When Jeremy called me and said the steelhead were starting to make their fall run and we should meet up, I was excited. I always look forward to the fall steelhead run this time of year because when they first come in from the great lake they are chrome and red hot. So, I met up with Jeremy and Austin in the morning and got set up with the right leader and a handfull of Austin’s hand tied flies. As we walked to the river I said that I would really like to catch one of those nice brown trout that come up to munch on the salmon eggs. I know the brown trout don’t make front page news like the steel, more like a back page story. All trout are beautiful, but browns are just rich with golden color and covered with crimson spots that look as though they were painted by an artist. And, with their beauty comes a tough side as they bulldog through the fight. Also, brown trout usually don’t leap or have the blistering runs like the steelhead. So we reached the spot where the steel had been the day before and I got ready. I pulled some line off my reel and made a cast upstream. My rig drifted by me right through a sweet pocket and the indicator went under. I was on. Jeremy told me to hold on and that she hasn’t jumped yet, but I knew. This was my brown trout and the fish I had been hoping for. After several hard runs I worked her near the bank and slipped in behind the fish so I could carefully beach this little jewel of the river bottom. After a few photos we let this little beauty return to her place just off the current in that soft streamy water where brown trout often call home.
ed … the only way that trip could have been better, would have been if Alex were able to make it. It’s a far trip from Argentina though … funny how things pan out … and fly fishing friendships weave their webs … i met alex and ray many years ago fly fishing for albies … and then you and alex and i spend tons of time on the saltwater throughout the seasons and now me and you are making steelhead runs … funny how things work like that … i can’t wait for the day that you, me and ray and possibly austin too make the trip down to fish the browns in argentina with alex … i know you have been several times and instead of hearing stories about the rio limay and the other amazing rivers you guys fish down there; i want to be part of the story! …. i think it as so strange that you got that brown trout on your first cast and your first fish of the trip … i remember during all of our downtime on the saltwater when talking about steelhead, you and alex would both talk about how much you guys wanted to get the big browns of the great lakes .. maybe even more so than the steelhead …. so, it was just strange that the brown trout came so “easily” … good fishing karma, i guess …. hopefully the little bit that i was able to show you with leader setup and flies … made up for all you have shown and teached me in the saltwater down in rhode island and learning how to fish featherwings etc… i still have much to learn .. but, i know infinately more now than i did prior to fly fishing with you down there … thanks ed.
Hey ed! great to have fished with you on the freshwater…..and i’m glad that you got that brown….on the very first cast nonetheless! you are a great fishing companion, and i hope to spend a lot more time fly fishing and learning how to tie flatwings with you next season!
Ed, Glad you got what you came for. if you would have asked me what your chances of catching a brownie were, I would have said slim to none. With the low water most of the early season not many made it up yet. I think Jeremy is onto something when he mentioned the good fish karma. The word on the street is that they have made quite an appearence down low so when you come back out you will no doubt tangle with many more. It was good meeting you….now you will be soley responsible for getting Alex a giant Great Lakes Brown.
Amazing how beautiful the fly fishing world is … and nothing makes me so happy checking out fliesandfins and seeing my brothers holding incredible fish…keep them coming I am on my way tommorow for an serious trip to start the season and you guys are always with me mentally pushing me to close the deal….and make better casts. muy lindo bicho hermano…
Alex
Nice fish Ed!
Sweeeeet brown beauty!!!!
Hi, i just registered to the site. I’m pretty new to fly fishing and I’m absolutely in love with it. I’ve given up my spinning outfit for a 9ft 8wt lefty kreh my fishing bros. bought for me as a birthday gift. any advice i can get for some good brown trout/steelhead action would be very much appreciated. i need all the help i can get. I’m just reading a lot and looking at the vast amounts of video clips out there. I really liked your youtube video. was that somewhere on the Grand?
Thanks. God bless and fishon!
That fish looks awesome….way to go. There is nothing better then hitting those tribs for chrome and browns during the fall season.
Ed, Nice meeting you on the river on Sunday. Nice brownie. Hope you get some more next time up there. See you on the river.
Ed – nice brown! Good to meet you yesterday and thanks for the help with my last fish – helped break my SR skunk. Hope to see on you on the river again soon – PM me if you’re ever lookin for someone to fish with.
-James
muy bueno Ed , te felicito….y los esperamos a todos esta temporada en Argentina
abrazo desde bariloche