On Thursday we made the annual trip in search of some desert steelhead. We floated the river for 3 days, camping on the river Friday and Saturday night. The weather and water both cooled off quite a bit from the previous week.
Fished a roadside run on Thursday night to try and get lucky. No steel, but this handsome invasive guy put a great bend in the old 7wt Allen Olympic. Thanks @Jeff Dodd again for a great rod!
The first morning was pretty mellow and this view gave me inspiration that it would be a great trip even if we didn't find steel.
My buddy hooked one in the last run of the day, but it put a jump and death role combo on him and came off. He didn't do anything wrong. He was bummed to lose it, but we were encouraged that there were fish in the river.
We woke up both mornings with frost on everything and frozen wading boots.
Day 2 was where I thought we would do well, but nothing. Only a nice smallie for my buddy.
Day 3 saw us tearing down camp with ice on everything, frozen wading boots and no fish to show for it. The mood was a bit somber. Your mind starts asking why you do this dumb stuff for a fish that may not even be there.
Once packed up, we stopped just around the corner at a juicy run. My buddy struck steel on his 3rd cast. Didn't even have his whole Torrent head out the tip yet.
We got a good aerial show, including some showy tail walking. The 6# buck was a perfect specimen.
The mood was immediately improved! Haha! I was super pumped we got him a fish since he struck out last year.
After all our high fives and giggling I got in the water and immediately saw a really nice fish roll in the lower part of the flow. And then 2 minutes later a 24 or 25" fish rolled directly across the river. With a fish caught and 2 fish rolling I was very focused and optimistic.
About cast 15 it was tap, tap, HOLY CRAP! This beauty took me to one wrap before the backing...twice.
And thank God @Dustin Chromers wasn't there to hear the old Sharpes Gordon 4" that I bought from @Dave Westburg scream. Although, I think it would have given him something to laugh at.
The reel did great Dave!
This run was after we thought the 9# hen was tired. They always have one more.
Like the smaller buck before her, she was perfect.
I was a happy frosty camper!
After more high fiving and giggling like school girls we decided we probably needed to move on. We hit some great runs and stayed on schedule to get to the takeout with plenty of light to spare, but that was it for the fish. He went 1-2 and I was finally 1-1 after going 0-3 the last 2 trips. We felt pretty damn good about our adventure.
I also had a great time watching my young fishing buddy send out great cast after great cast with his beautiful Burkie and Torrent setup. His casting reminded this old self-taught guy that I could still try and break some bad habits to improve my casting...which would bring more joy. I re-concentrated on my D loop and my bottom hand. Day 3 was some of the best 2 hand casting I've ever done. I think I need to spey fish more than just 1 or 2 trips a year!
These fish and the places they go will always amaze me. And it dawned on me right before the takeout that I was using a combo that I had purchased from fellow forum guys.
The long drive home was WAY easier than last year. Amazing what 1 of these fish can do for the mood.
PS. If the nice guy with the wood drift boat is on here...Thanks for your flexibility on the camping situation. And glad you guys got one that morning! Hope you got more on Sunday.
Fished a roadside run on Thursday night to try and get lucky. No steel, but this handsome invasive guy put a great bend in the old 7wt Allen Olympic. Thanks @Jeff Dodd again for a great rod!
The first morning was pretty mellow and this view gave me inspiration that it would be a great trip even if we didn't find steel.
My buddy hooked one in the last run of the day, but it put a jump and death role combo on him and came off. He didn't do anything wrong. He was bummed to lose it, but we were encouraged that there were fish in the river.
We woke up both mornings with frost on everything and frozen wading boots.
Day 2 was where I thought we would do well, but nothing. Only a nice smallie for my buddy.
Day 3 saw us tearing down camp with ice on everything, frozen wading boots and no fish to show for it. The mood was a bit somber. Your mind starts asking why you do this dumb stuff for a fish that may not even be there.
Once packed up, we stopped just around the corner at a juicy run. My buddy struck steel on his 3rd cast. Didn't even have his whole Torrent head out the tip yet.
We got a good aerial show, including some showy tail walking. The 6# buck was a perfect specimen.
The mood was immediately improved! Haha! I was super pumped we got him a fish since he struck out last year.
After all our high fives and giggling I got in the water and immediately saw a really nice fish roll in the lower part of the flow. And then 2 minutes later a 24 or 25" fish rolled directly across the river. With a fish caught and 2 fish rolling I was very focused and optimistic.
About cast 15 it was tap, tap, HOLY CRAP! This beauty took me to one wrap before the backing...twice.
And thank God @Dustin Chromers wasn't there to hear the old Sharpes Gordon 4" that I bought from @Dave Westburg scream. Although, I think it would have given him something to laugh at.
The reel did great Dave!
This run was after we thought the 9# hen was tired. They always have one more.
Like the smaller buck before her, she was perfect.
I was a happy frosty camper!
After more high fiving and giggling like school girls we decided we probably needed to move on. We hit some great runs and stayed on schedule to get to the takeout with plenty of light to spare, but that was it for the fish. He went 1-2 and I was finally 1-1 after going 0-3 the last 2 trips. We felt pretty damn good about our adventure.
I also had a great time watching my young fishing buddy send out great cast after great cast with his beautiful Burkie and Torrent setup. His casting reminded this old self-taught guy that I could still try and break some bad habits to improve my casting...which would bring more joy. I re-concentrated on my D loop and my bottom hand. Day 3 was some of the best 2 hand casting I've ever done. I think I need to spey fish more than just 1 or 2 trips a year!
These fish and the places they go will always amaze me. And it dawned on me right before the takeout that I was using a combo that I had purchased from fellow forum guys.
The long drive home was WAY easier than last year. Amazing what 1 of these fish can do for the mood.
PS. If the nice guy with the wood drift boat is on here...Thanks for your flexibility on the camping situation. And glad you guys got one that morning! Hope you got more on Sunday.
