If steelhead are a fish of a thousand casts, I'm perpetually stuck on cast #999. Catching a steel fish "on the swing" is not suppose to be easy, but I'm wondering if it's even possible. I see pictures of swung fish, but I'm beginning to think they are lying(not really)about their methods. I'm sure the psych wards have a special wing, just for spey guys.
It's not light yet, and I'm stumbling down a cobble strewn path. My body and brain are still back in the warm hotel bed. I look up to see if I need to make a right, but I'm not even half way there. It's warmer this morning, and the sky is overcast. No cars in the parking lot, so I'm in no hurry to stake my claim to The Spot.
The right turn is nothing more than a single track of beaten down cobble. There are dozens of right turns, but I seem to find the right one this morning. As I crest a berm, I suddenly find focus. Today, I'm going to swing knowing my fly is being seen by many fish. Fish like I would if I was nymphing for trout. Fish with confidence! I watch the same muskrat I saw yesterday, sneak up a riffle.
My first cast is barely long enough to have the intermediate skagit head out of the tip top. I'm going to dissect this run, and cover all fishy water. Like every morning, my casting starts off well, but at some point the wheels fall off. I go skidding off into a spey casting black hole. Takes a while, but it eventually comes back and I'm back to covering water. Every swing has possibilities, and I am focused on a take....
I'm making my second pass through the run, with a different line, tip and 3rd fly change. I'm liking this combo. The fly is a traditional steelhead pattern tied on a up turn eye, salmon hook. It's much smaller than the stinger hook, marabou, rabbit strip abominations I was swinging earlier. I'm booming out casts, and feeling fishy.....
Third pass, different line, and 5th fly change. I'm working on my single spey, with a short belly(45') line. I really need to practice this cast more before I try and fish with it......but what the heck. I might as well practice. All morning I've had the run to myself. Wind is up now, and I zing an Undertaker past my ear.
Walking back to the car I wonder why I do this. I don't expect a fish on every trip. Heck, I don't even expect a fish, period........but it sure would be nice. A pending, emergency fishing closure of the river may save what little sanity I have left.
If I had fish * to post, you bet I would. All I got is a blurry sunrise.
briansII
