Monday, January 02, 2012

0 for 2

My second ever winter steelhead trip is in the books, and i still haven't laid a finger on a steelhead.  I did catch a handful of tiny cut throat today, including this one.

Yes, that fish has my goofy green nymph AND a corky in its mouth.  Even stranger, I am pretty sure the fish ate my fly while stuck to the bottom of the river by the rig in its mouth.  Near as I can tell, someone snagged the bottom and broke off the corky rig.  Along came the cut, and ate the snagged up rig, hooking itself in the process.  I must have drifted right by the tethered fish, and he ate that nymph too.  When I hooked the fish I could see him down there, but I had to pull really hard to get the snag free.  Weird.  

Despite not catching a steelhead, it was a glorious day.  The Oregon coast is stunning, and I spent all day lost in the rainforest.  Everything is green, ,mossy, and wet...and it got wetter throughout the day.  I was reminded today that there is no substitute for good gear!  I fished in pouring rain and some heavy gusts of wind, but with the right gear it was simply a part of the experience.  I was never uncomfortable.

The river was still high and off color, but I don't think it was unfishable by any stretch.  I had two heart stopping moments when I set the hook, felt a head shake and then nothing.  One of those was a definite steelhead...big, heavy throbs on the end of my line.  The other might have been a cut, or it might have been a steelhead.  Who knows.  
Despite getting blanked (again) I am starting to get the fascination with winter steelhead.  I really, really want to catch one, but part of the allure is the environment.  Such a beautiful, wild, natural setting...when it comes together with a bright, hopefully wild fish I think it will be a special moment.  I will keep after them.




6 comments:

BrookfieldAngler said...

Bummer on not catching a steel. I just started chasing them this year as well. I think the allure to them is in the fact that I/we haven't caught them yet. I feel that more we do, the less of a unicorn they will become.

Mr. P. said...

Beautiful rain forest pictures John. Good luck with catching a Steelhead.

Brian J. said...

Super beautiful out there-- I think that is a major part of the allure. If it wasn't it would be a ridiculously disappointing pursuit...

Wendy Berrell said...

Good adventure. My initial take is that this is filling time in between carp seasons. But you do seem pretty bent on getting one of these fish.

Looking forward to seeing one in photos!

John Montana said...

When have you ever known me to take defeat lightly? Hah

Gregg said...

Very strange in a beautiful place! A pal caught a wild rainbow in our Boise that was steelhead size, his fly was in a swivel from a bait fisherman and it stayed attached. Strange, but greenbelt urban, not conifer and dripping moss wonderful.

Gregg