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We thought we would blame it on the rain…
Posted 26 July 2022, 1:37 pm NDT
This spunky and chunky grilse lets guide, Sonny, know that it is ready to go with a splash.
(larger version)
I'm an optimist. I always put the best spin I can on pretty much everything. I always 'hope' for good conditions. But it doesn't always happen. The conditions for the group that left yesterday were tough. Very unseasonably high water. Cold downpours of rain. Fires lit throughout camp every day to keep things cozy and dry.
A classic old one hit wonder, 'Blame it on the Rain', by Milli Vanilli, is what we thought we would be singing this past week (Sorry if that is now stuck in your head for the day). I, along with the guiding team really thought that the continued rain, and subsequent torrent of water coming out the Eagle, would put a big damper on the action. NOT SO. Yes, it slowed the action compared to what it would have been had conditions been better. But, the 12 individuals that departed camp yesterday did very well. Surprisingly well. Most pairs of anglers with over 50 hookups for the duration of their trip. It was an indicator that the sheer number of fish still coming in fresh, is high. It has to be because the hookups in most cases were a matter of guides and guests being in the right place at the right time. The fish weren't hanging around in pools. They were cruising through some key places.
And lets talk about the quality again. Blair landed and released a 20lb male. Rodney, I believe it was, was amped about the 18-20lber that he had on. Many more fish in the 10-15lb range, and overall a solid 20% large ratio. We are having a great year. And, with this high, cold water, the fish are surely having a very successful year navigating the Eagle and finding their spawning grounds.
Yesterday and today we welcome new guests. The first 6 showed up in Goose Bay with no baggage (thanks Air Canada). That puts us in the mode of trying to turn their trip around from a bad start to a great time. Shout out to Melina, our shuttle driver in Goose Bay. She has been going above and beyond. She spent last night weeding through bags coming in a day late at the airport, and is now headed to Cartwright with bags, and our three remaining guests in transit. The weather denied a float plane flight today. And also shout out to our float plane operators and pilots. The constant communication and effort in marginal weather certainly contributes to a great overall guest experience.
My last communication with our new guests last night confirmed that while they showed up with little more than the shirts on their backs, they were having a great time. We outfitted them with complimentary rental rods and waders (good gear, mind you). And the guides put every one of them onto a fish in their first evening.
The conditions and weather continue to be tough, so we are going to continue to focus our best efforts on controlling what we can control, and hope that the mighty Eagle River continues to provide.
A classic old one hit wonder, 'Blame it on the Rain', by Milli Vanilli, is what we thought we would be singing this past week (Sorry if that is now stuck in your head for the day). I, along with the guiding team really thought that the continued rain, and subsequent torrent of water coming out the Eagle, would put a big damper on the action. NOT SO. Yes, it slowed the action compared to what it would have been had conditions been better. But, the 12 individuals that departed camp yesterday did very well. Surprisingly well. Most pairs of anglers with over 50 hookups for the duration of their trip. It was an indicator that the sheer number of fish still coming in fresh, is high. It has to be because the hookups in most cases were a matter of guides and guests being in the right place at the right time. The fish weren't hanging around in pools. They were cruising through some key places.
And lets talk about the quality again. Blair landed and released a 20lb male. Rodney, I believe it was, was amped about the 18-20lber that he had on. Many more fish in the 10-15lb range, and overall a solid 20% large ratio. We are having a great year. And, with this high, cold water, the fish are surely having a very successful year navigating the Eagle and finding their spawning grounds.
Yesterday and today we welcome new guests. The first 6 showed up in Goose Bay with no baggage (thanks Air Canada). That puts us in the mode of trying to turn their trip around from a bad start to a great time. Shout out to Melina, our shuttle driver in Goose Bay. She has been going above and beyond. She spent last night weeding through bags coming in a day late at the airport, and is now headed to Cartwright with bags, and our three remaining guests in transit. The weather denied a float plane flight today. And also shout out to our float plane operators and pilots. The constant communication and effort in marginal weather certainly contributes to a great overall guest experience.
My last communication with our new guests last night confirmed that while they showed up with little more than the shirts on their backs, they were having a great time. We outfitted them with complimentary rental rods and waders (good gear, mind you). And the guides put every one of them onto a fish in their first evening.
The conditions and weather continue to be tough, so we are going to continue to focus our best efforts on controlling what we can control, and hope that the mighty Eagle River continues to provide.
