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Looked out the window this morning, and saw all white, it had been raining and snowing most of the night, then the temp. dropped just enough to freeze it all. The river was glassy smooth, but my thoughts were "the launch will be too iced up to get the boat in and out, then at around 9:00am the sun peeked through the overcast, the temp. started to rise, the snow and ice was melting. Today Barb has church activity and shopping without me, the river looks too inviting to pass up.

Arrived at the Couse Creek launch at about 1:00pm. The canyon is absolutley beaotiful all draped in snow, the water is like glass, not a whisper of wind, what a day to be on the river, at that point I felt like the luckiest guy in the world. Couldn't resist taking the picture you see looking upriver in Hell's Canyon, from the Couse Creek gravel launch.

The one person launching is like slow motion, it's completed and I'm finally on plane downriver, go through a couple of rapids before arriving at a good stretch of water on the Idaho side. From the launch to our home it is four miles, in this four miles we have found five really good stretches of water with holding spots for Steelhead.

I point the boat upriver, apply scent to the underside and treble hooks of the plugs (Idaho two pole permit), then start a slow back troll, traversing back and forth near the current seam. About thirty minutes has passed when my rod slams down, a Steelhead boils out of the water with a double jump before I can get the rod out of the holder, I grab the rod, steer the boat toward the middle of the river, she takes a hard run down river, comes out of the water again, then runs toward the boat, she tires out, and I net and release a real beauty, around six, or seven pounds.

Go up to the start of this run again, make a complete pass without a bump. Thought about going to another location, but convince myself that another fish is to be had here. So back to the start again, freshened the plugs with scent, poured a cup of coffee, and started the last pass. Near the end of the drift there is a very productive holding area for Steelhead, thought I would get a hookup before getting there, but not so. However when I did get there my rod suddenly bends double, and this big beautiful Steelhead boils out of the water, this is one you dream about, she must have jumped at least ten times, at one point she tail walked across the water for about fifteen feet, anyway I finally landed her, took a quick picture, and watched her swim away, what a fish, I,m shaking like a leaf, you would think that after fifty years of Steelhead fishing some of the thrill would go away, but it never does.

The water temp. was 41.6*, ambient temp. was about 36*, no wind, some overcast, with a few spots of sun, great fishing conditions. headed for the launch after the last fish, 3:30pm and starting to get pretty dim in the canyon. Hope to talk Barb into going tomorrow, supposed to be another beautiful day. Ken

willial13

11/29/2010 4:26:00 AM

Hello, it always sounds like you have a ball, fish or not. I was wondering, have you ever floated a jig and bobber down one of your favorite stretches over there? If you have, I would sure like to hear about it. Thanks Larry

afk

11/29/2010 6:47:00 AM

That part about shaking like a leaf brings it all here and now! I love it. Thanks for a great report. Keep it up.

kenbarb

11/29/2010 6:57:00 AM

willial13, Yes, I have tried the bobber and jig, have had limited success. The current takes you through the holding spots too fast, have watched bobber fisherman from our home using a spotting scope, and drift by me on the river, believe it or not, have not seen a single fish taken using the bobber method in the areas that we fish. The most popular and productive bobber fishing is at the Snake/Clearwater River confluence, but when I bobber fish, it is on the Grande Ronde, smaller Steelhead, but a lot of action.

bob johansen

11/29/2010 7:40:00 AM

Great report - almost felt like I was there!

Wintersteelhead21

11/29/2010 7:46:00 AM

Ken,

Great report! That's a beauty! I'll have to post some pictures and a report on here. We guided some guys on Saturday and got 15 to the boat, mostly wild that we had to release. Mostly in the 7-9 lb range. We do primarily jig and float fishing up here. We'll have to swap trips sometime!

Looks like you're running a NW Jet, is that right?

Kevin

kenbarb

11/29/2010 8:11:00 AM

Yes Wintersteelhead21, it is a 21' NW Jet, 454 Chevy, Hamilton 212 pump, pretty good combination for the big rapids. This is our second NW, the other one had a Ford 460, with a 3 stage Kodiak, we like this one better, it is quiter and quicker.

Gringo Pescador

11/29/2010 8:19:00 AM

kenbarb - I love reading your reports. Keep em coming!

BMGW

11/29/2010 8:23:00 AM

Ken, you are the "luckiest guy in the world" as the good Lord surely smiles upon you often, and we at this website are also very lucky to be the beneficiaries of your many blessings. Your reports are superb, your photos outstanding, as another member noted how you make us feel like we were there, and indeed you can be we are in heart and soul. Thanks very much for sharing!

goodtimesfishing

11/29/2010 8:38:00 AM

ditto, what BMGW said.

Jay K

11/29/2010 9:19:00 PM

Gorgeous pics and great report. Like others said, it was almost like being there.

blufin loui

11/29/2010 10:36:00 PM

Hello Ken, You and Barb make some great memories out there, and your taking the time to share with us is greatly appreciated . I've never hooked into the mighty steelhead (just not one of the fish I've chased), but your reports put me right there in the action. Thanks again, and please keep those great pics and stories coming. This site is better than a mag subscript. And persons like yourself and Barb make it so.

Mike Carey

12/1/2010 6:16:00 PM

the boat and snow-covered hills picture is worthy of framing - nice!

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