Northwest Reel Life April 2023 Volume 2 Issue 9 - Flipbook - Page 25
For me, I keep Duke in the truck
where there are others around. If
it’s just the two of us, I’m ok with
letting him out. That’s because
I know him and he is welltrained to commands and, most
importantly, he obeys.
Launch completed and boat
secured, your truck is parked.
It’s time to go fishing with your
buddy! The next critical question
to ask is this – life jacket or no
life jacket? For Duke, I treat him
like a kid. Just because he can
swim doesn’t mean he’s safe to
be in a boat without a life jacket.
Especially when we are about to
put the pedal to the meddle and
blast off at thirty miles an hour to
our favorite fishing location. So,
the life jacket goes before we get
up on a plane. It’s one less thing
for me as a boat operator to worry
about. This way I know that he will
be safe if something happens and
he does go in.
What about fishing all day, either
anchored up or slow trolling?
Our Lake Washington trip was
the first time I took Duke on the
water, and he decided he wanted
to see what the water was like.
Since then, he has never jumped
into the lake on his own. I find that
very interesting, and I now am OK
with taking the jacket off if we are
anchored or trolling. Of course,
weather and conditions are also a
consideration in this equation. I try
to never take Duke on the boat if
it’s not going to be a pleasant day.
A puking dog is no fun and it’s not
fair to the dog to be put through
rough water conditions.
While you're out on the boat
there’s a couple doggy essentials
to keep in mind. Dogs need a few
things to be comfortable: shade
on a sunny day, water, a comfy
place to lay down, and maybe a
treat or two (especially when you
try to eat your own lunch!). They
also need potty breaks. Finding a
place to pull your boat up on shore
gives you a chance to stretch your
legs and let the doggy stretch his.
Not to mention relieve himself.
Of course, being a dog means
some sniffing time is important.
Just like fishing with kids, I think
it’s important to not be hard-core
when fishing with a dog. Give
your Best Friend some “dog time”.
I think it will make him more
excited the next time you pull out
your boat – yay! Another fishing
adventure!
One word of caution when
fishing with a dog. Expect the
unexpected. I remember a trip
on the Snake River doing a Cast
and Blast Adventure. We had
dogs on the boat for our chukar
hunt, but first we were fishing
for chinook salmon, side drifting
eggs. I think you know where I’m
going with this… At the end of a
drift we brought in our gear to
run back to the top of the hole.
One of the anglers’ dogs decided
that he might like the taste of
fresh salmon eggs for breakfast.
Before we knew it, this angler’s
dog had scarfed down a baited
hook of salmon eggs, all the way
beyond reach. Unfortunately for
the angler his day of fishing was
cut short as we took him back to
the boat launch for a trip to the
vet for x-rays. The vet informed the
owner of the dog to watch to see
if the hook passed (not the most
pleasant job by the way). While
no harm came to the dog, it was
an expensive reminder of what
I mentioned early – dogs can be
unpredictable.
So, by all means, take your dog
fishing – you’ll love it and so will
the dog – but be ever mindful
and keep a close eye on your Four
Legged-Friend!
JULY 2023 | 25