Newbie checking in
Well, it’s another newbie checking in here. I have been reading this site for about a month and have finally decided to join in on the fun. In real life, I am an English teacher, and my favorite novel is “The River Why.” I thought I would be very witty and sign in as “Gus Orviston,” but somebody already beat me to that! In any case, I’m afraid that I am probably a better writer than fisherman, so I hope to be learning much more than I can contribute as far as fishing tips!
Here’s a bit of my fishing/life bio. I grew up in Lebanon, Oregon and did a lot of fishing with my dad and family for Kokanee at Green Peter and at Odell Lake. Dad never cared too much for trout, and never got into Steelhead fishing either. I think I remember him saying something about going one time with a neighbor and just getting cold and wet and losing a bunch of gear. Dad had a 16’ Seaswirl with a 60 horse Johnson, and we also used to go salmon fishing out of Newport. I am not sure I would have the guts to do that, especially with only a compass for guidance!
I graduated from high school in 1981 and left for college out of state. In the 21 years that followed, I lived in a lot of places including Kansas, Germany, Indiana, Puerto Rico, Virginia, and Guatemala. So, it’s only been for the last two years that my family and I have been calling Oregon our home again. During my time away, about the only place I did any fishing was when we lived in Virginia from 1993 - 1998. I lived in the Shenandoah Valley, only about a 20 minute drive from the North Fork of the Shenandoah River. It was a fantastic place to fish for Smallmouth Bass, Bluegill, and what the locals called “Red-Eyes” (I believe the real name was a “Rock Bass”).
We have now settled in Salem, and just last summer I have taken up fishing again. I loved river fishing so much in Virginia that I wanted to learn how to do it here as well. I caught two salmon near the dam in Lebanon on my first trip out last June, but didn’t have any luck on the 5 or so subsequent trips I made on the North Santiam. I have also tried my hand (so far unsuccessfully) for steelhead. I went two times on the North Santiam in August, and have gone four times on the Nestucca in the last six weeks. So, I am trying not to get discouraged and keep trying. 0 for 6 start – anybody got me beat on that?
The first time out on the Nestucca was just about my last. I had just gotten a new bait-casting reel for Christmas, so I spent half of the morning trying to unsnarl the birds-nests I kept making. In addition, there were two guys already in the place where I was going to try, and they were more than just a little rude in insisting that I move away from their spot. More than once I was tempted to just chuck the whole rod and reel in the river and walk away. Nevertheless, I persisted, and even though I have not yet been rewarded by catching a steelhead, I can, for the most part, now cast without problems (at least 90% of the time!).
So, I guess that is it for now. Thanks for letting me join in – and if you have any tips, I am all ears!
Pescadote
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Pescadote
Sounds a lot like my steelhead story.
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