On the 36th hour I couldn’t keep my head up or my eyes open. Fatso’s pizza and wings finally took me down after the beginning day of a Steelhead bender. Luke and I made the 7 hour drive through the night arriving on the banks of the Salmon River at 3 in the morning. With a zombie like appearance we strapped on our headlamps and got rigged up in the 25 degree air. Crossing the river in almost complete darkness (not a good idea) Luke and I posted up on a solid run and watched the fire ball creep into the sky. Day one was now over and looking back on the days events, I still don’t know how we managed to fish the entire day without killing ourselves. When I spoke to my girlfriend that night she found it so bizarre that we put ourselves through this type of punishment day after day to chase a fish. I told her that she would never quite understand why until she too felt the tug. But, it is true. A guide in the Northwest told me that a steelhead angler is one of the heartiest anglers. We will go out in the middle of the winter on a windy snow blown day and say “there should be less of a crowd” when no other soul would even consider thinking about what we are about to do. It is a subculture that lives year around but comes to life in October-April. The rest of the year is fulfilled by catching trout on 6x tippet, tying bunny leeches and glo bugs and planning your fall Steelie trip. It is the fish and the environment in which it lives that drives us to the point of insanity.
joey — very nice work on the video … i enjoyed the perspective .. very cool stuff … you are so right too because when i tell my non-fishing friends or family that i am going fly fishing and it’s february and snowing and bone chilling cold … the look at me in disbelief and say, “you’re going fly fishing? you must be the only idiot on the river during the winter and these types of conditions.” … i reply with “i wish”
sweet vid joey, i really enjoyed it. Hope the west is treating ya right! i don’t know when….but i’m sure we will cross paths sooner that later. Till then keep crushing em’!
As if fly fishing alone isn’t hard enough to explain to a non-fisherman…tell them it’s 15 degrees out, the lake effect machine just kicked out a foot of snow, you’ve got a sinus infection, and you’re going fishing…
Absolutely phenomenal video as it shows the manic passion we share for our sport and we will go above and beyond to feel that connection with these great creations of nature. Thank you for sharing your love for flyfishing with us.
Alex
Excellent vid., I like the from the heart style of interview that was interspersed with photos and video. An honest homage to the pursuit of steel. People who don’t know it will never understand but for those of us who do I completely understand where you are coming from.
Joey – really enjoyed the vid and story, you did a great job capturing the essence of all that is steel. The thing I admire most about these fish and the addicts who chase them is the ability of both species to adapt. Like you said, Steelhead and the rivers they inhabit always keep us guessing and totally challenged, At times it seems that some of the pieces are missing, but if you look hard enough they are certainly there.
great video guys! Really captures why we freeze or butts off every weekend and log so many hours in the pursuit. Really spoke up on this one!!!!
Joey – Nice job on the video. You’ve very completely shown the essence of Steelhead fishing – its all about midnight drives, frozen fingers and hours of concentration capped with pure jubilation.
James
Joey,
Love the video and the lid!!!
Thanks for the comments. Hopefully I’ll have some pacific chrome for you in the spring.
thanks again.
j-
Passion! it’s in your blood…
Dad
Mom and I just watched the video… Who would have though that fly stuck in your ear at age 2 would have produced such a great fly fisherman.. Keep following your dreams.
Love you
Mom and Dad
Great video