Floated the Stones

[tazelaar]

I put in below Priest Dam & floated about 3 miles yesterday.  I caught several rainbows, had lots of hits and lots that got away. 

Singlehanding a 19' canoe in strong winds while trying to fish with a fly rod isn't easy.  I didn't get any hits until the wind started to settle down.  Mainly because I was all over the place.  In retrospect, I should have worn waders and fished from the banks.  When I do it again I'll use the canoe to get from one wading spot to another. 

It sure was a beautiful day on the water.  I didn't take any pictures of the fish, but I got a picture of my buddy who was with me:



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[Steve H]

Looks like you and your buddy had a good day on the water!

[bd]

Yup, fly fishing out of a canoe when you're by yourself is not the easiest thing to do when it is calm.  It is virtually impossible when there is any kind of breeze blowing.

Just out of curiosity, where did you put in and take out? 

bd

[tazelaar]

I put in at the dam, on the West side.  I took out right next to the Kohl's on Lebanon Rd. 

There are no good places to put in or take out... the banks are steep near parking... so you end up dragging the boat up a steep bank for a short portage, or you take out on a nice beach and portage the boat for 1/2 mile. 

A couple months ago floated from the dam down to Heartland Park, where I took the canoe out right next to the pedestrian bridge.  I had to carry the canoe way too far to reach the car and it crushed me.

I have requested that the greenways construct some kind of access at the trailheads.   Not full fledged boat ramps, but just a graded trail so folks like me have a way to safely get a canoe or a kayak from the car to the water.