Last week 5 anglers set out on exploratory mission to fish hard, see new water, experience new places and catch a few fish. We weren’t disappointed. Upon our arrival the rivers were relatively high and water conditions were marginal but we still managed to stick a few steelhead and unknown quantities of Dolly Varden, encouraging us for the week to come.
We found a rustic cabin on the banks of a tiny creek complete with spawning Coho and a few Dolly Varden. We heard rumors that the creek held a few steelhead but at a whopping 5 feet wide on average it looked like a lot of work and we had bigger fish to fry. We held strong to the big water, big fish motto and were willing to work for them. The cabin was well equipped and while a little cramped for five anglers, a couple dozens rods and loads of gear, it was warm and cozy. A pot belly stove kept us warm while we fried up a few dollies for supper and talked about strategy for the rest of the week.
Here to explore, no one really had a desire to fish the same section of river twice, so we broke up into two groups and each set out to fish a different section of water. We fished an average of two to three miles of river per day which made for lots of walking, but we covered these short streams quickly and effectively. I started the week with an indicator but by day two tossed it in place of a nymphing and swing combo rig allowing me to better cover the various type of water from deep pools and pockets to long open runs more condusive to swinging. We fished a variety of fly patterns but found by day two it was either glo-bugs or purple swing patterns. Poplular patterns for this trip included glo-bugs in peach, purple/fuscia and yellow as well as egg-sucking leeches, purple perils and articulated leeches.
As the week went on we became more in touch with the area and its many streams. The group had its’ first 20 fish hooked day on Tuesday and never looked back, hooking an impressive 36 steelhead on the last day of fishing. The fish weren’t massive averaging 8 lbs, but we did land several fish in the 10-12 pound class and a couple of monsters pushing 15 lbs. For those in the group that hadn’t really fly fished for steelhead before they got a chance to see some epic steelheading, beautiful rivers and amazing Fall colors. For the rest of us who consider steelheading a lifestyle it was unlike anything we had ever seen. Fast, cold, clean, short rivers with solid runs of bright, extremly bitey fish. Unpressured by other anglers, these fish showed unusual aggression. Twice we caught the same fish in the same run 15 mintues apart. I know that probably happens, but it hadn’t happened to this angler before. We just shook our heads and put another mark in the “epic day” column. Until we can travel North again, we hope the fish will wait and continue to enjoy the good life of a treasured wild steelhead.
To view many wonderful pictures from last week check out (just click on the thumbnails to enlarge the images):
Gallery One
Gallery Two
Tight Lines,
Small Stream Outfitters