 |
Fly Fishing Videos & Tunes |
 |
| |
|
 |
 |
Flies And Fins Member Info |
 |
| |
|
 |
| |
 Salmon River: My First Serious Fly Fishing Adventure
Posted by Paul on April 29, 2004
Exactly when an adventure begins is rarely clear, but the turning point of the beginning of this adventure was a phone call from Joe. “I am putting my wife on a plane to Mexico and we are going to the Salmon River for spring steelhead. I will pick you up at 7 am Wednesday morning.” Last year I had bought an entry level fly rod w/ reel and line. Way to light for this trip but it is the best rod that I own. Now I need waders. Tuesday, I was in Waterville so I went one town north to Fairfield, to save a round trip to Freeport. Sure enough there was a pair of waders my size last years model. Now I am set; fly rod, waders, a ride, and a guide that knows how to fish.
Wednesday by 4 PM we are rigged up and in the water. Not at all what I expected! This was big water that
required split shot on the leader. I am hardly even beginner level fly caster, I soon found out that a “train wreck” with a weighted fly and spilt shot 2 feet up the tippet means cutting the tippet tangle off the rod and re-rigging. Once re-rigged a nice roll cast up current and watch the drift. Oops that is the bottom, re-rig. 4 hours of hard fishing, just standing in this current was a work out. River and trees had collected more than a few flies and we collected no fish.
Back to the Lodge to restock the fly supply and get some sleep. Finding a place to eat was a challenge. The service was good, we were hungry so the food went down fast and the beer was cold but was in cans. Beer in cans over the bar with dinner made me feel very safe knowing no one could hit me with a beer bottle.
Thursday wake up call was the lodge owner calling in for us to wake up and go fishing. I made coffee that was not fit to drink. Down stairs to the fly shop we got some more flies. We fished hard all morning in over flow areas that paralleled the main flow of the river. There were fish in these side channels. We could see them. Joe had a few hits I got skunked. Broke for lunch, went for a little drive, walk into a fly zone that just was not fishable in high water. I think surf casting gear with 4 ounce triangle sinkers may have worked. Fish the rest of the after noon on the other side of the river down stream, luck ran the same in the afternoon as it had that morning. We quit early there was still hours of sunlight to be had but the fresh rain from the night before and the already high water washed us out. Went to an old haunt of Joe’s from years gone by, they had bottled beer did not fry the food. Stopped for some canned beer got to talking fishing and one of the locals gave us permission to fish a tributary that went through his back yard. This was a big deal, fishing rights on the Salmon River are vigilantly protected.
Friday morning coffee from bottled water. Drinkable, had two cups. Down to the fly shop for our morning pep talk and restock of flies. Drove down stream for an hour, found brook and hit the water. Walked it, fished it, did not see any fish. Time to drive. A little Oswego Creek was our next stop. Put our target in the mapping GPS and started out for the promise of great stream fishing. When we were with in 10 miles of the creak the GPS informed use that we in an area that the local were uncharted. Cell phone to Jeremy for directions, yes we arrive at a public access area on the creek. Here we go. This turned out to be a great day. We fished this area hard, could see fish swimming by and holding in the seams. Joe got into a few good ones, I took some pictures of Joe and his hand then one of the side of the net. Oh well, there was a fish in the net honest! Finally I start to catch fish mostly suckers. Yes suckers on a sinking bead head, even caught a 5 inch long bullhead. Had one fish big enough to brake my tippet. Brought one big rainbow up close enough to see did not have a net and did not want to beach him, so after having a good look I left the line go slack he spit out the hook and off he went to eat something with no strings attached. Joe cought a few nice brown trout and hooked a few nice Steelhead.
Friday was a great day I learn a lot more about using a fly rod rig. The fish I caught were on flies not egg sacks. Waders off, dress jeans on, hit a cash machine and run 90 miles to the old haunt. Joe met some friends from 9 years ago they caught up while I ran up a good bar tab. Dinner was garlic french fries. This was a late night.
Saturday was our travel day we had to pick up Mrs Joe at the airport a mere 400 miles from the Salmon River. We planned on fishing the morning but the water was still very high. We slept in until 7 am by that time the pigeons were awake and making sure we were also up and moving. There was also some thing gnawing the wall stud next to my head yeah there was some plaster between me and the chewing but the noise forced me out of bed. Two cups of coffee and a shower. Dark glasses half a tank of gas we’re going….
All in all it was a good trip. Biggest lesson learned: if you are going to fly fish bring lots of flies. Got home and ordered a 100 flies.
|
|
|
| | The comments are owned by the poster. We aren't responsible for their content. |
|
|
Re: Salmon River: My First Serious Fly Fishing Adventure
by jeremy on April 29, 2004 http://www.ineedasimplesolution.com | | great article paul - sounds like a true salmon river adventure. no frills, early mornings, bad food, tons of lost flies, lots of travel time, always getting hung up on the bottom or in trees, cold, wet, etc.. - but the Steelhead and Big Browns make it all worthwhile. Great article. I like your writing style. |
|
|
| |
|
|
