Bumpy Landings

Yesterday was a fantastic day to be on the water chasing steelhead.  The air was warm.  There were still some wonderful Autumn colors around.  Rain was steady.  The water was stained.  And my company was great!

Rob and Tim were geared-up for a day of chasing chrome.  The guys had limited fly fishing experience and even less experience with steelhead.  Early on we hammered out some casting issues and how to make a good drift.  They both finished they day with plenty of experience.

The morning was tough and a little slow with the clear low conditions.  Tim hit into a wonderful fresh steelhead as his woolly bugger swung to the end of it's drift in a fast run.  That fish was HOT.  Flashes of lightening blazed through the sky as she jumped.  She was just too hot to handle and finally threw the bugger right back at Tim.  He was charged and disappointed at the same time.

As the rain fell through the morning, the waters began to stain.  And even better, everyone seemed to leave the water but us.  The steelhead were really on the move after lunch.  The afternoon was fast and furious.

The hook-ups started coming pretty consistently.  As well as things went in getting fish on the line, we were struggling getting fish to hand.  Everything that could go wrong for these guys in landing hooked fish...did. 

I guess that's really what makes steelhead fishing exciting.  The fish are unpredictable and some days, no matter how well you handle it, they just give you the slip. 

Rob & Tim had a great day on the water and they are well prepared for their next adventure with steelhead.  Things are really starting to move on the Alley for the Fall season.  The predicted rains in the forecast for the next week will only make it better.  I have a few open days left for the Fall season.  Call me...LET'S GO FISHIN'!