Finally, after about a year of coming home skunked, trying to change things next time and coming home skunked again, I finally join the ranks of Steelheaders!!!!! I paid my dues, believe me. I remember one early morning on the Hump, it was 9 degrees and I couldn't make more than 3 casts without my guides freezing shut with water from the line going through them. Oh yes, I've paid my dues.
This chrome bright 8.5 lb bullet came from the Cowlitz. Fishing conditions were tough on Saturday. River was flowing at 2900...yikes! Started at Blue Creek, right by the creek and hooked one pretty quickly in the early morning, but he ran me into a log that had a huge ball of gear wrapped around it and he broke me off. He looked to be a recycle as the skin was olive green already.
Fishing was slow from there...so we moved up to Barrier. Got this guy within our first hour there. Was drifting a 1/2 rainbow holographic pixie spoon and was letting it work itself over the rocks...bounce, bounce, bounce.....BOOM! No question about feeling the strike...it was FISH ON! My buddy had to talk me through because my adrenaline was going and I needed to ease back a bit. He talked me down and I got my composure, loosened the drag a bit, turned my rod sideways instead of straight up and down, and let him fight the drag while I palmed it every few seconds. Let him fight for a few minutes and then he let me start gaining some ground. Got 2 or 3 good leaps out of him, and then he was tuckered out and came close enough for my buddy to get under him with the net.
SUCCESS! Now I hope I don't go another year without catching my second! HA!
Congrats on your first.
