Just upstream from here is the Deer Lick and where several of my encounters with Mr. and Mrs. Steelhead were. They still swim wild today, which the most important thing for me
There are three primary wallets of steelie flies there, god knows how many there are. 100s at least. Never be on the river with out the right fly is my motto. Oh forget to tell you there are 4 more backup contingency small boxes in the vest you do not see in the picture.
Fred how do you like my Thinsulate hat, thats the old one, never did get a new one after the Estonia posting fiasco. Maybe next year.
Check out my home made camflouge wading staff (an old down hill ski pole (30 years old) which were converted. Did use them last week in the Deer Lick. Dam that current is strong when wading upstream
Went 0 for 12 but it was a great baptizing for the new rod, some great fights in those fish. They would have swam free even if I landed one, two were close if I would have some one with me to help think I would have gotten at least one of them for sure.
Running into log jams with 4 lb test leader and 10-14 lb steelies is not a high probability of success to the angler.
Oh well went 0 for 20 something on fresh kings one time in the PM and we walked out that day saying Alaska could not be better.
Hal, great pics, looks like tough wading to me after all the Cape wading I have done, Nice rod and reel set up. Will collar Juro to show me the spey techneque someday. Just what I need ....more fly rods
Yes that was the heart of Michigans andramous lake michigan and huron fishing and the heart of its river trout fishing area within a 100 mile radius of where I was are countless rivers and creeks available for fly fishing. Wading was tough at times but could have been worse, since the river had dropped from the previous week. Actually its the up and down Clay Banks, around log jams, and the renowned Michigan black muck swamps. You can go down like quick sand in these if not careful, not to the degree to die, but you can get stuck and with waders on you can become a mess very quickly. In 30 degree weather that is not fun, I fell in many years ago and it was not pleasant beleive me
Autumn is the prime season there for all species and with the foliage it is just beautiful.
4-5 hour drive from Chicago max, that 5 day trip for lodging, gas, food, forest parking permit was about $ 350 max ( $ 70/day). No wonder it is hard for me to get on a plane for a fly fishing trip since this fishery is 365 days a year.
Wisconsin, Minnesota, UP of Michigan and Ontario also have great salmon, trout, steelhead fishing they are within easy driving distance also.
Oh well time to get ready for the skammanias now. Work on my golf game etc...
Look forward to the east coast striper reports that will be coming on, boy do I wish I was closer to the salt, who knows maybe I will take a run to NJ this summer and visit my parents in Toms River, and do IBSP and Barnegat bay ? :whoa: :whoa:
Attached is one last picture I did last week. Thats the PM in the flies only section. Did not really take many Pics this time.
In Oregon most of the river pic's would be called a large 'Creek.' Hook one and I can see why you've got almost nowhere to go with him when he runs. Skip the 6# tippits and go to 10-12.
fae
I suspect that a lot of guys have made 21 trips with the same results. But in the leader dept., have you used florocarbon? Or some of the newer materials that are very thin for their 'test?'
fae
Yes have some of the fluor carbon. Rio Fluor Flex Plus. Will give it another try. But good old maxima green is hard to leave.
Just sorted my flies for the trip, I have so many flies from 22 years of steelhead tying, I forgot that I had even tied some of these. No way can they all fit in my fly fishing vest.
Can a steelheader have to many flies ? LOL
Gotta go to be bed off to Notre Dame for the Blue and Gold game tomorrow in South Bend with my son. Back home by 6 or 7 then pack the car to leave for Michigan in early morning and meet the sunday clavers.
Of course the steelhead fishing starts again also.
Won't be back on line to Wednesday night or Thursday. You will know how it goes through the forumn before I do.
have reallllly got your priorities screwed up. Now a "Hook-up Jesus" shrine I could see .....:devil:
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