Sunday, April 26, 2009

Steelheading: Week #29 (Last Week For Me...)

We'll start off by saying that it was a great year, and it sad to see it come to a close...however all good things do come to an end. With the temps not dropping below 70 in the last 48 hours, and river temps rising, the first have begun their slow migration out of the rivers.

After Potter last weekend, the rains came and brought the rivers up...leaving them in prime condition Friday. It was a gorgeous day well into the 80's, so we were fishing in teeshirts and waders rolled down. We each managed a few grabs, but most had the subtle feel of smallmouth rather then chromers. We fished until the dark set in but didn't see much movement from the fish. Nothing pushing or porpousing.

With Justin leaving for the Vinyard on Sunday, Saturday was his last time to fish for steelhead, and our last time to fish together for a while. I picked him up early from the shop and we hiked up river on a HOT sticky afternoon. I won't dance around it...the fishing blew. I had one take in a tailout...in over 5 hours of fishing. Justin got 2 grabs all day, and finally, in the last run of the day, well into the darkness, managed his last steelhead of the season.

Pictures:
Justin w/ the Switch...
Soft shell turtles we came upon Saturday...Before I clicked the camera, there were 4 turtles on the one log pictured...

Justin's last fish took this knarly purple bug...

Again...

One fish all weekend...we took a few pictures...

Again...a great year, and may not be entirely over...but the last serious fishing for me is done. Now I'll focus on house things for a few weeks before settling into a bass season with Jimmy again. We wish Justin well in the Vinyard, and very well maybe taking him up on his invite to go fish the Derby.

For now, this is the end...

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