[fishortho]

The 2nd annual Tommy 'tooners were at it again last weekend when Prof,Rib, Marko, Anthony, and Ortho hit the mighty Thompson for the weekend. Last year we stayed at Hat Creek Ranch for the weekend to get away from the traffic and the trains, which was a good call, but added around 40-50 miles to the trip with the back & forth. This year, we stayed at Brookside campground and RV about 1 mile east of Cache creek, which was OK but was a bit pricey and we did get lulled to sleep by the freight trucks and not by the nearby creek.
Arriving Thursday afternoon, we decided to hit the river to the west of Juniper Beach, and after doing battle with the "prickly pear" cactus, we eventually found the river and had a few hrs. to practice casting, watch a beautiful sunset, and catch a couple of willing 'bows.
We finally got back to the campsite around `10 and talked fishing for the next three hrs. before calling it a day. The next morning we put in at Steelhead Park and spent the day drifting down to Juniper Beach. Other than a few tricky rapids that could cause some problems, we had a very HOT (40 degrees) day on the water and gave a fair number of scrappy Thompson bows some dental aches.
Saturday, we decided to drift the T from Juniper to Ashcroft and it didn't disappoint. Beautiful scenery and a a bit less productive fish wise, but a great day iin Beautiful BC..........Very few people ever see this areaq as it is away from the roads, and it truly is magnificent..Sunday, Proff and Anthony hit the river around the Spences Bridge area and caught a few nice fish before hitting the road..Ortho hit the area below Spences Bridge and caught four "cookie cutters" in the 12 inch range before facing the heavy traffic on the freeway on the way home.....Next trip.........Ashcroft to Spences Bridge thru the Black Canyon.

 

[professori]

Here are some pictures from the trip. When I get more, i'll post them.

The trip starts

The first of the day

A typical trout for the day

I get to play and land a nice one

Anthony with a really nice 'bow

The last one of the day for me

Our campsite

As Ortho said, the second drift from Juniper to Ashcroft was a lot slower fishing, so I ended up shooting scenery.

It was a great trip and some great company! If you get a chance to drift this mighty river, don't hesitate, do it!!

 

[fishortho]

I think Rib and Anthony also have some pics. I have em'd some to you as well
Thanks again for the great fun, Proff........ya wanna do some BIG water now?

 

[steve]

I am looking to do this on september 7 this year, however I will be using a sled....17' with a 4 stk OB jet and hopefully heading up and then down. Do you have any launching suggestions? I haven't been up/down the river out side what is reachable by truck.

 

[Rib]

Here are a few more pics from the weekend...

The launch, day 2...

A little friend comes out to visit...not sure really, but I wonder if this might be a baby Rattler...???

Scrappy little bugger jumped 4-5 times...

One of Ortho's to start the day...

I am looking to do this on september 7 this year, however I will be using a sled....17' with a 4 stk OB jet and hopefully heading up and then down. Do you have any launching suggestions? I haven't been up/down the river out side what is reachable by truck.

You could probably launch at Juniper beach Cascade, there's always a few trailers up in the day use parking so some boaters definitely launch there. Usually this time of year there are quite a few jets on the river. As for other launch points, I haven't noticed any really decent ones yet besides Juniper...

Anyone else have any suggestions...?

 

[pgBilly]

Greta report and pics, looks like another great time had by all.

 

[steve]

thanks rib!! :thumbup: btw those pics are great, you guys look like you had a good time! thanks for sharing :cheers:

 

[oakey]

Thank-you for the report and pictures - will be there this weekend if all goes well - maybe a little cooler temp will help the fishing

Oakey

 

[Nicole]

Nice pics guys! Do not under any circumstances drift below ashcroft!! Black canyon is a no go zone... Very very dangerous.

Cheers,
Nicole

 

[professori]

Nice pics guys! Do not under any circumstances drift below ashcroft!! Black canyon is a no go zone... Very very dangerous.

Cheers,
Nicole

I am not sure that Ortho was being serious, but rib and I already discussed the impossibility of the drift through Black Canyon.

Here are a few more pictures courtesy of Ortho:
Thursday evening

Friday's drift

Saturday

One of Ortho's 4 clones on Sunday.

 

[fishortho]

Thanks, for throwing up the pics, Prof..........I think I will start another thread on the infamous "black canyon" and get some first hand reports...My info tells me, at low water conditions, it is very do able in a pontoon. There are some sections with bigger water and they require some techniques not yet practiced (at least for me) but my whitewater canoe days are still with me and I am up for the challenge unless someone has first hand experience that tells me no!...IN another few weeks the river will be around 2.2 meters, where it sits 'til the rains come.
Ortho 8)

 

[StillwaterStalker]

Calironia Blonde strikes again eh? great fly for that river. :thumbup: well done guys, looks like it was an awesome trip! i really want to do it sometime, but my fishing buddy is a poor university student and he has jack in the way of gear, nevermind a vehicle that will work for a pickup at the end of the drift to get back to the launch point. :wallbash:

 

[phearless]

Looks like you boys had a blast.

Next year.

Or next week. Hmmmmmmm
Maybe the woolie needs a workout.

As for launching, Martel is a good spot.
Lots of good water down there.

 

[fishortho]

I'm thinking Martel to just below Spences Bridge where Hyack puts in their rafts would be a really nice trip! If you go below this point, the water gets a little gnarly and there are few laces for take out......Ortho 8)

 

[Flyfishin Magician]

Great report guys! Looks like a blast on the water. I guess 'toons are required huh? Hmmm....

 

[professori]

One of the best moments of the weekend came on Friday right at the end of the drift. We started the day by dropping Ortho's jeep off at Juniper Beach and then driving my truck with the three pontoons to Savona (Steelhead Park), dropping of the pontoons and locking up my truck. When we got to Juniper, we pulled the pontoons up on the beach and got ready for Ortho to drive ne back to the truck so we could load up the boats and head back to Cache Creek. As we headed to the Jeep, Ortho started cursing and patting down all his pockets looking for his keys. I asked (gently and with only kindness in my voice), "Ortho, did you take your keys out of the box of the truck before I locked the tonneau." You guessed it! :happy: We went to the park attendants, where Ortho poured out his tale of woe (along with a $20 bill) and persuaded the husband to drive back t my truck and we eventually managed to get back to our camp, to meet up with Marko, rib and Tina. Thanks again for the laugh, Ortho. :cheers: :cheers:

 

[HOOK]

isnt this where one of us young guys says something about getting older normally i would be on it but Ortho calls himself an Old Fart enough as it is :happy: Thanks for the laugh though.

there has been many a time when fishing with my dad where he forgets to lock his truck. we come back and i open the door before he even has the keys out LOL then i get this "how did you open the door" umm duh with my hand eace:

 

[fishortho]

Jeez......Nothing is sacred!!.... :...........That really was a dumb a$$ move for sure...............Oh well, we did get back to camp before midnight and managed a great dinner before we had to get up for breakfast......."Got any worms?".................. ;D ;D.......Ortho 8)

 

[swiftwater]

Be happy you had friends with you and a ride back to help ,It sucks doing that further back in the bush and being alone only to have to walk out a long way or wait for a logging truck for a lift :wallbash:

Those are some great pictures and scenery,i will need to head up there one day
cheers
Oliver