Joey and I just returned from my second steelhead fly fishing trip to the Salmon River in upsate New York. Joey checked the waterflows prior to leaving Maine and it seemed as though finally the flows would remain low for the weekend. We arrived to meet whip at one of our favorite steelhead runs. We rushed down to the run with hearts racing and eager to get our fly lines in the water. I hooked and landed one steelhead within 30 minutes of arriving at the pool. Surely we were in for an excellent weekend of tight lines, lot’s of hook ups and epic battles. Little did we know there was a storm brewing off in the distance and things were about to change as they so often do on the Great Lakes. The weekend was filled with drastically fluctuating water levels, high winds, thunder and lightning and snow that felt like needles penetrating the skin. Even considering all of these negative factors that were conspiring against us we set out determined to find and catch steelhead. I won’t forget the miles of river bank we walked and the fish we so deservingly earned on this trip. Sometimes you don’t have to work so hard to find fish and other times you have to forge the river in order to get one hook up. It goes without saying that we still apreciated every second we spent on the river this past weekend. Despite the long hours enduring the weather and hanging on to what little confidence we had left on the final day I was fortunate enough to hook and land a bright chromer. The day before I watched Joey literally run 200 yards downriver to land a hot and spirited fish, it was a battle I’ll never forget. Overall we finished victorious when the odds couldn’t have been worse. What an experience. Thanks
Well deserved steel guys, way to stick it out and find your chrome. The high water and wind can break your spirit if you let it, glad you forged on. Luke, it was nice to get out with you. Your one hell of a fly fisherman. There is little doubt you know how to read water and pick the seams apart.
Nice fish guys. The steelheading world is one of constant changes. If you can adapt and improvise you will overcome, and from the looks of those photos you guys definately adapted well. Well done.
I’m sure we’ll meet up on the water sometime soon in NY or Maine.
I was lucky today on the river running @ 1800 two, albeit small but chrome none the less. Congrats that weather was brutal today and cold with nice gusts of wind.
Great trip luke..That second day surely had us burned down but we fought back and found some chrome. As always I had a killer time and cannot wait to go back. Keep checking those weather patterns and gain some brownie points from erika.
j-
we wouldn’t endure this weather if there were women at the end of the run, but we’ll do it for steelhead. what does that tell us? Just a reminder, if the air temp is around or below freezing, release the fish without taking it out of the water.
nice work … for reasons that you mention, i am never complacent when going steelheading or fishing for any species for that matter … rivers can rise, ocean seas can kick up and the wind can ruin everything in a heart beat ….. i often get worried when things seem too good to be true, because that feeling is usually followed by a change in something …. but all of that, we can not control … and its commendable that you guys stuck it out .. dealt with the wind, thunder, high water and all that stuff and managed to catch a couple beautiful fish …. nice work … so, luke, you got the steelhead bug now or what?
Jeremy, I’m sure you remember it….when you caught the bug. But i’m just going to reply with a simple answer. YES!