plumbertom1
05-12-2008, 03:04 PM
Started out from Ray's house at the beach around 1:00 pm on Thursday thinking we would get to Blythe around 6 that afternoon. Traffic wasn't too bad heading out and soon we cleared the Basin and were heading across the desert.
When we were approaching Desert Center Ray got a wild hair ticking hm and took a notion that a night fishing Havasu at his favorite campground Black Meadows Landing would be a good stop. So we turned north on Rice road. About 10 miles north of the I-10 we were cruising along when Blam! thump, thump, thump, Ray's RV blew the rear left inside tire. He moved onto the shoulder and we had the fun of changing a tire on the side of the road in 90 degree heat. But we got it done, put every thing away and headed into Parker Az. where We stopped to fill the boat fuel tank and our bellies.
We headed back over the river for the trek up the California side to the camp when we hit a road block. Traffic was backed up about 1/2 mile and people walking back from the closure informed us that there was a chlorine spill up the road.
Rather than wait an unknown time for Hazmat to do their thing we turned around and headed south on Ca. 95 to Blythe where we stopped for the night at about 11:30 pm next to some hay bale stacks.
Just after sunrise we headed into Blythe proper to find a replacement for the Blown tire (got to have a spare driving around on desert highways) and located a open tire store on Hobson Way.
While Ray took care of the tire I spent the time making up some steak fajitas and huevos rancheros for breakfast.
Once that was out of the way we drove south on Intake Blvd to McIntyre park on the river paid for overnight and launch. But they didn't have river stamps at the little store and it had slipped my mind when we were in town getting a tire so we went back to north of town to B&B bait so we could get gold fish in addition to my needed stamp. B&B Had the stamp but their bait truck was running late and wouldn't be there until 1:00 pm so we ran up to a spot that has been productive in the past for tilapia to give it a shot. For some reason the fish weren't there so we headed back to the park and put the boat on the water.
We ran up river to the Oxbow on the Az side and fished along it for some sunfish. Didn't catch any until we got to the end by the pumps where we caught 3 fair sized Green sunfish and Ray caught a 4pound channel cat on a 1/2 inch long piece of crawler while fishing for bait. He was challenged by that cat because he was only using 4 lb line but he got it to the boat where I netted it. About his time we both realized we had left our cameras in the RV.
We worked our way back down the oxbow fishing at any likely looking spot and picked up a couple of more sunfish to go in the bait tank, along the way I caught several undersized large mouth.
We turned back down river to the launch point and while I went in to make us some carnitas tacos and beans, Ray went up the oxbow next to the launch ramp and found 3 more sunfish for bait.
After dinner we went back up the rive to try some spots that we had seen during our first run up. The river was Up and flowing with a heavy current. We fished first one spot then another. At our second stop I caught a Striped Bass about 5 lbs or so and missed another when the fish ran up river past the boat. I thought I had him hooked when I felt the fish slide out of his mouth and the line went slack. When I pulled it in I saw that the circle hook had gotten turned so that the point was buried in the bait.
Never had that happen before. Oh well, we fished a while longer there with no action so we moved to some other unproductive spots and fished until morning then went in to camp for a rest.
About 9 am we got up and while Ray made the boat road ready I made us some chorizo and eggs with refries for breakfast. We loaded the boat and headed up the road to Mayflower Park for another nights camp and launch.
On the way we stopped at B&B for some medium sized goldfish in case we didn't find any more sunfish. We launched and ran up the river fishing for bait at any spot that looked likely. We went up to the dam and fish in the drainage that runs off the CRIT reservation into the river but found no willing biters, so it was a good thing we got the goldfish.
We went back to camp and Ray fired up the grill and cooked up some bratwurst and a couple of rib eyes for dinner, then we went inside for a nap.
About sundown we went relaunched the boat and headed out for another nights attempt to catch a flathead. The river was high and flowing fast.
We anchored at several places during the night But between the current and the grass catching on our lines fishing was difficult. about 2 am we gave it up and headed in to camp.
In the morning while Ray packed away the boat I cooked up a breakfast of carnitas, eggs and refried beans, then after eating we got on the highway headed home.
