Well, my luck finally changed. I first went to Pulaski in 2001 with no previous steelhead knowledge, my 10wt and not enough warm clothing. I saw some amazing fish on the lines of other fly fisherman and stayed up in Altmar at Melinda’s, fishing the pools in that area exclusively. To anyone whose ever been there, you know what an absolute yardsale the “retirement pool” can be. I locked horns with one steelie for about 5 seconds but that was enough to hook me for life. The next year, I brought Jeremy up there. He was got so addicted to the steelies, he kept going back and with the experience he gained he has landed multiple fish. (Fisherboy you gotta get up there, its your turn!)I went back each year and didn’t really pay attention to what I was doing wrong (skunked skunked and even more skunked). Until last year, when I noticed that Jeremy was fishing a floating line with a nymph set up….and hooking fish. I am cheap, and was hoping to utilize my 10wt intermediate striper set up until I hooked a fish, thereby justifying buying an 8wt after that.This year I sprung for a floating line and tied some good egg patterns, timed the run just right and hired a guide for my friends and I for friday morning. Jeremy was winding down his trip as we were gearing up, and all reports were good. The guide put us on to a nice pool at 5 am and once we started fly fishing my buddy Jim got into chrome. Soon after, on an orange egg pattern, I was hooked up to a steelhead. My first in 4 years. It ran up and down the pool before heading downstream for real. I crashed over rocks, smashing my shin and slapping my face against branches before I was able to net him. My first steelhead. Jim and I continued to hook steelhead and break them off in a pool that is notoriously diificult to land fish in. I caught the brown trout later in the day. That night we all gathered at Fatso’s for pizza, where Jer mapped out another good pool for us before he headed back home to Maine. That day was amazing too….but that’s another story. 4 years, freezing cold, and after paying attention to some details the results are pictured in my hands.
nick – what a great fish – and i was so psyched for you when you were telling me all about your battle over Fatso’s pizza. Your group of guys (jim and john) are class acts – we had a ton of fun laughing it up with you guys that night. ok – so the steel is out of your system – god that must have felt good to land him…. wish i coulda been on the water with you that day — but there are plenty more species that we still have bones to pick with — you and me – albies and bonito next year – we are gonna get ’em together. why do we love to chase the fish that drive us so nuts???? i guess its because the rewards are sooo sweet – you better be on the beach when i land my first albie and visa versa. anyway – enough about albies —- lets talk about our next trip to the great lakes next month – i got some good spots for us…
ps – ya know what —- its probably best that you caught your first steelie away from the “retirement pool” —– somehow, i think the rewards would have been a little less sweet.
nice job nick –
PPS – you say that your “cheap” in your article —- look at it this way though — 4 years (gas, lodging, gear, food, guide etc..) divided by one steelhead = $3,000 fish. THAT AIN’T CHEAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi nick, whata sweet fish. It was great meeting you this season. Hope to fish with you again soon, once again those are some hard earned, very sweet fish you’re holding in your hands
Austin
Never give up!
All of your hard work and time spend at trying to catch a steelhead, makes it all the better when you land your first one! Congrats!