Winter Trip Pt I

Well the rivers down south finally got some rain...... our yearly January trip was pushed into February.

Got the chores done early and actually made it on the road before 10 am. The zipper lip Wilson (oops did I say that) was the first stop. Hit a few holes with not even a bump. On the way out of one, ran into a fishing buddy and we decided to hop spots on the river together.

Ended up going 1 for 5 (Pic1,2)......... little did I know this would support the general Theme of my trip for the week ahead...... Getting my arse handed to me by fish after fish.

Back on the road again.... Going by a bar just out of Waldport, that I know has decent wings, I decided to stop for a bite to eat. Forget the wings, it was all you can eat oysters. A burp or two later it was in the truck once again. I must be getting old, this time I needed to stop twice for a cat nap so that I could stay on the road. It was nice fishing the Wilson, but boy does it take a lot longer to get to northern Ca along the 101 vs. 405.

Met up with my friend that had come up from So Cal at the take out on the South Fork of the Eel at 7am. This river has to be one of my biggest nemesis, All my friends have taken fish from it, but the closest I've come was 2 years ago. After a drift, I was raising my flyline to recast when a steelhead porpoised after the flies, about 3 feet in front of the boat. One of those moments that you replay (in slow motion) over and over in your mind, knowing full well there was nothing you could do. Replay......replay........replay.. .....replay........ (I know its a disease)

Starting at dark and getting off the river at dark, doesn't allow much time to scout other rivers, so back at the hotel over bucky burgers (pic3) we throw a dart at the board and decide on the river for tomorrow.

After a hour drive, some nice person cut a tree down to block the take out..... Its nice to be friendly to the locals who gave us another option. Now in the water, a perfect steelhead green with about 3 feet of vis and maybe 1 boat in front of us. Less than 20 yards into the drift I have a nice little hen on. Rosey cheeks but loaded with sea lice. One thing I'm curious about is, do fish that have to stay out in the ocean due to lack of water still start to color up and mature? The next hole down, my buddy is landing the next fish (back on the oars). At the head of a run Casey says take off a weight and hit that slot............ Sure enough there was a willing fish there. But what I didn't know was that I was hooked up with the hottest fish I have ever experienced. In a matter of about 10 seconds (not fibbing, have a witness) this fish was 200 yards down below the boat. Luckily the water was a nice and slow for about 400 yards. Just about out of backing on my fly reel we started chasing. I was trying to keep it in the water till we get caught up to him/her. Managed to keep it out of a log on the left and start working our way to the bank. Thought everything was under control.......then back upstream creating a Solomon coarse through the willows up the far bank. Replay......replay.......replay... .... you get the picture.

Never got a chance to see the fish so I have no idea how big or little it was, but wow.

Hit numerous fish throughout the drift and ended up getting hook after hook spit back at me often. Right before the take out we hit 2 more missiles in the same run. The first took Casey on a grey hounding run through the trees and snapped him off. For me, One areal on the hookset, upstream then downstream, all so fast that I just let go of the flyline and hope the tension of the larger line, keeps the hook in place. Finally regain tension on the fish and out of the water she comes about 4 feet from the side of the boat and 3 feet out of the water, a perfect profile shot (the slow motion kind) and I see one of my flies go zinging past, hits the water and I still have her on until the next triple lindy about 3 seconds later. WOW !!!!! Its fun when the fish spend more time out of the water, but makes it harder to keep them on.

By the days end....... at least I got to touch one........ got schooled by 2 others, thouroughly

In talking with a couple of guys, that had driven by a river we really wanted to fish, they said the water was almost fishable. After passing numerous (I mean numerous) riggs on the way back to the hotel for some Paca tender loins (no picture), we were deciding if we wanted to leave fish to hit a different river. We decided a different river, but it was not in....... long story short we were on the same river late and behind at least 10 other boats. Water had dropped significantly and cleared a bit. It is what it is. Caught the armada and managed a fish or two from under them. Made it through the armada and got first crack at some water we knew held fish. Luckily my buddy hit a small fish and was back on the oars for the slot where the 2 arse whoppings took place the day before.

He was there...... on the hookset a big broadside roll (pushing 15 pounds) down river and back upriver. Once again trying to strip in excess line was futile, he was off somewhere under the boat but was nice enough to give us another roll as to say nice try...........no slow motion here, all happened in less than 5 seconds......... one more tick on the arse whooping tally for me by a fish.

The next day, superbowl sunday, short float on the first river from the day before. I was sent up to see if we were good to go. Water was coming in, in fact while waiting for the others to arrive I hooked a fish. Taking up line to get him on the reel, there is a transition that always is touch and go if a fish is running....... snap, line broke in a weird spot. after that, I'm on the oars for a few hours, but was given a chance to rest for a run. As luck would have it, I hooked up again. Played the fish and was working it to shore when the hook pulled. Back on the oars for the rest of the day. Float took longer than planned, made it to the bar for the 4th quarter to watch the Patriots loose. Too many mistakes, fitting end to the day.

A few more days of fishing and then it was time to get headed home.......Drove a couple of hours and stopped at a little coastal stream that I know holds fish. This one is kind of special, I'm fishing for steelhead less than 50 yards from the ocean. Through trial and error, I know how to approach without spooking fish. A few roll casts on a gravel bar then down the slot. First cast a half pounder, second cast a nice little hen was screaming at me, then by me -The creek is only about 4ft wide where I'm standing- then with a missed strip of line she gained control and went back by me, heading for the ocean. Decided to go through a log and then was gone......... I tried my best to turn her but couldn't.

Spent the night in southern Oregon and hit a stream that I've been fishing for the last couple of years. Water low and clear, went walking for a while and found some nice deeper runs....... went 0 for 5 on steelhead with a nice little cutty. Two were great fights, 2 were pulled hooks, and one was what I thought was a snag till I saw a silver flash.

Almost called the wife to say I'm staying another day, but It was time to get home to the family.

I'll put some pictures in subsequent posts............ Matt

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