It took a week but plans were finally put together and Mike made his boat ready for the first open water trip of the year. The reason for the delay in making a commitment to what, how and where was the weather. Saturday was the day and the predictions for the day was warm with a miserable South wind. Anyone who has spent time on Pool 8 can contest to a steady South wind making for a turbulent stretch of river.
Seeing a prediction of steady South winds with gust up to 40mph, we decided to stay towards the middle of the pool and hit some of the skinny water instead of running to the dam and fishing wide open abuse to the south wind plus, we didn’t want to get into a game of bumper boats with white caps 
We were hoping to find some migrating walleyes in sloughs that are proven grounds for the marble eyes or, any other finned beast that might want to test the open water gear.
First drift down stream proved that sheepies like the new Pulse-R Paddle Tails
We would drift a stretch down river long lining the plastics pierced onto a precision jig head then, pull 3 ways up stream. On the first pull of the rigs up river Mike’s pole doubled over, at first it appeared to be a snag until we placed the boat over the top of it only to see Mike’s line make a big run up river…..fish on 
Pop….fish off 
It was a horse what ever it was. We grunted about like a couple old farts after that, made a few more runs back and forth without a hit, then made the call to hit another skinny water slough.
After a wet ride up the main channel we were back to pulling a 3 way rig up stream. After a long stretch of river it happened, Mike’s pole doubles over once again. Damn snag he says, and then starts to back the boat up against a brutal wind. Water is busting over the back and by this time I’m there to help. I have Mike hand me the rod so he can focus on boat control while we try to free Mike’s bait from the snag below. As soon as the rod hit my hands there were two big thumps. The rod was handed back to its owner as I told him this snag is swimming again
What a dance there was in the boat then, Mike and I trying to exchange spots so he could fight the beast (sure to be a state record eye) on the end of his rig while I kept the boat as close to the battle as possible. Mike was from one side of the boat and to the other a couple times. A roaring South West wind at this time had water rolling into the splash guard on the back of the boat and at times it seemed to just lift a spray now and then, we are talking Deadliest catch here people, with what could be the Loch Ness putting up one heck of a battle not wanting to leave the depths of 12 feet
The fight lasted for a good time until we could finally see the first makings of the 3 way rig. The eye balls were pealed wide open waiting to get a glimpse of the contender. It was the fifth time to the top my peepers seen what had Mike’s arms now feeling like noodles. It was a beautiful sight to behold just under the surface of a glimmering river, revealed were the prettiest oranges, gold’s and yellows any fresh water fish can sport, Mike had his hands full of Common Carp, and it was in submarine proportions too
The small Rapalas front hook hit a home run by burying itself into the hard boney part of the dorsal fin. We took a weight of the fish with a spring scale which read 24lbs then slipped her back over the side. It was cool to see her return to the deep. The tail on this bugle lipped beauty sure moved some water.
After a few more passes we had some short hits, Mike had one pike and I had one bite off. For the conditions on the water, boat control sucked, the wind was wicked, no walleyes but, still a great day making memories with an awesome friend.
Anyone fish up by the dam, how was it? Windy I bet 
Good luck fishing people 
And as usual a great report. 
My wife is still laughing from reading it. 
She knows what kinds of things can happen when we’re together. 
