Chapter 12 - Tributaries
Wrapping it Up on West Canada Creek
September 4, 2003, 70 degrees threatening rain
Discovering the Mohawk Valley would be impossible without the help of
friends and relatives. This was especially true while exploring the Mohawk
River and some of its tributaries by canoe. To celebrate the final phase
of exploring the Mohawk Valley by canoe, I invited fellow explorers to
join me for a day "on my river." Not everyone could attend---some people
have to work for a living---but seven of us met for breakfast at the Blue
Rose Restaurant near Newport before canoeing different sections of West
Canada Creek.
Explorers All: (left to right) Dave
Hamilton, Ron Gugnacki, Bob McNitt, Dale Janes, Mark Eychner, M. Paul Keesler
and Denny Gillen. Not present: Gary Eychner, Bridget Keesler, Paul A. Keesler,
Ron Kolodziej and John Pitarresi. (photo by Dave Hamilton) See
also Dave's adjusted photo.
Ron
Gugnacki and Bob McNitt launched at Trenton Falls Bridge and took out at
Putnam Road. This stretch includes the 2.5-mile No-Kill Section, so they
used fly and spin fishing gear. They both caught fish.
Dave Hamilton and Dale Janes launched at Putnam
Road and took out at Crescent Bridge. They fished spoons and plugs, and
also caught fish. Dale swears he caught an 18-inch "carp" on a Rapala.
I've never seen a carp this far up West Canada Creek.
Denny Gillen and Mark Eychner launched at Newport
and took out at Middleville. They fished plugs and spoons and caught trout
and bass. Mark took the best fish of the day---an 18.5-inch brown---on
a Rapala.
After making sure everyone got off to a good start,
I launched Willow at Borden's Pond in Newport. I paddled upstream for about
a mile and fished back, catching several fish, the biggest a 12-inch fallfish.
Along the way I saw an osprey, ducks and Canada geese. I was back in Newport
long before the others were off the water.
Miraculously
the rain held off all morning and the sun came out in the afternoon. By
one thirty, when everyone had wrapped up their canoe-fishing trips, I had
marinated chicken, hot sausage patties, peppers & onions and German
hotdogs on the grill. Over all of the above---plus pasta and fruit salads,
and beverages of choice---we discussed our morning adventures and relived
some of our most memorable experiences exploring the Mohawk Valley.
Ron
Gugnacki noted that despite living in the area most of his life, he learned
more about the Mohawk Valley on these discovery trips than he ever imagined.
The others agreed that it was indeed a learning experience. Special emphasis
was placed on the Canoe Trip from Hell.
Mark and Denny were especially pleased they didn't join us that fateful
day. To each of those that did, I presented a first aid kit and a roll
of duct tape.
and some of its tributaries was a learning experience.
(Photo by Dave Hamilton)
