This is my first season steelheading and I've been out at it with no luck every weekend and the occassional weekday since November. Wednesday I finally got my first fish and it was a beaut.

We were out with guide Rod Bush floating the Sauk from high bridge down to the Skagit. We were about halfway through our first hole backbouncing tadpollys when my rod doubled over. I grabbed it and got the hook set good when he started back for the ocean. We got him turned and rowed over to a gravel bar where I jumped out and worked him in. The guide estimated him to be about 19lbs. An amazing looking fish. Still very bright and full of piss. We got some pics and sent him on his way.

Later I got a 13lb hen that was chrome bright and put up a hell of a fight with several jumps and good runs. Every time we got her into shallow water she'd turn and bolt back out. More pics and she was gone.

The water was a little milky when we started but was clear on the edges. By the time we drove back up to the putin, it was looking perfect. Today should be fantastic up there.

Those two fish may cost me a bundle. I'm thinking I really need a boat.

B. Gray

[This message has been edited by B. Gray (edited 03-18-99).]

You think it might be expensive?

I shudder to think of all the money I've spent to freeze my ass off, swear, swat at bugs, come home smelling like dead fish, and put 200K miles on my car. All this for a little tug on the end of my line.

If you're married I suggest you explain to your wife how things are gonna change around here! If you're hooked, then you're hooked.

Good luck.
Fish on...
Todd.

Yeah, she's been pretty good about it so far. Even bought me new waders for my birthday back in January. I'm trying to find ways to convince her that WE need a boat and she'll also get a lot of fun out of it.

You have now become a sick individual like the rest of us. I could tell by the look in your eyes at the Gov't Bridge yesterday that you were indeed hooked. Dilated might be the word. Drugs, who needs'm.

P.S. I was kidding about the size of that first fish. She was a beauty.

Another woman becomes second in line to steelies. A sad but true situation. If you're wondering how to make the swelling go away, ice won't work. Sorry Waldo, someone caught their first steelie, and managed to pry it from their hands to let it fight another day. I thinki I'm going to we my self. Good job, it only gets better. You don't want to know how much cash I've racked up on this addiction. There isn't a program at the Betty Ford Clinic for this. Sorry

I have a solution for you. Take the wife (this also works on girlfriends) out on a driftboat with a guide and get her a nice steelie. I did that very thing on Dec. 9 1998 and have been fishing every weekend save two WITH the sweetie ever since. The connection made between man (or woman) and fish during that first fight is terribly hard to break. Beware!!!!!! she has also out fished me every weekend save two since then. good luck!

My wife has NO interest, I hope yours does.( You will need a heater) Take her out, tell her she needs a fancy reel and a brand new GLoomis. If she hates it; you still got the good gear. If she likes it, great and if fishin's slooww...well, figure it out.

B.Gray,
Congratulations!!!!! It only gets better from here on out. It seems that first one is always the toughest and when you get your first one by yourself it will be the next step. You should feel very fortunate to get such a beauty for your first ever!!! Also, boats are great, but they are not a necessity! As a matter of fact most of my favorite summer run holes are not even accessible by boat, so you might want to hold off till fall (boats are wonderful if you are a fall salmon fan!). Again, congrats and good luck!
Canyon Man

congrats, you were spoiled with a 19 pound native. nothing better!

ALOT OF MONEY!!!! I know how much I made last year and how much I spent fishing, thank god for credit cards! Do you think I live in a schoolbus because I like the veiw? It can get BAD! BUT ITS SO WORTH IT! AHHH, THE YANK! THE FLASH OF CHROME! THE RIVER, THE RAIN, THE CHEAP BEER,COLD FRIED CHICKEN.....I'M OUTA HERE FOR A FEW DAYS!!

Jim! Is that YOUR place at the school bus body hole?? When the river's out, you are, too, huh?! And congrats on your senior membership; look out babes!

your a sick man... Im so sick I had my lomis written into my divorce papers..I wish you tight lines and many, many more....congrats

That was an impressive first fish. I had my fishing gear written into my divorce settlement, too. My (ex)husband didn't get any of it.