I Love Suicide

By all accounts we mis-timed the Michigan trip by 3 or 4 weeks.
According to the locals and by the condition of most of the fish we caught a majority of the Steelies had been and gone and finished their bit 'o business.

We didn't see as many fish caught as last year but all of us avoided a skunk and caught some really great fish in a really great place.
After some thought that really is the bottom line and I am grateful for it.

Two thumbs up from me.
We left Tuesday on the 6th at about 6pm.

I happened to turn 41 on this day and I really can't think of a better present to ones self than to go fishing for a few days with The Boys.
Giddy-yup.
The weekend before saw me sift through all sorts of wacky Bullshit at work and I was dying for some windshield time and some peace and quiet.
That is what I get paid to do and I am pretty good at it but it takes its toll on you spiritually.

I think we have all decided that the mad dash trips are behind us and when you plan a multiple day trip it is understood that you roll the dice a bit with the conditions.


The Michigan Rivers are nothing like ours.


It rained and rained...and then it rained some more. I was convinced that we would be fishing a mudslide on the first morning at least but it was clear.
Crystal in fact ..
Our rivers would've been at least 48 hrs from fishable.

On the first morning we decided to gamble a bit and run up to the Betsy River.

This is a river that I had only read about and I was dying to fish it.
OCD Morin had researched it a bit and after a pregame pow wow the night before over copious amounts of alcohol we were gung ho.


It sucked.

It was nice to look at but the shitrat factor was 9 mile-esque.

Arnold managed a fish and I will hate him forever for it.

The late evening bite had a Sawdust skunk waiting for us on water that was less than ideal.
Thats fishing...and I will take the good with the bad but I could feel the Michigan Black Cloud starting to settle above me and it was the sure beginning of a bummer.
It didn't help that the game plan for the morning was to fish Tippy Dam.

I personally wouldn't choose to fish Tippy Dam even if I could be guaranteed a 40 fish day.
I would rather stick a Michigan cricket in my eye but a fishing trip is a democracy and also I have learned to follow Morins nose when in Michigan.
Tippy Dan here we come.


That night saw even more rain and the river rose about a foot overnight....but still no colour.There were some fresh quality fish in the river.
Both Brian and I executed a couple of long distance releases right off the hop just down from the first bend.
As per the Michigan usual there were about 20 million smolts and Browns in the river and we hiked like mad to get away from them.

At Suicide opposite the stairs we got to watch Morin find his groove with some pretty sweet droppies.
As for me?..
I fell in the water and just about drown....a snow storm came in and I was just about ready to kill myself in honour of the place.
Long story short...
We regrouped and hit the Suicide run from the opposite side after some HotDogs and Beer back at the cabin.


The first fish I hit was a beauty and I was sure I was going to lose it....but I didn't and just like that the weight was gone...

LOL
Then just in case I missed the point the fish gods threw me another one on the next drift.


Morin got a beautiful dime bright fresh fish that I just about lost for him when I tried to tail it whilst filming...
Very dumb..
Surely Beer induced...

I am stupid when I am sober so you can just imagine.


Great trip regardless of the timing.


During the last morning I overheard a Driftboat Guide that I am pretty sure was Tim Roller say the following to his clients.

"Do you see those Center-Pin guys over there?....Those are Canadians...that is a pretty good indication....
If they're not catching fish then the fish aren't here"
LOL
It actually filled me with a rare moment of Canuck pride.
The evening bite at the Suicide run was very low pressure and was a very peaceful moment that I am sure wouldn't have been available if the run was teeming with fish.


That is a trade off that I am fine with..
Good times.
Now back to reality
...Or is it away from reality??????
The lines are starting to Blur...