The few times we went out with our
meat sticks floating from High Bridge to Sultan on the Sky we were successful
and usually came across fish (any rod that is not a fly rod is considered a
meat stick. Therefore gear fisherman are considered meat fishers… fishing for
the purpose of gathering meats). Learning to cast a 13’ two handed seven weight
was a different story. Needless to say, I now have several coats with multiple
holes in the shoulder region. But learning this technique is a science that I have
greatly enjoyed this winter. My only fish on the spey rod so far are a small
dolly varden caught a on a red fly on the skykomish my first time out with the
rod about three casts in, a rotten chum that I snagged in the back, and a lost
steelhead in late October. Since then it has been learning how to cast, learning
about grains, and which sink tips to use.
A Wolfman sighting on the Skykomish |
Hatchery brats for dinner |
Katie fighting another hatchery fish on the Sky |
Spey fishing for steelhead has also
afforded me the opportunity to tie some of the funnest flies I have ever made.
Intruder style flies have proven successful even though they look like
something Barney the purple dinosaur pulled from his left nostril and have no resemblance
to anything else floating down a river.
Purples, blues, blacks, and reds and other elaborate designs that for
some reason annoy a steelhead enough to make them to grab it.
Swinging
flies is a challenge, and something I learned to thoroughly enjoy. I’ve since
tied and lost too many flies to count, spent way too much time on YouTube
watching videos, purchased a switch rod (11 foot 8 weight) to add to my arsenal,
and spent several sick days home from work watching Skagit master. I figure by
next winter I’ll be fishing with Ed Ward up on the Sauk releasing 20 pound
natives on Skagit master 6.