The weather report for today looks like it will be great for fishing, some clouds, and not much wind. We set the alarm for 5:00AM, and pull the boat out of the shop at 6:30, it was already getting daylight, should have set the alarm for 4:00AM, the best bite seems to start at daybreak, then slows down around 10:00AM.

We arrive at a gravel launch about 15 minutes from our home; I back the trailer into the water, and Barb powers the boat off the trailer. She then noses it into shore, the boat is still about 7' or 8' from shore, it is pretty shallow here, that's the reason I always have hip boots on in our pictures, most of the places we beach involves wading. Barb has the backdrop closed when I get in the boat through the front window hatch, I set up the propane heater, and she has already turned the boat heater on so it should be a comfortable ride to our fishing location.

We point the boat upriver, go through several rapids, and reach our chosen fishing water about a mile above Buffalo Eddy, and Billy Creek. This is really a good drift; it's below a small rapid on the WA side of the river. The length of the drift is about a quarter mile, ending at another rapid, starts out shallow, then goes to ~8' at the current line, and the bottom is structured with a lot of good holding spots for Steeelhead.

Barb holds the boat stationary with the big engine while I get the Honda started to warm it up, prep the plugs with scent, and bait with marinated shrimp. The water is very clear so we switched from large plugs to small plugs. I engage the TR-1; we let the lines out sixty feet, and start a slow back troll.

The lines had been out no more than three minutes when my rod slams back with a violent strike, it is bent double, and line is stripping out fast as the Steelhead makes a run downriver. I get the rod out of the; line is stripping out, the fish then comes completely out of the water, what a sight. I steer the boat toward the middle of the river to avoid disturbing fish in the drift path. This fish is really putting up a fight; she is quite a ways out, doing a lot of head shaking, and body rolling. I finally get her coming my way, she gets near the boat, makes several short runs, then turns on her side, Barb slides the net under her, I take the lure out of her mouth, we let her rest and recover in the net, then take a picture and release her, beautiful A-Run Steelhead Hen, about seven pounds.

We go back to the start of the drift to try for another one, get everything set up, and start the back troll. The first fish came so quick that we think the next one will too, we are expecting another strike right away, after about twenty minutes we look at each other and laugh about not getting Barb on a fish, time to relax, and have a shot of coffee. About ten minutes pass when I hear a rod rattle in the holder, I look up and see Barb's rod bent back, I jump up and take the rod out of the holder, and hand it to Barb (she fractured her arm about two months ago, and it's hard for her to get the rod out of the holder, she has a brace on the arm and a fresh Steelhead pulls pretty hard). Barb takes the rod while the fish is stripping out line, it makes a long run, and then Barb works it toward the boat. This one didn't break the surface, just stayed near the bottom, she does a good job playing the fish, and after about fifteen minutes I net a beautiful Steelhead Hen, she is a beauty, we let her recover, take a picture, then watch her swim away.

We are near a nice sandbar, looks like a nice place to take a break, so we nose the boat into shore. It is a beautiful day, hardly a breath of wind, the water level is good, and the water clarity is very good, ambient temp. is about 45*, best of all the Steelhead are hitting.

After a forty five minute break we get back to fishing, we have three more takedowns, and land two more Steelhead. It was really a nice morning on the river, the canyon is very beautiful with the fresh grass greening up the canyon walls, makes it easy to spot the Mule Deer, and Mountain Sheep. Wish all of our NWFR fishing friends could be here to enjoy this with us, what a blessing it is.

Ken & Barb

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