02-15-2009, 04:41 AM
I went on my second annual Ririe Res campout with my venture scouts this weekend. I have to say it was one of the most memorable and just overall perfect camping icefishing experiences that I have ever had.
Friday night we loaded up the trucks and headed to Ririe after stopping for bait and last minute items we forgot we arrived at about 5:30 P.M. Then we started the long trek across the lake to our camping area.
[inline TheTrekIn.jpg]
When we arrived at our spot it took us quite a while to set up the tents, camp etc... and prepare for the night. It was after dark when we started the fire and prepared our tinfoil dinners. After we ate our tinfoil dinners we made a dutchoven cobler that was awesome. While we waited for it to cook we went on a little night hike and looked at tracks in the snow.
[inline FireonIceTinfoilDinners.jpg]
The scouts went to bed about 10:00P.M. The leaders drilled holes in the clam command post (leaders tent) and fished until 1:00 in the morning while sitting on our cots. The fishing was not fast but we ended up catching 2 Kokes, 2 cutts, and a sucker before we called it a night.
[inline cotsinTent.jpg]
I got up at 6:30 and proceeded to drill 20 holes so that the scouts could get in on the early morning bite. The fish started biting fast and furious at about 8:00AM. They never really let up. We had 10 scouts and leaders in our group. Some came in the morning and some had to leave for work or other commitments before we left, but every one limited out on Kokanee and trout. The Kokanee were absolutely amazing today. They hung around for literally hours. After we limited out and we were trying to concentrate on the perch they actually became annoying. We could not get our jigs down to the perch no matter how much they tried. That being said we ended up catching 26 nice perch as well.
Here is a picture of some of the fish. We took this picture early because some of the boys had to leave. Some of these fish belonged to the leaders who are not pictured.
[inline FishScoutsRirie.jpg]
At about noon we filled the perch for lunch along with a couple Kokes and fried them in the dutchoven.
[inline Fishfry#1.jpg]
After lunch we broke camp with each boy and leader having caught an enormous amount of fish and more importantly enjoyed a really wonderful time together.
As we loaded our sleds we realized that we had a major problem. Some of our scouts had gone home early and we still had to get all the sleds and gear to the car. This is when a nearby fisherman offered to pull our sleds with his four wheeler. He did this without being asked and I would like to thank you for your kindness if you read this forum. This simple act of generosity made a perfect campout a miracle.[angelic]
[inline "Kindness of Strangers.jpg"] we As we walked up the ramp we were greeted by the Idaho Fish and Game who gave the scouts a civics lesson by checking their licenses. It was no problem since they were all legal. (No Picture).[cool]
As we loaded the truck for home the Ririe Bald Eagle made an appearance soaring above the reservoir as if to wave goodbye. ( I forgot to take a picture)[crazy]
I can't wait to have some Kokanee candy when our catch comes out of the smoker.
Windriver
[signature]
Friday night we loaded up the trucks and headed to Ririe after stopping for bait and last minute items we forgot we arrived at about 5:30 P.M. Then we started the long trek across the lake to our camping area.
[inline TheTrekIn.jpg]
When we arrived at our spot it took us quite a while to set up the tents, camp etc... and prepare for the night. It was after dark when we started the fire and prepared our tinfoil dinners. After we ate our tinfoil dinners we made a dutchoven cobler that was awesome. While we waited for it to cook we went on a little night hike and looked at tracks in the snow.
[inline FireonIceTinfoilDinners.jpg]
The scouts went to bed about 10:00P.M. The leaders drilled holes in the clam command post (leaders tent) and fished until 1:00 in the morning while sitting on our cots. The fishing was not fast but we ended up catching 2 Kokes, 2 cutts, and a sucker before we called it a night.
[inline cotsinTent.jpg]
I got up at 6:30 and proceeded to drill 20 holes so that the scouts could get in on the early morning bite. The fish started biting fast and furious at about 8:00AM. They never really let up. We had 10 scouts and leaders in our group. Some came in the morning and some had to leave for work or other commitments before we left, but every one limited out on Kokanee and trout. The Kokanee were absolutely amazing today. They hung around for literally hours. After we limited out and we were trying to concentrate on the perch they actually became annoying. We could not get our jigs down to the perch no matter how much they tried. That being said we ended up catching 26 nice perch as well.
Here is a picture of some of the fish. We took this picture early because some of the boys had to leave. Some of these fish belonged to the leaders who are not pictured.
[inline FishScoutsRirie.jpg]
At about noon we filled the perch for lunch along with a couple Kokes and fried them in the dutchoven.
[inline Fishfry#1.jpg]
After lunch we broke camp with each boy and leader having caught an enormous amount of fish and more importantly enjoyed a really wonderful time together.
As we loaded our sleds we realized that we had a major problem. Some of our scouts had gone home early and we still had to get all the sleds and gear to the car. This is when a nearby fisherman offered to pull our sleds with his four wheeler. He did this without being asked and I would like to thank you for your kindness if you read this forum. This simple act of generosity made a perfect campout a miracle.[angelic]
[inline "Kindness of Strangers.jpg"] we As we walked up the ramp we were greeted by the Idaho Fish and Game who gave the scouts a civics lesson by checking their licenses. It was no problem since they were all legal. (No Picture).[cool]
As we loaded the truck for home the Ririe Bald Eagle made an appearance soaring above the reservoir as if to wave goodbye. ( I forgot to take a picture)[crazy]
I can't wait to have some Kokanee candy when our catch comes out of the smoker.
Windriver
[signature]