Living the Thompson Legacy

Aaahhhhh - don't sweat it with the pics- I'm just jealous 'cause you guys got some of the best shots of Thompson steelies I've seen!

I think I can speak for Tyler when I say it was a real treat sharing a place very special to us both with you and Bill.

I read another email from a "Tom" - member of the Washington [email protected] - who was on the Thompson the same weekend without a hookup. He was complaining about the pressure from all the Totems flyclub, etc.

I guess it's a combination of great company, good luck, and a generous river! It's certainly a trip I'll remember for a long time.

tight lines!

DoubleSpey

Tyler, "T" river god! Simple thank you's won't do for sharing the wonders of your stomping grounds with us. When I showed up with my carbide studs and freshly gnawed beaver wading staff, I thought I was rigged for bear. As we rigged up I didn't take your guffaw seriously but graciously accepted the use of a "real" wading staff anyway. When I got to the river I thought to myself... "where did they get all this butter?". My gluts got a workout while my legs were trying to hold onto the angled boulder tops by the arches of my boots with the current slapping me around. I always tried to look like I was in control but spent most of my wading hours on the edge of a major tumble and swim.

The diversity was part of the thrill, and the largeness of everything in the valley was only matched by the steelhead and the spirits of the people who pursued them. Although only a day and a half, it was an epic visit to one of the incredible places this planet has to offer and I hope I can return the favor to you someday.

Meanwhile, I will sit here at work JEALOUS as hell! I look forward to the next rabid steelheader's convention with great anticipation.

Brian - you were right, the place haunts those who fish it.

Indebted,

Juro

John -

The big difference between great lakes and west coast is topwater. Even when not using a skater or dry, the call is for dry lines. In other words, we move fish to the fly, instead of moving the fly in the fish's face. Of course this is due to the summer run, which G/L guys know as "Skamania". That's actually the name of a county in Washington State along the Columbia river, and the name given to a strain of hardy summer runs introduced to withstand the non-glacial NY river temps / conditions. I am sure you could move NY summer runs to a fly in Sept/Oct - but the profusion of salmon would make it harder.

I'll refrain from passing judgement on using flygear to cast the weight of slinkies or lead, straight running lines to meet local regulations in select river stretches, stationary pounding of one spot (no progression through the pool), and other Great Lakes techniques. Having caught both, I will say the ones that go to sea are much stronger fighters. I guess I would too if I had gone several thousand miles of tidewater running from orca, sea lions, and birds of prey. But I said I wouldn't pass judgement

CA's North Coast has some steelhead fishing, once great but I am not certain of current status. These rivers include the Smith River, Trinity River, Mad River, Klamath River, Eel River and the Russian River. All rivers of great lore. I exchanged email with someone a long time ago, I'll dig up his address and see what he has to say.

Eric Bigler is a Deschutes River regular and if you're thinking about OR steelhead it's a must to chat with him. If you read the posts of others on this board you'll see there are some true steelhead schauzers all of whom can provide sage advice on the ever-elusive yet incredibly satisfying summer steelhead.

CA is not nearly the opportunity that OR, WA or better yet BC is. There are a couple rivers north of the Bay area with steelhead and salmon, but you're lowering the odds significantly playing here. It's sad to think that once steelhead were found as far south as Mexico. Then again there was a king salmon commercial fishery on the shores of downtown seattle where 50 pound fish were common... this fishery did not involve any boats! Glory days are gone... but as long as there are wild steelhead I have faith that things can be right in the world.

LONG LIVE WILD STEELHEAD!