SAN JOAQUIN RIVER

JULY 28-31, 2004

OUR ANNUAL DVFF FISHING TRIP TO THE HEADWATERS OF THE SAN JOAQUIN RIVER, IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE OUTINGS! THE FUN FISHING, THE SPECTACULAR SCENERY AND OUR GROUP OF CLUB MEMBERS HELP TO MAKE FOR A MEMORABLE TIME.

WITH ASSISTANCE FROM KIT KOHLER, THIS YEARS TRIP WAS NO EXCEPTION. WE HAD 8 MEMBERS, SOME MAKING THEIR VERY FIRST TRIP TO THE RIVER. A COUPLE OF OUR MEMBERS MISTAKENLY WENT IN A WEEK EARLY, FORTUNATELY THEY LEFT MANY FISH FOR US. FISHING WAS GOOD, BUT NOT AS GOOD AS PREVIOUS YEARS AND WE HAD TO COVER MORE WATER.

WEATHER WAS PERFECT AND RIVER CONDITIONS WERE IDEAL. OUR DECISION TO STAY IN THE DEVILS POSTPILE TURNED OUT TO BE A GOOD ONE AS THE CAMPGROUND AND FACILITIES WERE VERY NICE. THE RECENT ADDITION OF "BEAR BOXES" FOR FOOD STORAGE WAS FORTUNATE FOR US AS WE HAD A BLACK BEAR VISIT OUR CAMP ON THURSDAY NIGHT. THE BEAR WALKED RIGHT IN FRONT OF KIT'S TENT AND WOKE HIM, AS IT TRIED VAINLY TO GET INTO JIM McCOMBS SPECIALLY CONSTRUCTED "BEAR PROOF" COOLER. KIT STARTED THROWING PIECES OF FIREWOOD AT THE BEAR AND IT RAN OFF WITHOUT ANY OF OUR FOOD OR SUPPLIES.

FOR NEW MEMBER CRAIG McMULLEN, THIS WAS HIS FIRST CAMPING EXPERIENCE. WE EXPERIENCED CAMPERS DID OUR BEST TO MAKE THIS A GOOD ONE FOR HIM AND I BELIEVE WE SUCCEEDED.

BELOW ARE PICTURES FEATURING OUR GROUP AND THE RIVER SCENERY.