The Female Angle: jet boats

Showing posts with label jet boats. Show all posts

28.9.11

Girls' Day Out

This is my dear friend Sarah Henry. The one who has pictures of herself fly casting in her wedding dress. The awesome lady who caught a world record rooster fish on her honeymoon. And this is a ridiculous bull trout from her recent trip up to a big lake in the BC interior.

Well, Sarah and her husband recently (finally, Dave!!!) bought themselves a beautiful 20ft HCM jet boat, and have been burning through gas like it costs 39 cents again. That's 39 cents per litre, for the benefit of my friends to the south. Curtis and I went out with them a few weeks ago and helped them dial in on sturgeon, and Dave has been guiding on his days off and loving it. After his first day guiding I believe his words were "Best day of work...EVER."

One thing us better halfs of boat owners have been dreaming about is a girls day out on the water in one of our boats. Sarah and I finally made it happen. In the midst of torrential rain, and a rising, colouring up river, we met at Island 22 boat launch in Chilliwack. Sarah had just gotten her boater's license the week before, and while she'd driven the boat and trailered it a couple times in Fort Langley, this was her first chance to do it all.

And do it all she did. I was there to offer moral support, a few words of encouragement and the odd suggestion or two. Other than that, I sat on my ass while Super Sarah backed the boat in, drove it off the tailer, parked the truck, drove us up river, pulled in to shore, anchored the boat up, then after fishing for a little while, pushing the boat off, heading to another spot, and finally re-trailering the boat (on her first real attempt - and the river at Island 22 is pushing WAY faster than in Langley). And... we even caught a few fish.

I have to say, I am so proud of her, she kicked ass, and will continue to do so. Sarah is one of those people who makes my life complete, a dear friend who I admire, respect and aspire to be like. And, to top it all off, she loves to fish.

So this post is basically to say congrats to Sarah for her first successful solo trip in her gorgeous new boat. Thanks for taking me with you. Here's to many more fabulous Girls' Day Out.

Check out Sarah and Dave's websites:

Fraser Valley Flyfishing

2 Handed Trout

3.6.10

Wanna go for a ride?

27.6.09

More Pitt.

A good start to the day.

Hot springs on right, the river dropped 3-4 feet since last time.

The ride down river...

And some big ass bulls.

19.6.09

Just One Little Question....

So where is your heaven on earth?

After Mexico in February, I was pretty sure that if my heaven wasn’t there, it was at least somewhere tropical, with warm ocean breezes and cold drinks and awe inspiring fish.

Maybe that’s my paradise, but I don’t think its heaven. Heaven is closer to home, and every time I leave it a piece of me stays behind.

The Upper Pitt River is a hidden gem within an hour of the sprawling metropolis of Vancouver. Accessible only by chopper ($$$$!!!!) or boat, the river is unpopulated and unspoiled. Glacier fed, it begins in the Garibaldi Range and flows south into Pitt Lake, one of two tidally influenced freshwater lakes in the world. The Lower Pitt River, wide, and turbid flows into the Fraser River about 40km from the ocean. While logging has occurred in the lower valley for over a century, the upper elevations of the Upper Pitt River Valley are protected within three provincial parks - Pinecone-Burke, Garibaldi and Golden Ears on the west, north and east, respectively.

Situated in the heart of Katzie First Nation territory, the Upper Pitt Valley is remarkably rich in its wild salmon and wilderness-dependent species. It supports the largest remaining wild coho population in the lower Fraser and has a unique race of sockeye that take up to 6 years to mature. It provides valuable habitat for all five species of Pacific salmon plus steelhead, cutthroat trout, Dolly Varden and the largest population of bull trout remaining in the lower mainland. The Upper Pitt River Valley attracts grizzly bears, black bears, deer, wolves, marbled murrelets, wolverine and mountain goats. Because of its remoteness and habitat values, the Upper Pitt Valley was selected for re-introduction of elk in 2004. The elk are now thriving.

After the river freshets, usually in May, the sea-run bull trout start returning to its glacial waters. Healthy, fat and chrome, these are not your typical bull trout. The bigger fish enter the river first, and they take hard and fight hard. While averaging a few pounds, fish up to 10 or more pounds are not uncommon. Incredibly aggressive, we fish giant streamer patterns up to 7 inches for them. As the summer progresses, the Chinook and sockeye start their runs. You are not allowed to target the Chinook, but every once in a while you get an incidental catch on your bull trout patterns. The sockeye are some of the largest of their species, and will actually eat flies. Once late September rolls around the coho return and as the river is typically extremely low and clear there are usually sight fishing opportunities for them. Over the winter resident trout populations provide great opportunities, and a small run of winter steelhead return in March – April.

Besides the fishing, there are numerous other reasons to visit the Pitt. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking, with snow capped mountains, blue-green waters and lush forests surrounding you. You very often see wildlife, especially bears during late summer and fall as the salmon are spawning. About 25 km up the river lays the second canyon on the Pitt. Nestled in its rock walls are two small pools, fed with bubbling hot spring water that flows out of the rock face. You can literally drop your hand over the edge of the pool and into the river itself.

The best way to experience the Pitt is by jet boat. The river is runnable by only the most experienced drivers, as it is filled with braids, log jams and gravel bars, and changes with every high water event. Every year boats are beached and sunk, and injuries and even deaths occur. I’m not trying to scare people into not going, but the dangers are a reality that many people take too lightly. With a competent and capable guide, you can be assured of a safe and incredibly thrilling ride.

So this, ladies and gentlemen, is my heaven on earth. Where I can breathe clean, fresh air and feel the wind in my hair. Where I can cast my little spey rod with my own flies to some of the most beautiful fish ever. Where I can soak my sore muscles in a steaming hot spring, listening to the rush of the river. Where I feel the excitement and adrenaline rush (as a passenger) as the boat takes hair pin turns and slides over gravel in inches of water. Where the scenery is familiar evergreen forests and rugged mountain peaks, and the glacial tint to the water fascinates me every time.