Early Season Chrome… Day 1
decades of guided fishing experience
Was an exceptional weekend of fishin mayhem! Got to spend time with great guides I have known for years and have had the pleasure to fish with!
The weekend started Friday nite with a NW SteeleHeaders Movie night which brought out around 200 fellow anglers together. With Fillms from FRESH TRACKS on the Yellowstone dam project, which kept the river free-flowing and is the longest free-flowing river in the country. Great work FRESH TRACKS!! Fly Fishing Collaborative and their works, as well as the Last 100 Miles film: The Fight for the Deschutes River. from the Deschutes River Alliance.
The movie nite was a teaser for the rest of the weekend…. DAY 1 on the water with Team Hookup!
Brandan Glass getting the new blood out there!
I first met Brandon and his Dad some 20+ years ago. We discussed everything from seminar topics to our love of salt water. Over the years, I have fished with Brandon for steelies almost every Christmas holiday! My ohana have grown into fine you men (aka The Siegel Boys who you will get to know more of) they are now. Brandan has known and fished with them since they were 8 years old! We have fished many times and locations, and talked story about days gone by, saltwater adventures, fish I missed, mutual friends, guides, and ohana! And plan to have a reunion trip soon.
On this day I had the privilege of joining 2 other clients for the first time. One had never felt the pull of winter chrome… We talked, laughed, and fished… (unfortunately most of the laughing was at my expense…). The ring rust showed as I proceeded to farm the first 2 bobber downs of the day… and my only love from the fish gods…lol. BUT wait I connected! Which turned out to be the lowly sucker fish… and then the coup de gra - a the final blow - a ROCK… DOH.. I believe that’s the first time I have ever landed a rock in freshwater!! NOT a proud highlight reel achievement… but keep the boat laughin most of the trip…
Tlyer’s First Chromer!!
A beautiful native hen that will provide for generations to come was caught and released into the River’s hatchery program. Broadstock for the future!
Enough story about my misadventures and back to the highlight of the day. Through out the morning, Tlyer asked thoughtful and unanswerable questions at the same time.. Like what does a Steelhead fight like… or what’s the average bite look like. Brandon and the other client offered up the best responses they could… but the answer really lied in what was to unfold. Tlyer had his first bobber down experience and lost the fish. He was undetered after all I set the comedic bar for the day and there was no pressure on him.
After a few minutes late just a little way down the run. Tyler hooked up to an angry fish that gave us areals and darting under the boat often. The fight was on and it lasted what seemed to be an eternatty of dogged attempts to hide under the boat and break the line… Not only did Tyler rise to the occasion, but landed his first Steelehead!!! AND it was actually a hatrchery fish!! The trifecta a beautiful fish that fought well and would feed Tlyer’s Ohana. The victory yell could probably heard far down the river system… and ALL celebrated!!
Tlyer’s mentor also caught a beautiful hen. Which was successfully transferred to the Broadstock program. Helping native fish survive for years to come.
