We headed up to the Salmon River for our annual steelhead pilgrimage. Jim and I left on a Wednesday afternoon with the plan to fly fish all day Thursday before our other friend John arrived. It was snowing all the way up from Rome NY, and the going was slow, but I had some tasty Grateful Dead Bootlegs to help me through, Dunkin Donuts and Camel non filter smokes. We woke up early on Thursday and trudged through a snow covered field, crossed the river and crossed it back again to reach our spot. We only had to share the stretch on our side with three other guys who left after their buddy snapped a rod on a leaping chromer. All morning as we nymphed, Jim and I discussed how important it was that John, who was on his way, got into a fish this year. He had been coming up for a while with barely a bump, and we felt his faith needed a lift.Both of us locked onto to fish all day but kept breaking off, and one fish actually straightened my hook out. John arrived that night as we were thawing out and laughs were had, beers were cracked and strategies were thought and re-thought. We went to sleep that night like kids onChristmas Eve eager for morning’s arrival. Dawn arrived and the guide met us at 5am. We headed back on the river (ironically to the secret spot Jim and I had been to the day before). This time “our side” was more crowded due to people seeing Jim and I hooking steelhead the day before. I landed a fish that took me down the waterfall and resumed my casting. Lo and Behold, John’s rod doubled over and away he went. He landed his steelhead after a 5-10 minute battle, and I felt so happy for him. As you can see from the picture, he was overjoyed. Learning experiences from the trip? Well we get a guide because we can’t spend as much time as Jeremy and others do up there learning the riverourselves. So, the guide is there to show us spots that we catalog for the ensuing years. After this year’s trip we won’t need a guide again. We also fished and found some new sections of river, which we loved! Highlight of the trip! We also learned a new nymphing method and really nice way to control drifts (2 indicators). But the best part of the trip, was John finally getting his fish!
nick – so great to see this story .. especially within the context of all of the years that have gone by. i remember, vividly, that very first steelhead trip that i ever went on. it was with you and jim. i half listened to your stories of big steelhead and browns while we played guitar on west street together in portland maine. you invited me to go on “the annual trip” with you guys, and i decided to go. that was so many years ago now, and it’s funny to look back. i can remember watching dudes hook steel and basically foaming at the mouth wanting to hook one so bad. i was chaning flies, chaning leaders, changing setups .. but, it was just not my game; then. but, i was hooked for life. to say that i got “passionate” about steelheading would be .. well .. an understatement. they got into my head big time and i HAD to figure the game out .. anyway, since that very first trip that you took me on .. it has, infact, been a “long strange trip” in so many ways. but, i feel fortunate that even though we don’t get a chance to jam on the guitars on a random tuesday night and live only a couple doors down … we still stay in touch .. and, ironically enough, the steelhead and the fly fishing are what keep us connected. very cool stuff. congratulations john, i can appreciate greatly how good it feels to finally feel like you have the steelhead game at least a little ‘figured out’… it can be a tough game, for sure. great work boys. sorry i couldn’t make it this year, maybe next year.
ps. nick, .. “good dead bootleg, coffee, fresh back of camels and steelhead” … heaven.
Good stuff Nick. Glad you were able to enjoy the river and get your friend into a nice steelhead…it is quite evident that he appreciated it.
Congrats on the chrome! Well done!
great fish man! glad to hear all three of you experienced tight lines! sweet story
Nick Great story. It is nice to break away from the norms of life and go fishing. Especially with some of your pals. Grateful dead is a big player in those long drives. Good to see your buddy john get one on the bank. Little does he know but his life is totally changed. I bet he is thinking of that fish right now. One more vice to put on the list.
great story doood, this is dan buddy, dan levey, i love fishing, i just love fishing, i love it. I got fired from my last job for my lower mental capacity, but its okay doood, did i mention i love fishing,