Paddles

[obert1]

seems pretty consistant that everyone thinks the fishing is better up there.

I think it is, just b/c the concentrated area. But I hate crowds. So it's a trade off for me. It's not like it's impossible downstream, but it's definently harder. I'm not really a people person to begin with though either.

[btbowhunter]

thats what i'm saying. if you want to avoid a crowd, you couldn't do it down river this year either. just crowded everywhere you went.

[fursniper]

Well I got my banding information back from my paddle. It was banded about 2.5 weeks before I shot it. It was caught in the tailwaters and apparently never left! SDG&F banded it, weighed it, and measured it then released it. They were very quick and very thankful for the information.

Anyway, just thought I would share.

[Wild Bill]

Well the season is done for me on the Paddle hunt. I will say that as a rookie at this I did not have a clue what I was doing in the beggining. I learn fast but could not get one stuck. I watched many other people and there technics and it was a rewarding and thrilling time. All in all I took 9 trips up 81 with high hopes only to go back south shamed but satisfied. I spent a total of around $810.00 on gas and seeds and pop. I do feel I got my moneys worth times 2. My upper body hurts so bad from shooting I feel like I have been on a Bowflex for days. Glad the night time motion thing when I lay down will be going away for awhile. All this shooting should have me reay to lug decoys..
Some things I learned. You have to be there before shooting time and ready cause they are thick that 1st half hour. The reason I posted the video is to show you that us and maybe 1 other boat were all that was there at shooting time. The really bad part was missing 10 real easy fish in the first fifteen minutes. I am sure however that it was good for whisker as he got hours of snickering done. After about the first half hour the boats would start piling in and the fish would start thinning down to nothing. Out of the 9 trips I made only one was a bad enogh day to say that I wish I stayed home. I would say that I should of had a fish on any one of the trips. Yah it does get crowded and the fish notice. The first weeks of the season look more productive we had alot more shot oppurtunitys then.
Couple of things I wish were diferent. I think we should be able to hunt the whole spillway (no closed area). I really think during the paddlefish seasons snagging and archery they should put out two buoys marking 5 MPH speed limit from just east of the handicap dock to the dam. Having a idiot blow by you at 20 yrds at 30 mph is Retarded
I will be back next season and I now have something else on the list to accomplish.

I want to again thak Whisker here publicly. You were a great host to me and Craig. Thanks for all your Patience, Pep Talks, Water, Advice, Gingerale, And the worlds worst smelling Bait for Karsen to fish with.

[whisker]

I enjoyed having you guys up. The shooting definitely got tougher and the opportunities fewer as the days went by! I'll give you two thumbs up for your persistence Mr. Bill! You bow fish as hard as you hunt, and that's full bore! Time to rest up and get back to carp killing now. I hope we'll see you next week for the "next adventure"! Glad Craig could make it up a couple times too,...especially with the tough work schedule! Thumbs up to Karsen too for putting in that many hours in the boat with us.

[Longest Yard]

I do want to thank Whisker for all his help and wizdon shared in our quest to be one of the few to acomplish such a task. I do have to say the pursuit of gettin a paddle fish with a bow is alot more chalanging than I gave it credit. I have shot many deer, turkeys and fish with my bow in my short life and the one thing that I have learned from hunting them is don't give up or get discouraged. Just because I did not score this year I know I will be back next year full of antisipation of that first huge splash right next to the boat.

Agin THANK YOU for all you help and pactance with us ROOKIES.