close encounter = good day
I'd heard the dismal reports of fall chinook on the central coast, but I couldn't stay away from my favorite little river. So I hiked into a small coastal system this weekend, water bank-full and green. Saw fewer chinook redds than I hope to see in the reach I hiked, with a few pairs of fish that looked like they'd been there for a while. Mostly hiked and scuffed around for mushrooms, but carried the rod along for a few deep runs that might hold some fresh fish. In one deep fast run a bright fish porpoised (I love seeing them do that) and I couldn't resist swinging a green and pink bunny leech slow and low above him. Sure enough, on the third cast, the fly stops and I set the hook on a boil and a surge, rod bucks for a hard shake, then that was that. Sure got my heart pumping, and let me know that there are still at least a few strong wild fish around. Dang, I love those fish, and this was one time I didn't feel bad at all about not landing it. I focussed the harvest on the chantrelles instead, and now the curried winter squash soup with chantrelles is simmering on the stovetop. Somehow settling for smoked steelhead instead of fresh chinook doesn't seem that bad at all.
Here's to fall in Oregon, and hope for better times- FW
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Wild Chrome
Re: close encounter = good day
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