My first two fly fishing trips to the Salmon River began with great anticipation and excitement, only to end in frustration with the thought “this is the last time”. But, I guess I am a sucker for punishment, and the three hour drive across the Canadian/US border at 3am wasn’t enough to deter me. The day started off cold, too cold for early November I thought while picking at the ice in my guides for the third time in 15 minutes since first stepping into the icy flow. The feeling of numbness in my fingertips quickly dissipated as my indicator hesitated in the current a short time later. Before I knew it my line was peeling off downstream with a blazing hot steelhead on the end. Thoughts of “this is finally the day,” were quickly dashed as the fish paused briefly in the tail-out of the pool, before deciding it had had enough. Off it went with my fly and my hopes downriver. I felt the fish gods conspiring against me, once again. However, that wasn’t to be the case this day. Re-rigging, something in my gut told me to drift my pattern through the current seam one more time. A short time later, I eased a gorgeous hook-jawed lake-run brown to the shore. I took a few snapshots and quickly released the fish, off it swam to continue it’s migration up river. But, remembering that missed chrome steelhead still had me sulking. As the day progressed, I felt that I would again return home with my tail between my legs – the Salmon River Steelhead eluding me once again. It’s during these times of doubt that I find that the true addict in a fly fisherman surfaces. Pattern after pattern, drift after drift, my determination didn’t waiver. And as the sun began to fall below the trees I was rewarded with a dancing indicator and the sweet sound of line peeling from my reel, and well, the rest is history. Thanks to Ed for help in bringing this fish to hand and snapping the photo that will continuously remind me of why I love the sport of fly fishing so much.
MrJams .. sweet stuff .. congrats on such a meaningful steelhead and a beautiful brown trout .. i bet you will be crossing the boarder even more in weeks/months/years to follow …
funny how the steelhead can get into your head … many drives home for me have been spent thinking, “man, i should have done this” or “why didn’t i think of that?” … or “i can’t believe that fish tore me up like that.” … as you say, it is an addictive game .. i am sure we will bump into each other somewhere on a steelhead run someday …
cya.
Nice Work James. Those fish so addictive they should be illeagal. Glad you got one tho the beach. Those browns aren’t too shabby either…
James, It was nice to run into you up there. Glad you got the skunk off! If the third time is the charm, I don’t know what the fourth is…you were crushing them last week!
Nice work. Safe travels
Way ta go Jams…
I too finally perservered enough to get my first steelie on a fly this Nov…..something I`ve been dreaming of for months…glad you stayed with it that day…sometimes…its great to be an addict, especially with the fly…steelheads can get into the head and the thoughts of them keep us punishing ourselves…hope you deal withit better than most…good luck in future runs across the border…
Wildbrookies
Steelhead fishing is not an easy game. Any of us who have been at it for any period of time have paid our dues with slow days, with days of lost fish and no fish. We will continue to pay our dues as it is an ever changing fishery. As you alluded to it is also a fishing based to a large part on faith in that there are fish in there willing to take what one is offering. Sometimes that belief is the only thing that keeps us continuing to cast one more time in search of steel. Well done and I will probably run into you up there one of these days.
Congratulations on you first steelhead… it will be one to remember.
Nice! The same thing happened to me on my first two steelhead trips. I never landed a fish till my third trip and remember every moment of it. That feeling will stay with you the rest of your life, as will anyone else who has landed a steelhead on a flyrod. Good luck on your next trip.
james,
i took me four trips to land my first steel and i will never forget it. staying in the game until everything comes together is what its all about. great to meet you and help you land your first steelhead. see you on the water soon.
-Ed
Thanks, boys. Addiction indeed – the following weekend I was back on the road at that crazy hour…managed another great day on the river.
Hope to catch each of you on river again soon.