I love having Monday’s off because I generally have the river all to myself. Due to lack of time I decided to walk in today instead of float. The drizzly, foggy drive down certainly had me thinking it was going to be a productive day. The sky was just begining to show light as I made the 15 minute walk into where I was going to fish. My plan was to methodically work 3 different holes depending on time. I stayed in the first hole for about an hour without even a bump. I adjusted my float for a little more depth and on the next cast it went down. I lifted and it was hung on something. It ended up breaking off and when I went to rerig I realized I didn’t have a lanyard on…no nippers. I found an old cigar cutter in my rain jacket and was able to get by with that…not well but it worked in a pinch. I thought to myself, “is this the way the day is going to go?”I decided some new scenery was in order so I moved up river into hole number 2 and fished about an hour without a hit. Those thoughts started wandering into my head, “am I ever going to catch anything again?” Just as I was thinking about heading down to hole number 3 I saw a massive steelhead peel back out of a hole just above where I was fishing. I figured I’d try changing up flies and keep working this spot. While I’m in the river standing completely still changing flies I hear a wooshing sound getting progressively louder. I had my hood up so my side vision wasn’t real good. I turn and look up river and a bald eagle comes flying out of the fog/mist within 10 feet right over my head. It was an awesome site and of course it happened so quick I wasn’t able to get a pic. I figured even if I didn’t catch anything that was well worth the price of admission. Following the eagle encounter I worked the hole/run from top to bottom without a bump and figured it was time to head back. Just as I’m about to walk out I saw a large flash in a deep cut slot where it would be impossible to get a fly. I was on my way out so if I lost a few flies it wouldn’t really matter. I adjusted my float to avoid 2 pieces of large wood and on the first cast the indicator dropped and I was into a nice piece of steel that crushed a nuke egg. A solid fight 100 yards down river and a few acrobatics and I was able to bring it in. What an awesome morning!
colehatch … nice work man, i would love to fish for some michigan steel someday .. that is the killer thing about steelheading, there are so many places (in the great lakes alone) to fish for steelhead and so many different environments .. in 10 lifetimes a person could not possibly learn all the ins and outs of all the possible rivers and tribs … i have found that it takes a long time to truly learn 1 river very well . and how 1 river fishes differently in fall, winter, spring and at various water levels etc … steelheading is kinda like chess to me .. a constant gome of trying to figure things out on both a micro and macro level .. anyway, great looking fish .. at the buzzer nonetheless, that makes it even better … what kinda pattern is a nuke egg?
Colehatch,
Nice to see some Mich steel on the board, keep it coming! I’ve got to get out there at some point. Are you fishing the East or West side tribs?
Colehatch, You steel fisherman sure tell exciting tales of fish that stop your heart and strip the hell out of a reel. “A fight 100 yards down river.” “crushed a nuke egg” those are descriptive lines that make someone like myself, sitting here on the coast of maine with rivers empty of fish or closed by antiquated fishing laws, wonder why not drive the short drive west, and be a participant in this.
Great article. and i agree, the eagle sighting probably was worth the price of admisson.
Hey Fellas…thanks for the props.
Jeremy: We really do have it made living in the GL region. The variety of fish and the amount of water is staggering. I primarily fish 2 rivers for steel and I don’t think I could master them in a couple lifetimes. I sure love this time of year too…no one on the river for what I personally believe is the best game fish out there. The nuke egg is a super easy tie using 2 different Glo Bug Yarns. A little piece under an umbrella of another…I use Oregon Cheese alot…gotta love cheese! When it gets wet it’s a hot looking egg pattern. A pic will probably do it better justice than my description…here you go:
ttp://farm3.static.flickr.com/2290/2039210270_b98c30a155.jpg
Whip: I hang on the west side. I live up in the NW lower in Traverse City and spend all my time on a few rivers south of here…mostly the PM.
PatM: This was one smokin fight. This steel took a hard run on this egg as it funneled down between two huge pieces of wood. The fish started moving before the fly even got in the zone. I was stunned because I had some awesome drifts earlier in some nice water that I knew held fish but they weren’t having it. Reason I ended up so far down stream was to keep it out of the timber. With the amount of wood in this section I never thought I’d land it.
If you guys ever get up this way give me a shout and we’ll get out and let’em have it.
Jeff
Nice CHROME. I was up in your area a few weeks ago and got skunked, but thats part of the game. The water was super low and clear. I’m glad to see it is getting better. The eagles must be doing well, we saw one while floating the Muskegan also. I have fished the PM during the summer for browns but not for steel yet. It is a great river. How is the fishin near the Don King hole?