Small tributaries are clear and fishing well for fresh steelhead. The increased water level this past week brought in fresh chrome and plenty of angling opportunities. I’ve been so busy working, coaching and making final preparations for Angler’s Workshop that there’s been scarce time to chase these aquatic silver bullets. To further frustration, my friends continue to recount favorable steelheading exploits. One colleague landed six after work yesterday.
Today’s sixty degree temperature beckoned. I had an hour of free time, provided that I took care of our 10 month old baby son. I did what any loving, angling father should do- I took him fishing. Within minutes of our home is a small, suburban tributary that now and then gives up steelhead. Strapping my son on the chest pack, I pulled on a fanny gear bag that I use for trib fishing and grabbed my 6wt. I prefer to use a 7wt for small trib fishing and spring steelhead, but this rod was rigged and time was limited. Not wearing waders and needing to stay dry, I walked to a dominant plunge pool. Rigging up was a comical routine, as the baby enjoyed grabbing my leader, yanking on the fly line and reaching for my hemostats. I made sure to keep the hook well enough away. Balancing with a baby, casting, managing line, mending, staying dry and other fishing details become a greater challenge with an active, grabby 10 month old. Enough that, I was distracted and managed to lose my first fish.
I decided to rest the plunge pool and retied. Maneuvering around eager hands, I managed to tie on a small, brown, egg sucking cone head bugger. I walked a portion of the stream, spooking one fish in a riffle. These guys appear eager to spawn. Running out of time, I returned to the plunge pool and told myself that I had time for 10 more casts. Somewhere around the fifteenth cast, I hooked up to a bright fish that took off downstream. She went under a log and down the rapids. When I saw my backing, I took action and entered the creek. Who needs waders anyway? Protecting the baby, I managed to pass the rod under the first log, later threaded a logjam and finally navigated a few bushes. Minutes later, I caught up to the fish and brought in a beautiful hen. That hook held and sometimes you just get lucky. I was soaked from my knees down, while baby only managed to dampen one sock. I snapped a few pics, gave thanks for this gorgeously colored steelhead and departed. It’s my first fish w/ our son and a wonderful experience that I hope to recreate for years to come.
Come join us this Saturday (March 20th) for an awesome Angler’s Workshop at Twelve Corners Middle School. There will be numerous workshops/sessions/fly tying/demonstrations/casting/movies/raffle prizes and more, from 9 am to 3:45. Cost is $15 for adults and $10 for youth, with gate proceeds benefitting the Canandaigua Chapter of Trout Unlimited and the Upstate Fly Fishers. Click on the Angler’s Workshop icon above, to see specific sessions and the schedule. This is a special day of fly fishing events and we hope that you are able to join us.
