The Northern California Fly Fishing Board

I work part time for some newspapers in Plumas County. I have been tasked (its a tough job)with going down and taking some pictures of opening day on the North Fork of the Feather. Unfortunately, the event I am supposed to cover is the fishing derby at the Crossroads at Caribou. ( If you are staying on the river that includes a pretty good tri tip BBQ and a good band) In the interest of balancing the coverage, and hopefully seeing some old friends, I would like to tie in with Troutdale and company. When and where will you folks be?

Michael (aka Feather fisher)

Hey Michael

I'm tied up tomorrow but If I was looking for Dale, I would just cruse hwy 70 till I saw his jeep. Or you could just wait at the cable crossing hole because he will eventually end up there.


Paul

If I make it, it will be after 4:30 pm. I got stuck doing something else at the last minute.

TD

Hey Mike,
I only made it up to about the rest area since I couldn't leave town til 4:15. I was in the water at 5:00 and landing the first fish of the 2009 trout season at 5:02. Bad knees and all is was worth the effort. Since I've had to slow down I don't cover as much water. My numbers will never be lake they used to be. The trout was a beautiful 19" rainbow that was hotter then a firecracker. I missed a few more and then got a couple of thirteen inchers. Things shut down by 6:30 but it sure was nice to keep my record of getting out there every opening day for the last 20 years.

How were things up by Caribou?


Dale

Glad to hear the record is still intact. (Although catching a nice fish 2 minutes after hitting the water will not get you a lot of friends! )

I know what you mean about not getting around as well. Aside from turning 57 this year, I took a pretty good tumble on the ice a couple months back. Hit the ole noggin pretty hard. I was flown down to Chico for emergency surgery. They drilled four holes in my skull to drain fluids. I am still on limited physical activity. Not supposed to lift anything over 10 pounds, so there is no point in going fishing. Not that I catch lots of 10 pound plus fish....but this would be the time it happens.

I go to Chico tomorrow fr a cat scan. Hopefully I will get the OK for normal physical activity! Course then the odds of me catching that 10-pounder will go way down.

The Caribou derby was actually lots of fun. The wife and I went down for the award ceremony and BBQ. I will attach the story I wrote for the paper about the festivities. I find competitive fishing distasteful, but after watching all those kids I had a bit of an epiphany so there is a minor editorial at the end of the story.