Salmon River - Wild Weekend
Thank you Aaron for a great weekend! Sorry for the long post, there is a lot to report. Hope you enjoy the story.
Let's see, where to begin?
Hazardous driving? Check.
Torn waders? Check.
Dead battery? Check.
Broken reel? Check.
Snow, wind, ice? Check.
Steelhead? CHECK!!!!!
What an incredible weekend of fishing. We left after work on Friday to find major lake effect snow North of Syracuse. The roads got slippery fast, but Aaron expertly maneuvered the car, while I held on tight, prayed, and just about sweat through my T-shirt! We arrived in good time, and rigged up for the morning, carrying two rods each, one and two handers.
Up at 430, quick coffee, then the L-O-N-G walk in. About a mile through the snow and wind and cold. Air temperatures were around 20deg. On arrival to the river, I started "casting" the spey rod. Barely five minutes later, right off the rod tip, FISH ON...then off, too much pressure. Guides icing up. Few minutes later, fish on again, and again came right off. I had great difficulty handling the big two handed rod, and the ice on the guides was UNBEARABLE! Difficult to have your first spey experience under those conditions, but I tried, and Aaron patiently taught me the rudiments of the cast. Did I mention that the icy guides were unbearable?
Aaron was routinely casting his spey setup to mid river and well beyond, and honestly catching monster steelhead at will. Fishing was outstanding. I switched to my 9ft 6wt and started hooking up too, and successfully landed a couple soon after. Aaron's advice during the long fights was invaluable.
We found fish just about everywhere we went, more steelhead than browns. A new experience for me was catching a 5+ lb brown trout and being disappointed! Around lunchtime, I heard a gasp and looked upstream to see an ashen-faced Aaron and some cursing. He developed a huge wader tear in a bad spot and the cold 36deg water had rushed in. The tear was the right angle variety about 6in in length. He wanted to stay, but I needed a break anyway, so convinced him to undertake the long walk out. As we were walking out, I think we each caught a couple more.
We accomplished a field repair of the boots at the shop with duct tape and some hot melt glue. It actually held up well enough to get Aaron through the day, and Aquaseal was applied overnight. We fished the afternoon and explored more river, again finding fish in good numbers.
Next morning (Sunday) same scenario, although even colder with the new snow. I didn't even carry the spey, relegating my casting lessons to better conditions. I instead fished with Aaron's 9.5ft 7wt; what a terrific conventional rod.
If you can believe it, Sunday was even better than Saturday, and we hooked and landed many, many more. Overall I would say our landing percentage was about 75%, but we had all manner of failures and lost fish. Aaron had a steelhead grab his fly right off the rod tip and literally yank the rod in half at the ferrule! I had a terrible fly line tip wrap during a fight. I released all pressure from the fish and Aaron untangled it. The fish was still on and we landed it! During the "hero shot" however, the fish squirmed free, oh well. We also had frozen reel failures, a broken reel seat that we repaired by cannabalizing a small screw from my backup reel and I had one especially large steelhead STRAIGHTEN OUT a very strong modern hook! During its run, that fish threw up a wake that would make any jet ski proud!
We quit early on Sunday for the trek home. At the first gas stop, we shut off the engine and gassed up. Turn the key, nothing but a slow turnover, again and again. Dead battery! No jumper cables readily available, so let's try to pop start. While Aaron drove, I pushed, but it was impossible to get traction in the snow and ice on the slight forward incline. I couldn't push it uphill, so we did a pop start in reverse...on the second try, it worked!
A terrific weekend, lots of laughs, some really excellent lessons for me, and a strong desire to go back (and right now!).
Here are some of the many pictures I took, sorry I am too tired to caption them all!
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u...8/IMG_0456.jpg
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u...8/IMG_0457.jpg
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u...8/IMG_0459.jpg
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u...8/IMG_0462.jpg
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u...8/IMG_0463.jpg
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u...8/IMG_0465.jpg
Aaron caught this same fish downstream two weeks ago!
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u...8/IMG_0467.jpg
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u...8/IMG_0472.jpg
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u...8/IMG_0475.jpg
The ultimate hero shot...fish not as large as it looks!
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u...8/IMG_0478.jpg
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u...8/IMG_0479.jpg
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u...8/IMG_0484.jpg
http://i164.photobucket.com/albums/u...8/IMG_0486.jpg
DrDaveTheRave --- you will no doubt add the good fish-catching mojo to the spey rod. Good luck!
Re: Salmon River - Wild Weekend
Great report. Awesome pictures.
I can't wait to get up there. I was going to leave today but it's my Dad's birthday on Tuesday and I want to stay at least three days.
I think I'll head up the week after next for a few days.
That spey rod is tricky even without the ice, great job adjusting.
Have a great Thanksgiving Alain and thank you again for everything you do.
Cheers,
Justin
Re: Salmon River - Wild Weekend
It was pretty good for sure!
Re: Salmon River - Wild Weekend
Alain, congrats on breaking the ice and landing your first Steelhead (and a bunch more). Is it addictive or what? And while playing one, anything that can go wrong will, right?
