Mixed Conditions with a Surprise Ending.

The day started out dark with the threat of rain or snow coming. The river was already on the rise, but still had good color with about 18" of visibility. I wanted to get some fish quick because with the river rising this quickly I just wasn't sure what it would be like later in the day.

I was fishing with Brooks and his daughter Ashley who had fished with us in the past. Both very good fishing partners. I was particularly impressed with Ashley's natural ability with the fly rod. She listened well and followed instructions. Just a great student of fly fishing.

Ashley was the first to strike. She played this fish with very little instruction from me. The

fish definitely put her to the test. It did not want to be in my net, but Ashley played this fish through numerous hard runs and eventually to my net.

Ashley with a Very Fine First Fish with Proud Father



Plenty of smiles to go around

We went through a dry spell with the river still rising and getting muddier by the minute. We had numerous hookups but nothing to the net when we decided to head up stream to explore a bit. Then Ashley struck again with a nice shiney steelhead. Brooks had many hookups throughout the day, but nothing to the net yet. He was intent on catching a good fish.

I heard about a few browns that were lurking around a particular hole so we headed in that direction. We rigged up for the run and hole we were going to fish with the "Iceman". Brooks went to work hooking a nice fresh steelhead. Then an hour later at days end with a lot of persistence and drive Brooks made "one more cast" about 10 times when he snagged up.......... He wacked at that snag 4 or 5 times to no avail. I took the rod to get it free when it felt a little odd. I lifted gently and felt weight moving. I handed the rod back to Brooks and said get ready for that snag to explode. Seconds later into the backing. It was a large brown. With Ashley and I shouting instructions on deaf ears, Brooks eventually brought that fish to the net just like a pro. You can tell by the smiles we were all excited.

It was nice to fish with a family that truly enjoyed each other's company. They wanted nothing more than for the other to be successful and they were in more ways than one.

Tight lines eveyone,

Scott McClintock

RSM Fly Fishing

Steelhead Alley Outfitters

Orvis Endorsed

Fly Fishing Specialist