[GSAS-Member] Cold water fish and other wiggly stuff

[June Olberding <jdolb1@direcway.com>]

Hi everybody,

I finally got internet  service to RV  so can follow what GSAS is doing.

We are just finishing the summer out in mountains in NE Washington. We
caretake property of seldom present landloard in trade for RV space on a
river. Is quite hot here in July and most of August, like in upper 90's so
go swimming daily in river.

Being more of a sight seerer than swimmer, I snorkel. Boy is faster, colder
river habitat different from the lakes over here. No vegetation except for
hair type algae now that river is very low and relatively warm.  Food
pyramid is pretty much bugs etc, small fish, larger fish. See lots of
periwinkle kinds of stuff, crayfish and assorted minnow kinds supporting the
trout. 

Saw a pair of sculpins once. I think there are probably quite a few of them
but is hard to snorkel in the 6 inch deep riffles they hang out in. If you
ever get chance, they make great little cool water aquarium fish.  However,
NEVER decide to snorkel down riffles in search of them. You can loose  soft
tissue that way. ;-> Guess how I know. It seemed like a good idea at the
time and I didn't really get any injury except to my pride. My sister in
law, whom I conned in to going with me, has recovered her humor and is
speaking to me agin too.

See big trout (15-20 inches) and lots of small ones hanging out in deep
holes but more commonly in shallows where they lie in the icey cold water
from under grounds springs entering the river. Is strange to swim along and
suddenly have the water temp drop >10 degrees. There are also lots of
whitefish which swim with the trout. I think this is only becasue they too
are seeking cold water. This is a "catch and release" river. Have been
observing a big trout recover from probable hook and handeling injury. He
has lost one eye and has most of the net scars healed. Due to his one sided
blindness, I was able to drift up to him and "pet" him. To my surprise he
didn't swim away when stroked.

There are also huge suckers, like couple feet and up, and they are truely
ugly; even to a fish lover.

Summer is coming to end here as it frosts by first of Sept so will put away
my fins and drift south to the dessert soon.

Would love to here from folks and what you are doing.

Anyone have any idea of what Oct program will be? I may be in Seattle area
on business about then.

June Olberding

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