Unbelievable!!!

Post by **Bass assassin** » Sun Jun 19, 2005 9:29 pm

Went out to Billing's Bridge tonight to wade for some panfish. Ended up catching 3 and had a couple of dunks..HAHAHA.
The COOLEST thing happened though. I was on the north side of the river and had little luck. So I walked back to the bridge to head back to the car. I saw some calm water underneath the bridge on the north side. I thought 'hey that's a great place for fish to hold and eat. So I made a few casts and hooked up with a little rock bass. Start to draw him in when out of nowhere this 30-36 inch pike came up and non-chalantly ate my bass!! The pike turned and headed to deeper water. I tried to bring him into the shallow water by back stepping onto the path under the underpass. I only had a 8lb tapered leader so with a couple of head shakes, he was off. SO COOL!! The amazing thing to me was that all of this happened in about 1-2 feet of water. and only 5 feet off shore. I hooked up a 14lb test leader and threw out a couple of different lures but couldn't interest him any further.
Thought I would share my adventure with you guys. Can't get the image of that thing eating my bass...way cool.
BA

Post by **DaveH** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 10:51 am

That's too cool!!!

I was at Billings on Saturday, but the water levels were so high I gave up there pretty quick... up to past my waist right down the steps...eek!!

I thought about hitting under the bridge too, but ended up going to Black's Rapids... althoug the water was just as bad there too *L*

Sweet story!

Post by **Todd B.** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 1:03 pm

Dave,

I was out wading at Billings on Sunday and agree that the water levels are way up, though it's still wadable (though definitely chilly without waders). I'll have to show you the area sometime.

Todd

Post by **DaveH** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 1:06 pm

Please do!!

I'm feeling a lot more comfortable with the fly rod now...In fact I was handling some really long casts (50 or 60 feet!) this weekend without too much trouble...so I'm itching to actually tie into some fish now *L*

Post by **Bass assassin** » Mon Jun 20, 2005 9:16 pm

I walked around to the North side of the river...oposite to riverside drive. then I waded in from the steps that lead down to the water. Is there a better way in from the parking lot off of riverside? I too found the water to be quite high. Too high for me to get accross in my chest waders. Water was swift in a few places too. I found the fast water to be a little frustrating. Not used to it I guess. I prefer calm pools.
BA

Post by **Todd B.** » Tue Jun 21, 2005 10:40 am

BA,

You entered at the right place, though the high water does preclude wading straight across. try wading up the bank till you get to the flats. From there you can access about 60% of the water you normally have access to when it's lower.

After it drops by a foot or so you should go back and fish the whole area to get a good idea as to what the relative bottom contours are like so that you know where you can/can't wade when the water is higher. When the water is low you can't even get a canoe through the North channel.

Cheers,
Todd

Post by **J Horowitz** » Tue Jun 21, 2005 12:28 pm

Ha that is why I could not get ahold of you, really cool story wish I was there. And you should have no problem wading across the water at your height mabey next time you can piggy back me across the deeper spots hehehehe James

The joke is on me should read better I thought Todd wrote the stiory about the pike now I feel stupid