Aaron, was the above post a Freudian slip? I'm guessing the first word was meant to be "It"....
Re: Salmon River - Wild Weekend
http://i132.photobucket.com/albums/q...onRiver028.jpg
Here is the fish that got scraped up a few weeks ago!
Re: Salmon River - Wild Weekend
That's a great trip! An adventure to remember.
Re: Salmon River - Wild Weekend
Great report.
I've never been up there or hooked into a steelhead. Those pictures really makes me think I should make some time in the near future and head up there.
Re: Salmon River - Wild Weekend
Looks like you had a great first time up there Alain, beautiful fish!
Steve
Re: Salmon River - Wild Weekend
That sounds like an awesome fishing trip. Although any fishing trip with Aaron is bound to be interesting. I am going up Thursday morning and will be there until Sunday braving the cold & snow I just hope I have as much fish mojo as you guys did. Just bought two new snow tires for the trip.
If you have any hot tips I am all ears.
Dave
Re: Salmon River - Wild Weekend
Wow!!! You guys did some damage up there. I'm glad you guys had a great trip. So are you addicted now Al?
Re: Salmon River - Wild Weekend
Hey guys,
I am going to to be fishing on the Salmon around Thanksgiving and would welcome any tips on what sections I should fish and what flies or techniques I should use. I am thinking I will do some indicator fishing. Thanks, please send me a PM if people want to remain discreet!
Re: Salmon River - Wild Weekend
great photos and story...thanks guys.
Re: Salmon River - Wild Weekend
To all: thanks for the kudos.
To Steve (TroutAholic): Actually, it was my fifth time up there, but the first time I landed full grown steelhead. In the past I met with little success, even when fishing bait. Fishing with Aaron changes everything; your confidence, your expectations, and your approach. Quite honestly, on my own, I would have been happy to maybe catch a single one over the whole weekend. Even with his many lessons, I am still many, many trips away from any sort of independent success.
Use any positive adjectives you want, Aaron is an unparalled fishing guide and teacher, period.
Re: Salmon River - Wild Weekend
Alan you are absolutely right about Aaron. I have never fished the SR with Aaron but I would be willing to bet that if he were a full time guide on the Salmon river you would have to book him at least one year or more in advance.
I hope some day I get the chance to fish with him on the SR.
Dave
Re: Salmon River - Wild Weekend
actually Alan your not such a bad fisherman yourself. I wouldn't mind spending a little time on the river with you either.
Re: Salmon River - Wild Weekend
Torrey/Aaron/Alan
New Idea for a free clinic
TPO PRESENTS: HOW TO FIX YOUR WADERS WITH DUCT TAPE AND A HOT GLUE GUN ;D
Re: Salmon River - Wild Weekend
I can try to video that. That's a good tip actually! It worked great I might add!
Re: Salmon River - Wild Weekend
Aaron is the best teacher around. I'm going to give it a run on my own, and Aaron bet me it would be years, I think 5, before I land one on my own. Now I have extra motivation to get one in all by my lonesome.
If I prove him wrong, he has to tie me 500 weighted nymphs so I can get started with the euro nymphing. Right Aaron?
If I can't land one for five years then I have to always drive, write all his reports, and net all his fish. Even in hell!
Re: Salmon River - Wild Weekend
Thats it.
I gotta go now.
I mean, if Alain can get 'em...
Great report!!
Re: Salmon River - Wild Weekend
Hey Juice, My money is on you getting one on the first day within the fist hour or so. After all you have been before and you know some of the best spots.
Re: Salmon River - Wild Weekend
Wow, what a report! I've been awaiting to reply to this for days.
Alain, I knew that you and Aaron would destroy them, and the pictures say it all and more! I knew Alain was going to come back with pictures of huge steelhead and browns. . .just the way it had to be. I couldn't be more thrilled!
Guys, was I right, or was I right? Last year, and through the summer months I had been ranting and raving on posts about the joy of hooking a steelhead. Now, after Blackghost, and now Alain have been hooked, I just want to know if you guys feel the same way. Steelheading is the most addictive thing I can possibly think of. The quest for chrome! I know we all (I used to :o), love our stream trout, but is there anything like fishing in subzero temps for a beautiful steelhead, and then being rewarded for your efforts?! ! !
I hope I can live up to the expectations of your spey rod Alain, thank you again!
Re: Salmon River - Wild Weekend
no there isnt anything like it ,Ive seen it watched it smelt .Im tying everyday now .Ive had chrome fever for years now . I got my two handed scandi rod .Im tying tube flys that would blow most of your minds .Im sick I tell you Im sick .I got the fever for the flavor of a steelhead .Ive worked my ars off for this .Im obssessed .It is going to happen I can feel it in my bones .Ive been mapping rivers ,figuring out car routes to jump from one river to the next ,I just tied a six inch stinger ! Im going steelhead crazy ,im going in debt for this and dont give a rats ars either .Just for that moment of a hook up .I know I can land one Ive landed chinook ,hook one of those dave and feel the power of speed and brute force ,like no other .When they take off hang on cause your in for a ride .Steelhead I say steelhead! ;D ??? :o :-*
