Steelheading is over for me for 2005, and that's probably a good thing. I've really been bad, playing hookey from work too many days. (I'd do it again in a heartbeat.)
This is the first year I've gone to 2 steelhead cards, although, you've got to consider that this is the first year we had to list our non-productive days on the card, too. The cards indicate 38 days of SH fishing, 7 bodies of water and 45 fish landed.
OBSERVATIONS FROM THE PAST YEAR:
Willie is as good a steelheader as I imagined. He was and still is a kind of mentor to me. Besides showing me some "spots", his best advice was to hit those steelies harder! Now, I set the hook with a vengeance, and if I have any doubts about my set, I hit 'em again. If the hook pulls out, I tell myself I'd have lost them anyhow. I've now been able to stop praying every time one of my steelies jumps. It gives me more confidence and enjoyment, knowing I'll probably land him. My stats have improved.
Steve V. IS a wild man. He's also one hell of a SH fisherman. His sense of humor kept me in stitches, and acting like an adolescent, much of the time. Steve is a master at nymphing without an indicator. That's a skill I'd like to master.
I also fished with Honest Abe, itawes, Pappy and Sal Man. I'd drive a thousand miles to fish with any of them.
Those that I fished with were very nice not to mock this bobicating cowpoke. It's the technique that has worked for me in the past, but I know I'll eventually give up a little of my body count to learn other skills. Right now, after driving 1100 miles or so to fish, I want the most rewards.
Flies: I increased my repertoire. For the first time I landed fish on Golden Stones and especially, Red Copper Johns. The CJs were so deadly that I ended up dropping a #14 from a #12. They work on brown trout too.
HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2005:
The best fight all year was about a week and a half ago, when a hot, wild, 26" male jumped or tail walked across the surface 9 times. Got him on a #14 Copper John.
I actually landed a fish on the swing. Unfortunately, he wasn't a streaking bullet when he grabbed.
The Smith...VICTORY! I hooked 3 and landed one SH on the Middle Fork. That river had been my nemesis until this year.
I lost a yard-long SH on The Smith, but I got him to the surface. Talk about your heart in your throat!
THE DISEASE:
Such infrequent rewards for so much time! Although I had some success on the Smith, Mad, American and Trinity, I got my butt kicked on Redwood Creek, Big Lagoon and The Feather. Of those 38 days I fished for steelies, 19 produced no fish to net. In case you're not good in math, I was skunked 50% of the time! Three times I landed no fish in 3 consecutive days. Those loosing streaks all have The Trinity in common.
I love these hot, big fish. I just wish I was a better fly fisher, that steelhead were more prevalent and that I could find them a bit closer to home.
Willie says that I'm lucky I don't live closer to steelhead because, like the rat pushing the bar for neural stimulation until he drops dead, if I lived closer to steelies I'd become a true steelhead bum and my life would go down the toilet.
I've got it bad! Is there a cure? (If there is, don't tell me.)
no/msg