We didn't get to the drainage ditches in the Palo Verde area as we had originally planned so those will have to wait 'til the next trip.
When we were approaching Desert Center Ray got a wild hair ticking hm and took a notion that a night fishing Havasu at his favorite campground Black Meadows Landing would be a good stop. So we turned north on Rice road. About 10 miles north of the I-10 we were cruising along when Blam! thump, thump, thump, Ray's RV blew the rear left inside tire. He moved onto the shoulder and we had the fun of changing a tire on the side of the road in 90 degree heat. But we got it done, put every thing away and headed into Parker Az. where We stopped to fill the boat fuel tank and our bellies.
We headed back over the river for the trek up the California side to the camp when we hit a road block. Traffic was backed up about 1/2 mile and people walking back from the closure informed us that there was a chlorine spill up the road.
Rather than wait an unknown time for Hazmat to do their thing we turned around and headed south on Ca. 95 to Blythe where we stopped for the night at about 11:30 pm next to some hay bale stacks.
Just after sunrise we headed into Blythe proper to find a replacement for the Blown tire (got to have a spare driving around on desert highways) and located a open tire store on Hobson Way.
While Ray took care of the tire I spent the time making up some steak fajitas and huevos rancheros for breakfast.
Once that was out of the way we drove south on Intake Blvd to McIntyre park on the river paid for overnight and launch. But they didn't have river stamps at the little store and it had slipped my mind when we were in town getting a tire so we went back to north of town to B&B bait so we could get gold fish in addition to my needed stamp. B&B Had the stamp but their bait truck was running late and wouldn't be there until 1:00 pm so we ran up to a spot that has been productive in the past for tilapia to give it a shot. For some reason the fish weren't there so we headed back to the park and put the boat on the water.
We ran up river to the Oxbow on the Az side and fished along it for some sunfish. Didn't catch any until we got to the end by the pumps where we caught 3 fair sized Green sunfish and Ray caught a 4pound channel cat on a 1/2 inch long piece of crawler while fishing for bait. He was challenged by that cat because he was only using 4 lb line but he got it to the boat where I netted it. About his time we both realized we had left our cameras in the RV.
We worked our way back down the oxbow fishing at any likely looking spot and picked up a couple of more sunfish to go in the bait tank, along the way I caught several undersized large mouth.
We turned back down river to the launch point and while I went in to make us some carnitas tacos and beans, Ray went up the oxbow next to the launch ramp and found 3 more sunfish for bait.
After dinner we went back up the rive to try some spots that we had seen during our first run up. The river was Up and flowing with a heavy current. We fished first one spot then another. At our second stop I caught a Striped Bass about 5 lbs or so and missed another when the fish ran up river past the boat. I thought I had him hooked when I felt the fish slide out of his mouth and the line went slack. When I pulled it in I saw that the circle hook had gotten turned so that the point was buried in the bait.
Never had that happen before. Oh well, we fished a while longer there with no action so we moved to some other unproductive spots and fished until morning then went in to camp for a rest.
About 9 am we got up and while Ray made the boat road ready I made us some chorizo and eggs with refries for breakfast. We loaded the boat and headed up the road to Mayflower Park for another nights camp and launch.
On the way we stopped at B&B for some medium sized goldfish in case we didn't find any more sunfish. We launched and ran up the river fishing for bait at any spot that looked likely. We went up to the dam and fish in the drainage that runs off the CRIT reservation into the river but found no willing biters, so it was a good thing we got the goldfish.
We went back to camp and Ray fired up the grill and cooked up some bratwurst and a couple of rib eyes for dinner, then we went inside for a nap.
About sundown we went relaunched the boat and headed out for another nights attempt to catch a flathead. The river was high and flowing fast.
We anchored at several places during the night But between the current and the grass catching on our lines fishing was difficult. about 2 am we gave it up and headed in to camp.
In the morning while Ray packed away the boat I cooked up a breakfast of carnitas, eggs and refried beans, then after eating we got on the highway headed home.
We didn't get to the drainage ditches in the Palo Verde area as we had originally planned so those will have to wait 'til the next trip.