarium. I would catch one and have three more try to take the fly from the one I had on the line, way cool I thought. Fun time and fishing trip with another OAF member. Hope to do more. Where are you Chief? Your turn to tell lies about the BilletHead's,

  BilletHead

[Flysmallie]

Looks like a great time. I've fished with that redneck a few times and we have always had a blast. 

[Johnsfolly]

Looks like you guys had a great time! Congrats to the Mrs on her fly rod smallie and rock bass! Jealous here in Columbia. Waiting for Chief to post his side of the story!

[BilletHead]

     I am almost afraid of what he might say . Forgot to mention Chief brought lunch too. I don't want anyone to think also I am against skin viewing either but in this capacity it was a mess. This morning my eyes feel better!

  BilletHead 

[Chief Grey Bear]

 It was a pretty awesome day all the way around.  But then again anytime on the water with awesome people makes for an awesome day and you and Pat are definitely awesome people!  And Melissa, the one that did our shuttle, she was pretty awesome herself!  We will definitely use her again!  A person could spend the day with her and not have to say a word! 

 Marty made mention of the critters and wildlife.  It was definitely an abundance on all accounts.  Due to some trailer issues on my account, we had to do a little extra running back-and-forth  to get everything in place.  At one spot on the road we see the same three deer three times!  They had some fascination with playing in the road in that spot!  

The rest of the wildlife would show up later that morning and afternoon and provide entertainment throughout the day.  You'd be surprised how many people don't know where Portugal is! 

 Mrs. Billethead is a real trooper!  She had many first that she accomplished this day and I am deeply humbled and honored to have been a part of it.  This was her first trip on flowing water in her kayak.  So she had a bit of a learning curve but she sailed right around that like a NASCAR racer!  By the end of the day she was passing on the outside and never looking back! She also scored her first smallmouth and Goggle eye all on the longrod!

 The fishing was not as active as I had hoped it would be and as I had told them it would be.  But we can't plenty busy and had a great time!  But that's just a fishing goes sometimes.  Some days are stellar and some days are not.  Which today was no big deal because we had plenty of other entertainment going on. 

  So without further ado, here come the pictures! 

 

[Chief Grey Bear]

That's the only pic I can load right now.  I don't know what's going on!

[Chief Grey Bear]

[BilletHead]

     Oh yes our shuttle hostess,

    Full of stories and fun to listen to. What Chief said was right but part of the reason of the listening part might of been you could not get a word in edgewise. We all think maybe we should be worried a bit for Melissa's newly acquired boyfriend:) . She informed us she had not had a boyfriend in many years !  Oh the things you learn on the river,

BilletHead

[Chief Grey Bear]

He's probably not complaining yet though! Hahaha! 

 

[BilletHead]

1 hour ago, Chief Grey Bear said:

sHe's probably not complaining yet though! Hahaha! 

 

        I bet next time you see him he will be much more skinny. I am glad I was in the back seat too. She sure was sitting really close to Chief. Might of been because of the gear shift but just saying this for clarity.    Chief even picked up the shuttle tab and all it cost us was some cheese dipping sauce,

  BilletHead