Sometimes one has a truly special, even epic day when everything lines up just right, a day that will likely be seared into one's memory for a while.
Don't get me wrong. I get skunked often enough, and am old enough to have reached the point where I enjoy the whole process of fishing for steelhead on the swing. I love it all, the fly tying the night before, checking the gear, studying the flows and the weather, and planning (some may call it scheming). I even love the down-side, the blown out rivers, the cold fingers, broken rods, leaking waders, felt soles falling off, unexpected swims, battling the weed farmer who doesn't want me to fish near his property, etc, etc.
But sometimes it all comes together...and I feel that mighty tug and hear my reel sing.
Awesome Nate!!! congrats on one of "those" days, that fly took a much deserved beating, good to see a post from you, hope you and the family are well, Cameron
Thanks Cameron! Good to hear from you as well. The family and I are right as rain. Thanks for asking. Hoping you and yours are well also. That last fly you posted was something else.
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Sometimes one has a truly special, even epic day when everything lines up just right, a day that will likely be seared into one's memory for a while.
Don't get me wrong. I get skunked often enough, and am old enough to have reached the point where I enjoy the whole process of fishing for steelhead on the swing. I love it all, the fly tying the night before, checking the gear, studying the flows and the weather, and planning (some may call it scheming). I even love the down-side, the blown out rivers, the cold fingers, broken rods, leaking waders, felt soles falling off, unexpected swims, battling the weed farmer who doesn't want me to fish near his property, etc, etc.
Hey that is just pretty darn awesome. You can guarantee I am smiling behind this keyboard, Nate. A pretty fly deserves a pretty fish - your fly must be reallly pretty!
Sounds like an awesome day on the river! Are you GL or West Coast? I really dig that fly too, I've never seen a claret wing on a fly like that. Might have to "borrow" that pattern in the future .
Thanks for the kind sentiments. I am on the west coast in Northern California. When I get on the freeway, a stones throw from my home, I can see a prominent mountain in Oregon. I buy fishing liscences each year for California and Oregon and mainly fish a couple rivers in both states.
Glad you like the fly. It has served me very well for both summer and winter steelhead. The day I caught these fish it accounted for seven hooked steelies, with six coming to hand. I tried a darker fly that day that got no love and quickly switched back to the claret wing fly.
A funny thing happened that day too. I had just layed out a cast when a drift boat came into view on my right. The guy working the oars had two sports with him, hucking indicator rigs on single handers. He was on the far side of the river, opposite me (nice etiquette right?) and he shouted something unintelligable. I cupped my ear and shouted back, "what was that?" as my line was swinging into the sweet spot. He hollered back, "nice reel!" As soon as those words left his lips, I felt a mighty tug and my reel started screaming like a banshee, ZZZ...ZZZ...ZZZZZZZZ. A few hard headshakes and then a nice run ensued. We both grinned ear to ear and he floated off into the sunset.
Great hearing of a day like that! This fall has me hiking far more than hooking. The Ontario tribs are as low as I've ever seen.
Looks like that great fly will become a battle scared scrapper that continues to catch your eye in your box.
Thanks for spending some time with my friend David Hall from back East, You showed him around bit, and also gave him a few tips ... He was very appreciative of that ... };^) <> Good on ya ... !!!
Happiness is a well- chewed fly, Nate! Assuming that was on the river to your north that has finally seen some rain?
Just got back from three days on two of the rivers in your neighborhood. Great numbers on the bigger one, though considerably smaller fish than yours. It’s major tributary brought me back to the mean today by handing me a skunk.
Glad to hear the family is well. Looking forward to more of Miss Trillium’s posts as well. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
Happiness is a well- chewed fly, Nate! Assuming that was on the river to your north that has finally seen some rain?
Just got back from three days on two of the rivers in your neighborhood. Great numbers on the bigger one, though considerably smaller fish than yours. It’s major tributary brought me back to the mean today by handing me a skunk.
Glad to hear the family is well. Looking forward to more of Miss Trillium’s posts as well. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
As far as Miss Trillium, she has come down with a condition that cause outburts of emotional displays and irrational cognition, known as being a "preteen". She is currently too cool to hangout with her old man. Hopefully this will pass and not become a chronic condition. Don't want to push and all that other good stuff. Her younger sister is currently showing more interest in swinging flies.
It all came together for me today too. After four fishless days I was getting really discouraged. Numbers don't matter to me but I don't like being continuously skunked. I was really relaxed and casting well on the last morning of the trip and then it happened. My first steelhead on a swung fly.
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