Just Kiddin' Around

It's March.  It's 27 degrees outside.  And these boys...they want to go fishing.  Well then, let's git'r done!

The reality is, this was a tough day to get out on the water.  It was cold and the water conditions were deteriorating rapidly.  Taking kids out in these conditions is difficult no matter what you are doing.  Asking them to wade in icy water to fish for steelhead on the fly seemed a little crazy, but hey, that's what we do.

Blaise, Brandon, Jarod and I hit the water at daylight this morning.  The air was cool and crisp and we could all see our breath through the light snow fall.

I was pretty confident I could catch fish in this weather, but let's be honest, I was less confident I could coach 10 & 12 year old boys to catch steelhead on fly gear when they had never even touched a fly rod before.

As we walked down to the stream I gave the boys my typical preparation talk about what to do with snags, icy guides, and tangles.  Instead of trying to talk strategy with them I just said one thing to them, "Boys, when we hit the water, if you will listen and do exactly what I tell you, I think we'll catch some fish today.  What do you say?"  They were all in.  AND...they both did exactly that!

There is some extra thought involved in guiding kids.  You have to put them on a creek with flows they can wade in and water that is not too deep for them.  Of course you are thinking about where there will be fish and you are praying that there will be some stain to the water so the fish are not too spooky, because, let's face it, kids struggle to be graceful and stealthy when wading.  By the grace of God...all of that came together today.

We approached the 1st hole and I pointed to various places throughout the run that would likely hold fish.  I told the boys I was going to make a couple of drifts and I just wanted them to watch how I handled the rod and what I did with the line.  Two great things immediately happened.  First, the boys listened to what I said and watched what I did.  Second, I hooked a dime bright chrome hen that jumped and screamed up and down that run before a humble long distance release.  The boy were pumped!

Jarod was the most excited about this trip.  He reminds me of me when I was ten.  All he wants to do is go fishing...ALL OF THE TIME.  So, of course we had to let him take the first crack at fly fishing for steelhead.  He did great and within a matter of 10 or 15 casts WHAMO...his line was shooting across the run.

I was so pleased with him and this fish.  I told him how to keep pressure on the fish and to get his hand off that reel...and he actually did it.  Within no time Jarod had landed a pudgy kyped-up buck.  The boy was all smiles.

Older brother Brandon was is not quite the fishing enthusiast Jarod is, but he certainly was not going to be out done.  The second verse was the same as the first.  Brandon made a few well placed drifts and BANG...a rosy-cheeked buck of his own inhaled a pink egg.  Brand too did a great job of following my instruction and within a half hour to 45 minutes of being on the stream both boys had put steelhead in their hands.  I considered suggesting we go have an nice hearty breakfast and call it a day right then and there.

But, we pressed on.  We had a nice day of finding and hooking fish.  Now, boys will be boys, and at times they got bored with the whole thing and played in the creek throwing rocks and breaking off some thin shelf ice.  I would expect nothing less.  Their preoccupation gave me some time to chat and fish with Blaise as well.

Blaise took to the whole fly fishing game quite well.  He quickly became pretty efficient with his casts and managing his line.  He did everything very well, except one small detail...he never did land a fish today.  He had 4 or 5 great fish on the line and every one of them gave him the slip.  And again, boys being boys, Brandon and Jarod reminded him of it the entire way home.

 Today was probably one of the most rewarding trips I have ever guided.  Fly fishing in the Winter for steelhead is pretty difficult for anyone, experienced or otherwise.  I tell people all of the time, "If you are catching steelhead in the deep freeze, you have to be doing it right.  There is little margin for error." Jarod and Brandon did it right today, the very first time they ever touched a fly rod.  I can't wait to fish with them again in the future and I hope they now have some fuel to keep the fire burning for a lifetime of fly fishing.

If you're ready to try your hand, call me.  LET'S GO FISHIN'!