Do you always catch fish ?
Sometimes I'm asked that, especially from a youngster, when we have yet to have the first bite. The answer has been, yes, but with some need for clarifications. This past season there were two motorboat trips when we caught no keepers, but we did release an oversize fish on each of those trips that was larger than the maximum size allowed at that time and area. Fish that we release are measured, sampled, tagged and released carefully. The third photo is from a trip that began with higher expectations, and ended with one fish caught, and one lost at the boat. I'll be giving some extra fishing time to these folks on their next trip.
The rowing season, in the grand Tyee Club Tradition, was not such a great success. For some reason this past season the mature chinooks did not collect in their usual staging areas in the Tyee Pool and down along the shoreline in shallow water. However, the fish did turn up in the river in good numbers, showing again that the fish can be mysterious and the Tyee Club catch record is not a good indicator of the run size. It is always a challenge greater than ordinary fishing, and always has the unique attractions of fishing from a rowboat with simple light tackle. Even when the bites are few and far between, we live in hope and enjoy the fishing experience.
