It was a summer of bad news, the PNW was breaking all kinds of record temps and drought. The news for Salmon and Steelhead runs for the Columbia and Snake rivers were no better forecast. The damn counts were at all time lows and river temps were at a all time high in the upper 70 in areas.
As I booked my season with great concerns and down right fear of finding no fish I thought what will we do? Casting a spey rod is always a great lesson learned and how to read water, take observations and get a real good grip on the sport that boast a fish from a thousand casts, this year we will all be tested. The first trip was difficult with only two hooked and none landed, this set the stage for what was to come...or did it. That week in September the entire Columbia river systems including the snake river got a blessing from the great Fish gods...Rain and cooler temps. This set the damn counts on fire and in as little as a week we had Steelhead and Chinook in the river, almost 300 miles from the mouth of the mighty Columbia. The fish shot into our system and for the rest of the 2017 season we had amazing fishing. Mostly we had great surface action as the temps were perfect...51 and steady. The season also offered me new friends in the form of Eric and Hayden. These two Alaska guide vets proved their worth with helpful hands and contagious smiles. I feel very blessed to have them coming back for my 2018 season and I look forward to my clients being in their capable care. Tight lines... |
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