I had a colleague from Ohio, Brent, in town this week and he wanted to do some flyfishing. I asked him - trout or steelhead? Steelhead was the reply. So, after a honest week of work, we headed out yesterday.
Brent and I have had a couple of fishing adventures in years past - him being from out of the area and me being the so-called expert. Things like almost dunking him while wading the McKenzie. Skunks or suckers on the Deschutes. So, Brent was a bit skeptical of this trip ...
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I assured him steelheading was hot no matter where we went and my expert knowledge suggested the Wilson. I love the Wilson for hosting out-of-towners - gives you the Oregon experience and there is soooooo much access. We are blessed aren't we?
We banked fished various spots between Mills Bridge and Milepost 20. Water conditions were low and clear, but 42 degrees. Did I say low and clear? Actually, beautiful - like those pictures of New Zealand rivers. The weather cooperated - calm as a baby's nap, only an occassional drizzle or brief shower.
I decided to dead drift. After letting Brent flog the water and watching him snap off a glo-bug, I gave him some pointers (with his permission of course). Fish the strike indicator. Cast, mend, mend -- you want that dead drift. Fish the strike indicator. Look for slots you can't see bottom (or hard to see bottom). I also gave him a light purple bald starlight leech pattern (by bald - it is tied more like a comet - bare dumball eyes) and headed back upriver. Well, not 10 minutes later - Brent was into his first steelhead ever - let alone flyfishing.
The fish did not disappoint him. Short, but powerfull runs. Leaped 5 or 6 times. I barked at him like a guide on steroids - keep the rod high, keep pressure, keep a bend in the rod ...... I don't know who it was more important to land that fish to - me or Brent. He did great. The 22-24" chrome buck came to the bank - we unbuttoned it and Brent quickly sent the native on its way. Both of us were on cloud nine!
Why no pictures? Concern over handling the fish? No. I forgot to put the battery in the camera
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Perhaps that it was meant to be.
So, next time leave the battery in the camera at home. Plan for failure. It might bring you success!
PS - The names used in this story are real to identify the guilty.
Epilog
That is the only fish we touched. Fished from 7:30 to 5:00 p.m - Brent's fish was landed in the first hole at 8:30 a.m. As for me, I pounded the water following that good advice I gave Brent and put on the big skunkola. Only heard of one other caught (another flyfisher) - overall, pressure fairly light.
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