My goodness, my popper might even bring world peace.
On friday, I fished the Skagit and landed a nice dollie in the
morning and lost a hatchery brat in the afternoon. It was cold,
drizzly, bustery and sunny. Same today except nothing but a small
resident trout. But, as they say, that's winter steelheading. It's fun
. . . in a perverted sadistic way.
Leland.
Was gear fishing the Dungeness today after attempting to flyfish it last week-end with high, dirty water with no success. Came back today and threw spinners. I was working my way down a run and hooked and released a small Dolly when a flyfisherman walked my way. We talked for a short while and then Leland Miyawaki came up when talking about poppers and that's when it hit us; we were both members of the WAFLYFISHERS email group. He introduced himself as Darin Minor, a member we have all seen make good posts. He was polite, intelligent, was fishing for steelhead with a dry line and a long black leech pattern. After further discussion, we realized we both had sons that turned 3 years old within the same 30 day period and that we graduated the same year and we were both 33. It turns out Darin had quite a bit of good info for me about the Dungeness and Rock Creek in Montana. However, the poor man has never had a chance to get away to Eastern Washington to fish Rocky Ford, Lenice, Nunnally, etc. With a young kid (by the way, his 3 year old son has his very own BAMBOO flyrod that was custom made at 5 feet long) at home he hasn't been able to find the time to get over to the East side for some big trout action. So, naturally I proposed he joined me on one of my get up early, coffee for breakfast, drive fast, fish hard, drive even faster back home, one day trips. He said he's ready to go. It was great to meet a fellow member on the river. I was only little embarrased that I was pitching spinners for steelhead intstead of swinging a beautiful spey fly on a dry line like I'm supposed to do, right???
I have to be honest. I don't have the same fervor for the winter steelheading I used to have. Going all season freezing my butt off, paying a lot for gas, food, and equipment, only to be supposedly elated at the one big pull I'd get, which I'd normally miss because it had been so damn long since I hooked one I wasn't prepared. I guess I am still in that immature flyfishers state of mind where "the beauty of the water" and "just being in the outdoors" only cuts it for about 20 minutes; after that I want to put the hook to a big fish and feel the head shake. Hmmmmm. Anyone know how I can cure my lust for a bent rod and just be satisfied with casting beautiful loops into emerald water? If you know a good fisherman that's also happens to be a shrink, let me know. By the way, that is quite different from a good shrink that happens to fish. The latter would not be able to help me much. Jeff Hale
