South Santiam Unvarnished
South Santiam, Again and … – Jay Nicholas
Thirty-one years on this piece of water. Jeepers. I wonder if I may have worn it out, but I keep going back when June comes around. Every June.
Skamania summer steelhead – we stacked ‘em in the fish box like cordwood back in the seventies. All big, bright, clean, sleek, fat fish. Sure they were. Lately, though, these fish don’t seem quite as grand. Lately, I notice scuffed-up gill covers, stubbed-off tails, mossy re-cycle tags, rounded noses, and chaotic scale patterns. Digital cameras are cuttingly accurate. Memories, on the other hand - - -
I miss fishing the Willows and Upper Last Chance. Gone now, forever, victims of the damn dams. But it’s still only 45 minutes to the River, still June, and I still feel that anticipation when clouds gather and it smells like rain. Got that new Spey rod lined and strung, waders laid-out, my biggest-baddest leech tied on, and I’m ready to go. Check the flow. Pack a hundred-dozen flies, just in case.
June 18th. I meet Ed at the Lebanon Walmart. We goin’ fishin’? Ha ha! We’re geared up for thirteen-hours on the water, but the bagels and Powerbars don’t make it into the boat. Oh well, we’ve got water and sunscreen. Boat traffic is heavy, so we fish between the gear-guys. They think we’re freaks and we are – fly fishing freaks. We find grabby fish: six leaping, blurred handle, into-the-backing-twice fish. Three meet their hatchery-ordained destiny in the fish box. Ed boats two and I kill one for Andy. He’ll savor the whole fish, every scrap and flake of protein, working the carcass down to a pile of boiled bones. Andy remembers the Great Depression.
News
By: Maximilian Werner Fly Rod & Reel Magazine- Oct 28, 2009
By: Maximilian WernerFly Rod & Reel MagazineThis isn't just true of fly fishing, either. Just give me the essentials and point me toward the water. I once shared my minimalist philosophy with my- Oct 25, 2009
Rig for a record runThe Spokesman ReviewDavid Moershel of Spokane releases a steelhead during a fly fishing and rafting trip on the Grande Ronde in southeastern Washington. and more »- Oct 23, 2009
![Oct. 21 fish report Bakersfield Californian]("http://nt3.ggpht.com/news/tbn/vxT-VBZ0Pkdp8M/6.jpg")
BoatTEST.comOct. 21 fish reportBakersfield CalifornianHe was fishing with waders on, using a 10-pound test with a seven-foot Ugly Stick fishing rod and a Little Cleo lure. Lance Bowman of Bakersfield caught a Fishing/hunting reportall 58 news articles »
- Oct 22, 2009
River fishing might not be spectacular, but it's not badThe OlympianSkookumchuck: Opened to fishing for salmon Oct. 16 to Feb. 28. The daily limit is six. Up to four adults may be retained. Release chinook, wild coho and and more »- Oct 20, 2009
Ore.'s Fly-Fishing Governor Aims To Hook Green JobsNPRBut suddenly, the governor's rod arcs toward the water. The governor starts to reel in his line, his eyes fixed on the river. He's braced for a steelhead and more »