RE: The creature from the black lagoon...

[Sean Grier]

I guess it's more of a slough, though there's evidence of beaver all around (chewed off stumps of bushes and saplings).  I'd never seen a beaver in the pond before, nor evidence of a den, but this last trip, I saw the beginnings of, or a small version of, a den on the edge of the pond.

 

I feel REALLY stupid (and chastised) about not reading the regs more closely.  I think I need to stay outa there after October...

 

Nonetheless - there WAS a salmon in there - despite all the suggestions of hallucinagenic smoking materials in my pipe!

 

Sean


-----Original Message-----
From: Don Shearer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Dec 30, 2004 10:45 AM
To: waflyfishers@waflyfishers.com
Subject: RE: The creature from the black lagoon...

Sean,

 

First, if you are fishing a true beaver pond are you sure it is open?  The regs read,

"RIVERS, STREAMS, AND BEAVER

PONDS are open to fishing for game fish

(except DOLLY VARDEN/BULL TROUT and

GRASS CARP) JUNE 1- OCTOBER 31."

 

 

There is a body of water which on maps is named a lake that I used to fish when I lived on the westside.  In fact it is more of an over glorified slough/beaver pond, but since it carries the name of a lake it is open year round.  It holds a nice population of coastal cuts and I believe sea-runs spawn in there.  Are they the same fish?  I have on a number of occasions had incidental catches of what I believe where post spawn silvers in the lake/slough.  Nothing near the size you mentioned, but Coho none the less.  I have caught them in decent shape clear through the month of February.  They sure are beautiful when they get that nice red color.  Not being even an amateur biologist, but I guessed they were spawning in the inlet stream and then returning to the lake/slough for more comfortable surroundings while they wait out the inevitable. 

 

My best,

 

Don Shearer

Pullman, WA

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 -----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]On Behalf Of Sean Grier
Sent: Thursday, December 30, 2004 9:56 AM
To: waflyfishers@waflyfishers.com
Subject: The creature from the black lagoon...

I had a rather weird and eye-opening experience yesterday.  I went up to my favorite little beaver pond east of Duvall - a place I call my Tomato Juice Pond (since it helps to get the skunk off of me during these down months of Winter).  I always catch several of the spunky little coastal cutts that inhabit the pond in large numbers.  Nothing over about 11", but very satisfying with a 2wt and a pipeful of tobacco.

Anyway, as I launched in the dreary slow rain, I didn't see any rises like I usually do, but I heard and saw the splash of what I thought was the local Beaver - giving me the tailslap that they do when startled or pissed off.  I worked my way out into the pond - which is about 3-4 acres in size - and worked my way over to the corner that usually has most of the fish.  Fishing a beadhead chironomid under an Irresistable Adams, I fished the outlet to the pond, with no real luck.  As I worked my way around to the other side, I heard the splash again, and glanced back to see how close the "beaver" was.  Much to my surprise out pops this Salmon - side jumping like he was trying to shake off sealice!  Later I saw him swim by me (remember this is a TINY pond), and he jumped again about every 15-20 minutes.  Invariably I was looking away when he did, but a couple of times I caught sight of him and he was dark with what I thought was a dark red body (Coho?) and about 8-10 lbs.

What I'm wondering is why a salmon would be so far up the system (I believe this pond is on a trickle-trib to Cherry Creek), and even more surprised that he'd still be alive and kicking as strongly as if he was on the Snohomish River!

I didn't catch any cutts, but I did catch a number of what I can only describe as Kokanee - large eyes (for their body size), silverish with no spots on their sides, but small spots on the top - purplish golden parr markings, trout-like mouths, deep vee-shaped tail vs. squared off tails like trout have. 

They were all in the 5-8" size and hit both the Adams and the chironomid.

I guess I'm curious to hear from the biologists (professional AND amateur) on the board as to whether this occurrence of a lively salmon this far up into a beaver pond is unusual.  Also, I thought Kokanee were landlocked Sockeyes, and this didn't look like a sockeye jumping around - looked more like a Silver.  Is it possible the fish I was catching were silver smolts, or were they really Kokanee?  I wonder if the presense of salmon in the pond has driven out the cutties, since I didn't catch any - just the "kokes".  I've fished this pond several times a year for the past 4 years, and I've always caught cutts, and have never caught anything else.

Anyway, it was the weirdest day of fishing I've had in quite a while.

Sean