fishmonger
10-28-05, 02:22 AM
I managed to get in a little river time yesterday up near Maupin, which is a small town at about rivermile 55 (above the mouth at the Columbia River). No fish, but my first steps in the beautiful Deschutes were a thrill.
I got out of work a little early today, and ran over to the mouth. I walked upstream above the first rapids, and hit the water about 5 pm. At 5:30 a nice Steelie took my Orange Heron wet fly as it swung across the run, and a short while later I released my first Deschutes Steelhead. It was a hatchery fish, but it seemed pretty big and powerful to my Georgia-trout-catching-a$$, so I couldn't have been more excited. The only creature around to hear me hooting while I fought it were the 2 Ospreys chasing each other over the river. Mr. Steelie was probably 7 or 8 pounds, and 28-30 inches. What a magnificent creature, to think that it was born in the river years ago, went out to sea (where?), and came home, to be interrupted by me on his way to nuptual bliss!? I was fishing alone, and landed it without the benefit of a net. That defiantely adds to the excitement, along with trying not to take a swim while dancing on the very sharp basalt rocks that litter the bottom.
I feel really fortunate to get a fish after a whopping 45 minutes of total river-time, I have to try and not let my incredible good fortune give me unreasonable expectations.
What an evening :D
FM
I got out of work a little early today, and ran over to the mouth. I walked upstream above the first rapids, and hit the water about 5 pm. At 5:30 a nice Steelie took my Orange Heron wet fly as it swung across the run, and a short while later I released my first Deschutes Steelhead. It was a hatchery fish, but it seemed pretty big and powerful to my Georgia-trout-catching-a$$, so I couldn't have been more excited. The only creature around to hear me hooting while I fought it were the 2 Ospreys chasing each other over the river. Mr. Steelie was probably 7 or 8 pounds, and 28-30 inches. What a magnificent creature, to think that it was born in the river years ago, went out to sea (where?), and came home, to be interrupted by me on his way to nuptual bliss!? I was fishing alone, and landed it without the benefit of a net. That defiantely adds to the excitement, along with trying not to take a swim while dancing on the very sharp basalt rocks that litter the bottom.
I feel really fortunate to get a fish after a whopping 45 minutes of total river-time, I have to try and not let my incredible good fortune give me unreasonable expectations.
What an evening :D
FM