I haven't profiled any anglers on the BB here, but I feel like it now. I would like to tell you about our BB member Mark Anderson (stlhdr). I call him First Cast Mark; and I think you can figure out why. I mentioned before that Mark has been giving me jig fishing lessons this season because I am one "Johnny come very lately" to this popular style of steelheading. That's due to fishing almost exclusively from sleds for the last 10 years, and not driftboating or bankangling where jigs are used, until starting last spring. While I have done alright with jigging, today Mark hooked and landed 4 nice native steelhead on the Wilson while I hooked none. It is the same with Jen and Bill, starting to use jigs this year. Mark has taken them jig fishing too for some pointers. And last week Mark hooked 3 steelhead with jigs while Jen and Bill hooked none with the same jigs. Before I tell you about Mark the angler I want to tell you he is as good a person as fisherman! ....
Most of you will probably recall reading in steelheading literature the suggestion that when you begin learning to fish for them it's a good idea to learn one good river very well before you move on to others. Well, Mark has taken that to the farthest degree - thus the "Wilson River Wizard" named thread for 'First Cast'. For the last decade or so Mark has learned every nook and cranny on the Wilson, at all fishable levels, all up and down the river. And he rarely fishes other rivers. He is much like the Toman brother guides (Bob and Jerry) in that he has kept a river log of most of the great numbers of fish he has caught there. I looked at it this afternoon and he has every detail about such as river level, color, all conditions, and the weather too. He knows where the fish will lay at whatever level the river is at. Very importantly, he knows how deep to fish his jigs in every good hole and level on the river! Jig fishing is not difficult to do or to get fairly proficient at. But it is another thing to learn all the many little intracacies and just how to apply them in most any condition on his home river. It is fun to watch; albeit a little frustrating for the others not catching as many fish. We did have one very hot jig fishing day in early December on stacked up summer steelhead in which I kept pace with Mark, but those numerous fish that day would have bitten a piece of cardboard I think. It's when most aren't catching fish where Mark stands out. He has all this slow season. He is an artist and I am hoping some of it will rub off on me with this jig fishing thing
. Good going buddy! ....
BTW Mark, if you are rude enough to catch 4 fish to zip on me again, I demand you leave your jigs at home the following trip and I will get even
. Nah, just kidding. - Steve
The Wilson River Wizard
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