We went to bed planning a morning drift boat trip. The sun was supposed to shine and the water was supposed to drop and life would be good on the Salmon River. At 5:30 am we hear a loud roaring noise outside our window. We went to investigate. Once again, mother nature had dealt us a foul hand. The water was not just fast. It was out of control at 5000 cfs. I looked at Jeremy and said, “It would be tough in a drift boat.” Jeremy laughed and said, “I got plan.” We drove for miles searching for any body of water that was not at flood stage. Puddles on the side of the road were starting to become an option. Then we got to a little out of the way place that we thought might be fishable. We were right. Jeremy, of course, was already fly fishing before I even took the key out of the ignition. Just as I was finishing gearing up, Jeremy came sprinting up the hill. “Greg, it’s loaded with fish. I just hooked 4 Steelhead.” We made our way down to the tailout of a nice run.

I began nymphing with a long leader and a chartreuse egg pattern. On my third drift the indicator vanished. Dumbfounded, I raised my rod with great expectation. I was not disappointed. My eight weight rod was doubled over and with my reel singing I struggled for position. I knew this was a leviathan of a trout. I was not sure if it was Steelhead or a Brown Trout and it didn’t really matter. He made some nice runs and held his ground, but I was determined to land this fish. With Jeremy’s help I landed this fish. This Brown Trout would be a big trout anywhere in the world. It certainly is the biggest Brown Trout I have ever caught in my life. The other Brown I caught, shortly after this one, is the second biggest Brown Trout I have ever caught in my life.