Well, I had to go back and re-fish Columbia County last week
(Thursday 8/9) and the trip went terrible! I launched originally at Lyon's Ferry State Park and ran to the right on the river....well, that put me almost immediately into Walla Walla County
I noticed this mistake while I was checking boundaries for Wahkiakum County...it sparked my interest so I reviewed all of my stops on the rivers and discovered my mistake on Columbia County. I also came close to screwing up Walla Walla County, but fortunately I jumped to the correct side before catching my fish there! Being a man of my word
(not that anyone else would give a rip) I had to return and actually complete Columbia County correctly.
It was 105 degrees when I launched. By the time I boated the 1.1 pound squeeker smallie about 4 hours later, it was 112 degrees!!
It was so hot at the end that my GoPro would only run for about 3-5 minutes at a time before shutting off and the camera itself was hot to the touch! It didn't record the official catch, (see pic) or the two more I caught and the one I lost shortly after....I had to restart it multiple times and once again just to catch the run back to the launch. It also didn't record my bank fishing experience on Lake Rowland in Klickitat County the following morning??! Maybe time to replace that one?
Anyways, I doubled back to Klickitat County (apprx 4.5 hours) after leaving Columbia County and accidentally got routed into Oregon?! Where I had to sit through a stupid vessel inspection
before returning to the Washington side! I was so focused on getting to my overnight destination before they closed that I nearly ran my truck out of gas along the way! I found a gas station on the WA side with 17 miles to spare
Then, Friday morning, I woke up to 17mph winds that would build throughout the morning to 35mph
Forces were aligning against me it seemed. I could not fish effectively! The frustration monster started eating at me. My work phone never stopped. I was getting tunnel vision on bait selection, catching nothing but 0.5-0.8 pound bass and I found a crack in my boat trailer while launching at Maryhill State Park Friday!
I finally snapped! With the thoughts of work piling up back home, the relentless wind, vessel and trailer issues, the oppressive heat, my own narrowing brain, access issues due to boat selection and a few other things, I pulled the plug and headed home fairly early Friday. I was disgusted and frustrated at the thought of having to drive 4-5 hours back to Klickitat County for a FOURTH attempt and that just added to everything!
I hit the brakes hard!! On the way home, I had plenty of time to process everything, I realized I was only upset with myself. This adventure is supposed to be fun! Not a race but a quest. Not a competition but an accomplishment. I was upset and frustrated with myself, period. I forgot to "fish" and began to "pound"! Repeating processes that had worked elsewhere, expecting the same results everywhere. Sometimes that works... it's when it doesn't that you need to keep your head in the game and expand your approach! I was frustrated by the amount of techniques and areas I left on the table. I decided it was time to take a break for a couple weeks and decompress. Fortunately, this decision was made far easier on the way home, when the transmission on my truck started leaking!!
3,000 miles in 4 weeks took it's toll I guess
Not a good trip overall from a
'luck' standpoint, but a blessing in disguise I believe?! Getting repairs done will leave me no option but down time. Down time will rejuvenate me, and put me into September with falling temps, both ambient and water, which should only improve the fishing
It also may result in a new truck?! Which after 10 years in a one ton, going back to a half ton will be like driving a cloud around
(a one ton with overload springs will test your kidneys even on a "smooth" road). So that's where it stands....I'll be back out there but my foot will be off the accelerator! I intend to
slow down and thoroughly enjoy the last six counties
I promise