CAPT KUMISKI MAY 2008

This Weeks Fishing Report from Capt. John Kumiski 5/21/08

Photos are posted at http://www.spottedtail.com/ThisWeeksFishingReport.htm. They are worth checking!

Last week I fished three different fly casters on the Mosquito Lagoon. All three days ended the same way- biteless, fishless. We had some decent shots on one day, but the other two were just frustrating with either snotty weather or too many other vessels. So there's not much to report there.

Last Thursday son Maxx, his friend Brian Jaye, and I drove to Wesser, North Carolina with two Old Town canoes on top of the truck. The goal was not trout fishing, but rather whitewater paddling. I didn't even bring a fishing rod! We camped at the Lost Mine Campground, a lovely spot about a mile from the Nantahala Outdoor Center.

We met Jack Hutson, the trip leader, on Friday morning. The crew looked at our vintage boats (without float bags) and lack of wetsuits with some suspicion. The Nantahala wasn't running (perhaps a blessing, as it turned out) because of a glitch at the dam. We went to Dillsboro to run the Tuckaseegee.

Maxx and Brian paddled together, and I had a passenger named Tom who hadn't ever paddled before. The stream was low, just barely runnable. We met a couple rocks fairly personally, but everyone made it OK. It was the first whitewater canoeing I'd done in a LONG time, and I gotta say it felt GREAT!!!

Saturday found us at the Tuck again. The water from the dam release was scheduled to peak at noon, so that's when we left for our paddle.

I was by myself in the Camper, which was nice. We ran the stream easily, as many of the rocks were now covered. I think by now Jack and the others were beginning to have some confidence in our abilities, since we didn't wipe out. That was a good thing, as a Nantahala run was scheduled for Sunday.

After the paddle on the Tuckaseegee the "boys" (Maxx is 19, Brian 20) and I had enough time left to go hike a short portion (a couple miles) of the Appalachian Trail. Brian hadn't ever been on it, and was excited enough by what little he saw to start talking about hiking end to end. We met a couple who were through-hiking. They were at a shelter on the AT. They had started at Springer Mountain two weeks earlier. I was very impressed with the young woman when she said, "I don't need a shower. I had one two days ago." What's not to like?

Sunday morning found us at the NOC at 9 AM. Some of the crew rented Duckies, and we headed to the put-in above Patton's Run. Again Maxx paddled with Brian in the Tripper, and I was alone, bringing up the rear, in the Camper. The weather was dreary with some cold rain falling, but the river was running high and fast. The waves in Patton's Run were big enough that I couldn't avoid them and took on quite a bit of water on through the run. Both the boys and I had to stop and bail at the bottom, but we made it through without incident.

There's not much time for relaxation on the Nanatahala. The rocks and waves just keep coming, but everyone made it through everything safely until just before we reached Nantahala Falls, the biggest rapid on the run. The stern of the Tripper hit a rock, which punctured the old, thin, brittle, worn out plastic. The boat was now leaking freely.

We all scouted the falls. Some of the crew decided against running it. It was a solid class IV at the level the river was running. Jack made it through easily twice in kayaks. Brian and Maxx made it through in the now leaky Tripper, although they hit the stern again and made the hole even bigger. Then it was my turn.

The entire way down the river I wondered if I would run the falls or not. As it turned out there wasn't any hesitation. I got into the Camper and pushed off. The water was big and fast, but I just paddled instinctively, hit the drop perfectly, and made it through easily, taking on only about six inches of water. It was a very good feeling- part adrenaline rush, part satisfaction, one hundred percent pleasant. One of the things I miss by living in Florida is that adrenaline rush that comes from running heavy water, a tight knot that starts in your stomach and turns into a warm glow that moves into your head after you finish the run successfully.

Although there were a lot of boats on the river we saw a relatively few canoes, none of which were Old Towns, and all of which had float bags. Some even had battery operated bilge pumps!?! People checking out Maxx and I kept asking us, "Are you going to run the falls in THAT?" It's not like everyone wasn't using boats just like ours fifteen or twenty years ago. They still work quite well in reasonably skilled hands.

Monday we all met in Bryson City and convoyed down to the Chattahootchee in north Georgia. I had never been there before. It turned out to be a lovely river, without the highway and railroad tracks that mar the experience on the Nantahala. Plus there was hardly anyone else there, which was nice. After we arranged the shuttle off we went.

This time Maxx was by himself in a kayak. I was in the bow of the Camper with Brian in the stern. Brian isn't from a boating background and had hardly paddled at all before this trip. He had never paddled in the stern before.

The river lulled us into complacency with a placid stretch before turning into a twisty rocky demon at the first real rapid. Brian and I were essentially out of control for much of it, bumping our way downstream, becoming intimately acquainted with many of the rocks, causing me to get a little excited. I had to slap myself a couple times to calm down. Brian and I had a little discussion during which I imparted a little more instruction. Then we started off again.

The river was low, and as a result very technical. Paths down the ledges were tortuous, with sufficient water in only one twisty channel and rocks everyplace. Brian obviously had been listening during our little talk. With the exception of a couple of minor glitches he was flawless the rest of the way, even in the class III pitches, a truly excellent job. He's ready to paddle almost anywhere now.

Although the group was paddling one more river the next day, my mom was going in for surgery so after paddling we hit the road. After a gruesome drive through Atlanta we pulled into Clearview Road at almost 2 AM. The trip was fantastic and I want to thank Jack Hutson for organizing it.

Now it's time to turn my attention back to fishing. I avoid fishing on Memorial Day weekend, and hope everyone has a safe holiday weekend.

Life is short- enjoy it!

Life is great and I love my work!

John Kumiski