Did some more steelheading. - 10/03/14
Did about a dozen day float on Oregon's Deschutes chasing the metalheads again. Fishing was slow, averaging about a fish a day I think due to cloudy waters. Lost about 5 mid-battle, and had a dozen or so hits that peeled a little line but did not hook up. Still a grand time as I ate a ton of fine food, saw a group of about 40 bighorn, had lots of time to reflect since I was solo for the duration (Cookie doesn't like that), and managed to beach one 30+ inch fish that was all over the river, up in the air, and 100+ yds deep into the backing for about a 20 minute fight. Those are ones that even this feeble mind will remember.
A shot of the boat at the second night's campsite (Homestead). Thinking back, there's a lot of memories connected with that craft, as it dates to about 1977 and gets about a month of use every year.
Here's a shot of one of the unlucky (well maybe lucky fish). About a 26 inch native hen that got to swim again.
and about a 28 inch sample that experienced the same fate.
Lots of peaceful moments interrupted by shear panic when a solid hit comes along.
Wish I had more fish pics, but have fears of going chest deep with a high end camera around ones neck. Those pictured were either close to camp or in some shallow water where I could fall and still keep the camera above water.
Fly patterns don't seem to make much difference with these fish, as they don't really feed. I think strikes are simply due to space invasion, spirit of the chase, or reflex response to an approaching or fleeing fly. Knowledge of where they habitually hold though can most certainly increase ones efficiency.
Three came to Skykomish Sunrises, two to Silver Hiltons, and the balance to whimsical patterns I thought might look nice as I was tying. Delivery is simply an across and down wet fly swing with a floating line. Another effective fly technique is dead drift nymphing with a floating strike indicator, but I've not adopted that yet. Hardware folks (spinners and plugs) do well too, and admittedly excel when water conditions near exclude us fly fishermen.
Here in the NW, one simply has to pack way too much into our Sept/Oct months. Wish I had time to go around again, but deer and elk are calling.
One can expand the images to Photobucket resolutions by hitting the "Reply" button and then backing out.
Tight lines,
A shot of the boat at the second night's campsite (Homestead). Thinking back, there's a lot of memories connected with that craft, as it dates to about 1977 and gets about a month of use every year.
Here's a shot of one of the unlucky (well maybe lucky fish). About a 26 inch native hen that got to swim again.
and about a 28 inch sample that experienced the same fate.
Lots of peaceful moments interrupted by shear panic when a solid hit comes along.
Wish I had more fish pics, but have fears of going chest deep with a high end camera around ones neck. Those pictured were either close to camp or in some shallow water where I could fall and still keep the camera above water.
Fly patterns don't seem to make much difference with these fish, as they don't really feed. I think strikes are simply due to space invasion, spirit of the chase, or reflex response to an approaching or fleeing fly. Knowledge of where they habitually hold though can most certainly increase ones efficiency.
Three came to Skykomish Sunrises, two to Silver Hiltons, and the balance to whimsical patterns I thought might look nice as I was tying. Delivery is simply an across and down wet fly swing with a floating line. Another effective fly technique is dead drift nymphing with a floating strike indicator, but I've not adopted that yet. Hardware folks (spinners and plugs) do well too, and admittedly excel when water conditions near exclude us fly fishermen.
Here in the NW, one simply has to pack way too much into our Sept/Oct months. Wish I had time to go around again, but deer and elk are calling.
One can expand the images to Photobucket resolutions by hitting the "Reply" button and then backing out.
Tight lines,