The river conditions were marginal (for an optimist) and the weather lousy but daylight savings gifted me with a couple hours to kill after a day of work at the plant. I decided to race out to the mountains for what might be my last shot at taking a wild steelhead home. With my 4th trip to the Quinault this winter I have started to get a feel for how quickly the braided rivers are shifting course and tearing into the existing banks. I don't have much in the way of photographic evidence so you will just have to trust me that the Forest Service has their hands full keeping the road passable.
I did surprise myself and hook into a wild "steelhead" as the light was fading. Its hard to tell in this picture but this little guy went after a lure as big as his head. Sadly for me, but not the fish, he was in the 12" range, which earned him a quick release. I sent him on his way to grow bigger and meet me back on the river in a couple years.
I did surprise myself and hook into a wild "steelhead" as the light was fading. Its hard to tell in this picture but this little guy went after a lure as big as his head. Sadly for me, but not the fish, he was in the 12" range, which earned him a quick release. I sent him on his way to grow bigger and meet me back on the river in a couple years.
