by AnglersAtlas
A tyee rowing report from Dwayne Mustard, posted Aug. 8 at www.painterslodge.com:
Boy, I tell ya, it was tough rowing last night. There was a screamin’ northwest wind that was almost impossible to row against. Everyone was headed for the sandbar at the north end of the pool, but row as they might they just couldn’t make any headway. Stroke after stroke after stroke the boat would simply hold position or even drift slightly back. We were all headed for the same location but eventually people would tire out give in and let the wind blow them down to the Argonaut Wharf. Eventually guide Mike Mackie and his guest Troy Winslow decided they would just do a one-way drift and then motor back up to the top of the pool. After three tries they moved up for their fourth pass and were rowing across the sandbar for an attempt at the south corner.
Troy was letting out his brass improved Stewart spoon and when he reached six pulls he felt a tug. Now, the top of the bar is home to all sorts of weird and wonderful creatures as well as a forest of seaweed, but Troy set the hook anyway. Something took his hook and ran across the bar. Guide Mike said, “What the hell is going on?” Suddenly there was a huge splash and Mike yelled, “Fish on!” The beast jumped three times and thrashed like the Tasmanian Devil before it was finally in the net. There was a hush across the pool as they rowed to the scale. Then the bell rang four times - 40.5 pounds - the first tyee of the season. For angler Troy Winslow it was his second Les McDonald trophy. There are now numbers up on the board: Let the games begin!"
In photo: Guide Mike Mackie and Troy Winslow with a 40-pounder that marks the first entry in the traditional tyee rowing derby.