Steeldiddlyumptious

With a seemingly apparent lack of material to write about, I’m finally getting my act together and actually making a post.  First off, let me assure you that there actually has not been a lack of material to write about.  In fact, since my last post, I’ve chalked many days and evenings on the water.  Many days, I’ve spent chasing native rainbows on the upper Mac.  I’ve got  enough material here to write a book.   However the native bows have taken a slight back seat to my latest obsession.

Ok, so Kirk (Unaccomplished Angler) this is the part where you gloat like a 12 year old prepubescent teen girl, jump up and down sing-songing “I told you so, I told you so”.  

A few weeks ago, I began looking into a spey rod outfit.   Yeah, yeah, I know, dirty tactics and all…   Last week, I finally pulled the plug on the whole ordeal.   I broke down and bought my first spey outfit and a casting lesson with one of our local spey/skagit guru’s.

Upon input from my local fly shop owner, employees, acquaintances, and budget,  I chose the Echo Dec Hogan 71304 (13′ 7wt) which is now married to a Ross Reels CLA-6  and matched to an Airflo Skagit head to complete the setup.  Of course, plenty of backing a running line, type 3 15′ sink tip and leader were all part of the deal.

Last Tuesday afternoon 8/17/10 I walked out of  The Caddis Fly Shop with a cheese eating grin upon my face and my brand new Decho in my grubby hands.   Eager to start casting I did a few lawn casts, only to realize that, I didn’t have a clue.

Wednesday 8/18 , I was as giddy as a kid on Christmas morning because I was meeting Rob for my very first spey/skagit casting lesson.  Wednesday evening, I met with Rob at Alton Baker Park and he proceeded to slipstream my journey to the “dark side” into overdrive.   Upon learning the double spey and snap-t from river right, we rowed across the mighty Willy (which isn’t exactly mighty this time of year) to learn from river left.   Rob was a great teacher and praised all the good and respectfully chided all the bad.  By the end of the evening I felt comfortable enough to trek out on my own the next day.

Thursday 8/19 morning, saw me up early and out the door, headed for Middle Fork Willamette below Dexter Dam to practice the “dark arts”.  All I can say is one word.  Disaster.  Nothing went right, blowing anchors, open loops, hooks and slices on the cast.  The only saving grace was 3 trout that decided my green butt silver hilton looked tasty.  By the end of the day, things were looking up and the casting was coming together.  Anchors were holding, and loops were tightening up some (any was better than what it was earlier that day).

Friday 8/20, the wife’s birthday.  I did make it to MFW for a while during the afternoon.  I arrived at the river around 3 ish in the afternoon.  After fishing for a bit with small flies (Silver Hilton) it was time to try this pink Pick ‘Yer Pocket (exactly as shown to the left), the water had a little color to it and wasn’t exactly clear.  So, on goes the pink pick ‘yer pocket,  and in short order this pink fly was being heaved across the river and swinging from right to left.   Cast – step -step was the cadence.  About 2/3 into the run, there was an earth shattering slam as the fly was making it’s trail across the river.  All at once, all of my senses woke from auto pilot and it was game on!

Unfortunately, there wasn’t a big long line melting run that I have become to crave, there was one jump (if you could even call it that), one roll, and into the net came a fairly bright 32″ @ 10lb steelhead.   Very first steelhead on spey rod.  I played whack-a-mole a few short minutes later with Mr. Hatchery Steelhead.   Where upon I then proceeded back to the fishmobile to tag Mr. Steel to bring him home to meet Mr. Grill.

What a great way to break in the new Decho and get that new rod smell off of my hands.   Too many fish, not enough time.

Remind me to tell you about the broken rod, and that time when…   oh and the whitefish that probably could have broken a record, and the time that …     see… no lack of material, just lack of motivation.

Keep them lines tight and those loops sexy!

Dave

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