I got a message a few weeks ago from Jason Curry from Flies And Fins West saying, “Dude your in, Walter got us on some private water to fish in Steamboat. Get your butt up there.” I had seen Jason’s video of his trip last year of the same water that I was now invited to fish. Big Rainbows, I mean Steelhead sized Rainbows on private water with no other souls around. Even on a Saturday. The next couple weeks flew by and the next thing I knew I was making the hour and a half drive to Steamboat. I arrived at 7:30am to find Jason in his Pink Floyd pj’s getting geared up for the days slay fest. After a quick coffee stop we were making our way to the river. We rigged up our rods with streamer patterns, nymph rigs and dries near the rivers edge while the wind began to howl like a lonely wolf. “Glad I brought my 6 and 7wt” Walter said as the wind fought to take our hats off. We perched up on a hole and I began stripping streamers, a white cone head zonker followed by an olive cone head woolly bugger, to no avail. I quickly grabbed my nymph rod and started getting down and dirty. The day pressed on with little but consistent action, we were expecting the fishing to be a bit better but low water levels made it trickier than in the past. The wind picked up and seemed to be even stronger, the gusts must have been 30mph and with nothing around to break its path it was vicious. Around three o’clock we were kind of going through the motions, just having chit chat and laughing at stupid remarks made towards the fish that were not eating our offerings. I tied on a size 20 juju bateis and trailed a size 22 grey midge pattern, which crushes on the tail water above the area we were fishing, 12 inches behind. I waded out into some shallow riffles and made a drift that hadn’t been touched all day. Jason and I were still joking around when my balloon quickly jumped. “Ha ha Curry there he is” I shouted, just as Jason looked over the fish made its first of three leaps and we realized what was on the other end. My stomach tensed up and my game face instantly was on. Jason and I worked as a team to defeat the fish and the battle was won once half of its body was in Jason’s net. We hollered with excitement and marveled at the fish’s size while taking photos and making the memory. Thanks again Walter and Jason for the invite to some great water and even better company.
no wonder why your livin out there now .. 26″ rainbows and so much killer water to choose from … that’s killer that you and curry and walter hooked up and they gave you the invite on that trip ….. man, i am set when i go out west now …. between you and curry, all i gotta do is show up, steel soome of your flies and tag along …. that is, if i get “the invite” … seriously though, nice work, wish i could have been there with you guys … maybe for some idaho steel? looking forward to fishing with you guys when you come east … cya.
I just got the call from my boys in Steamboat yesterday. They told me that their guide season was over, and the fishing is off the hook. I bet its like heaven there right now! Is there still snow on Mt. Werner?
That is a toad! Looks like you guys had a killer outing. Can’t wait to get out there and have you guys show me around a bit. Nice read Joey….love the picture of you hitching.
Piss-ah fish!
Dana would be proud to know his hat is on the WWW
Piss-ah fish!
Great read! I guess things are getting tough out there, you had to hitch a ride…better phone home haha Nice to see you doing well. Great fish wish I was there!
Joe-m
Hey man beautiful fish… I miss the west as I lived there 7 great years …keep searching for gold as it is out there..as the picture shows
Alex
It was a great trip. So much fun fishing with you guys. J-bone-you have an open invite. Just let me know when. I will see youon the salmon in a month or so. You too whip!
Jason