After taking the day off yesterday I thought with the improved water conditions I noted yesterday I should get an early start this morning. I awoke around 6:30 and I noticed we had a few degrees of frost here in the Valley so the warm blankets won out over getting to the river at first light.
It actually was close to noon time before I reached the river. On my arrival the river was looking mighty fine as did a lot of other people as most of the runs had an angler or two hard at it. In talking to a couple of them they said one hatchery had been taken in the area. Good I had not missed much.
I decided to head up river a tad, to the scene of the action I had 11 days ago. Since then I had fished 5 days and put in 13 hours and had seen only one fish taken but of course I heard of some others. We all had been challenged by less than desirable condition, in the Lower anyway. Even the prospects of better up river conditions did not beckon me to go there. I donot really know why but I always like the Lower, maybe is because it is closer to home and to Tim Hortons.
When I reach the river the first thing I see is of one the brood capture boys is bringing a tubed fish up river. I cross a small stream and give them a hand. I pack their rods so they can carry the water filled tube closer for the hatchery staff to pick up. They say they had been into a couple of others or had missed them, I have forgotten what they actually said. Was glad they had got one for the brood program as I believe we are bit behind so far this season.
Needless to say that got my spirits up some and maybe by staying in bed early this morning was not such a bad idea after all.
The lovely Spring like weather along with the improved water visibility had brought out more anglers as they dotted a good number of the runs in the area.
I start by fishing a small side stream but I wonder if steelhead will come up it. The entrance to the sidestream, further down river looks OK. I then move to the main river and fish one very nice looking run but it is quite big, so many places for a fish to be. I try to cover it the best I can before I move to where I got the fish 11 days ago but no one home today. I quickly fish the big run again; one angler is fishing partway down so I leave it to him.
I head once again to the side stream and work the spot where I had started as it looked so fishy but the Maple Leaf DNE stays dry. Two anglers are fishing another run of the side stream about 150 feet below me but they donot fish it too long before heading over to the main part of the flow.
I decide to work my way down to it. I cross a little bit of quick water, watching I donot trip on a rock, nice to be able see bottom with the clearing water conditions. As I reach the other side, onto a bit of an island I notice a little slick below a drop off. Experience tells me even though it is small it is plenty big enough to hold Iron. Many new comers to steelhead fishing will walk right by a spot like this. I am sure I did when I first started out but seeing “The Master” pull a fish out behind me in the past were lessons well learned.
Anyway on the first cast into this spot the Maple Leaf DNE acts a bit strangely. I was not sure if it was actually a take or not but I sort of just tighten up a bit, not actually striking properly. As I apply the tension the tell tale headshake of a steelhead followed by a silver flash convince me it is indeed a fish.
It takes off right away heading to a run below, where the others had been fishing and I hastily have to cross another side stream to reach dry land. I am hoping it is a wild for the tube.
The fish is not big but what the heck it is steelhead and after 5 skunked days I am pleased to have one of any size on. As usual the steelhead is strong, it never seems to matter their size they put up a good tussle and it gives one pleasure feeling it on the end of your line. I donot think a true fisherman every gets tired of that feeling.
As it get closer to shore it starts to twist and turn trying to get rid of that hook. I have picked a nice spot to bring it onto the shore if it is a hatchery or to tube it if the adipose fin is intact.
Unfortunately I see some blood coming from its mouth so now I hope it is a hatchery. I have over the years seldom had a bleeding steelhead. I search now for that fin; good there is not one so ashore it comes, a hen close to 8 pounds.
The two fellows that were fishing the run where I landed it come racing over and the questions follow.
I mark the fish on my license and I was glad I had two pens as one would not write, been in my pack too long I guess.
I head for a snack to reward myself as once again my wife will be pleased to serve fresh fish. I am not sure how many casts it took between my 2 steelhead for 2009 but maybe it was getting close to a thousand.
The count starts tomorrow again but I donot think I will bother to count them as it does not really matter in the whole scheme of things as just getting out on the beautiful Chilliwack Vedder River is enough of a reward, to me anyway.
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Topic: Chilliwack River, January 22nd 2009: A Steelhead Of A Thousand Cast (Read 3259 times)