One of the benefits of having a job on the road is being able to carry a fishing pole along the way. Being on the road trucking due to federal regulations, I can work six days (70 hours) then have to take a 34 hour break. This allows for some great fishing opportunities where i could never dream of getting to without being paid to get there. One memorable run Thomas and I made out into Oregon, along the Washington border was to the Columbia River which separates the states. We had to take a break near Hermingston, Oregon and finally found a place near the Chamber of Commerce office where we could get the bobtail tractor close to the water.
The river is bigger than the Mississippi at Memphis and has numerous dams along it to promote commerce and power production. Being close to the Pacific Ocean it also boast plenty of salmon running up it to spawn. Due to the spawning salmon, fish ladders and observation windows have been made at the dams to allow them to complete the spawning run each year. Technology also allows biologist to keep accurate count of how many salmon go through the fish ladder each season.
Looking at new water to fish, Thomas and I decided to look at structure close enough to the bank to hold fish. As we parked near a bridge, we headed to it to take advantage of the piers of the bridge and currents around it in hopes of finding a fish or two. It only took a couple cast with a rooster tail to get a strike.
Using a lite action rod, I missed the set on the fish but it didn't take long before Thomas hooked up with a small mouth and landed it. I eventually caught a small crappie as we had fun searching the river bank.
The trucking job has allowed me to fish since in several states, from retention ponds at truck stops holding small pan fish in several states to lakes in Wisconsin and Saltwater areas of Louisiana.
On my last trip down near New Orleans, I had planned to stop at the Irish Bayou Truck Stop, which was right across the road from Lake Borgne just below Lake Pontchartrain which has enough saltwater content to have redfish and sea trout for the taking.
As I turned off I-10 to the truck stop I was met by barriers where the truck stop had closed. With no where else to park besides in the city of New Orleans, I was glad I didn't get a fishing license at Walmart as I had internet access and have purchased several licenses on line. This is one time I can truly say, technology saved me some cash.