hooknhawgs
Offline
4 salt
Profile Status:
Reged: 11/15/07
Posts: 36
Loc: western Wa
|
|
It was Tuesday Morning the 15th of July, when I met my old friend at the local park and ride in Olympia. I was quite amazed how well my Mentor looked after not seeing him for about twenty years. You see, one day back in 1970, he offered to take me while him and my dad were going to the toutle river for some steelheading. John ( his name) was perhaps a local legend on that river since 1947. Claims he new every nook and cranny in her. He parked me at a big rock in the river and gave me a tub of roe,showed me how to tie and bait my hook, showed me where to cast, and they left down a trail. They returned after about 3 hours in time for lunch with a limit each of those steelhead. I have never seen a steelhead before, and was I quite surprised when i saw those fish hanging off of each of their arms. Believe me after seeing that, I really wanted to catch one. I was used to catching some trout from my dad taking me to the lakes, but never a steelhead. On the third day of casting my little zebco rod and reel, as they were in the motor home and ready to go home, i was still casting and was sure i would catch one. They were yelling for me to come on, and then WHAM. I felt something on my line and it was pulling very hard. The fish went around the boulder, and down river. My Dad ran out of the motor home and charged into the river onto that rock to get my line free. She was a beaut. Little chromer 6 lb hen... My first.. THis brings me to tuesday. Soon after we launched, John had mentioned that steelheading was his biggest passion all through out his life, and that he had not been fishing for about ten years. About 40 minutes after we sunk the bait, there she blows!!! we had a DOUBLE as FOP was watching just below us wondering what was all the comotion.. We landed both and ended up going 4 for 5 that morning.. It was such a nice feeling to see the exitement on his face when he was fighting the fishees. I feel that My steelheading has come full circle now.. Time is so short so take your dad or your mentor fishing and bring your fishing full circle as well.... HooknHawgs.
-------------------- Team Whack Whack
If it aint chrome
It dont go home...
|
Tally
Offline
Man of Steel
Profile Status:
Reged: 02/23/04
Posts: 1342
Loc: In my Sled
|
|
Good for you. Your prorities are in order!! Fishin with my Dad were the best of times.
-------------------- bugs in my teeth, egg goo under my fingernail's. I am fisherman....
|
southforkcowboy
Offline
scoop them heels
Profile Status:
Reged: 02/19/05
Posts: 778
Loc: Red Neck Heaven
|
|
Nice story & pic!
-------------------- God, family,country.(ropin',huntin'& fishin' too)The diffrence between a roper & a pizza- a pizza will feed a family of five.
|
fishdoc
Offline
Thick Tail
Profile Status:
Reged: 01/30/02
Posts: 3020
Loc: SWWA
|
|
Best Story in years!
I remember the days of summer run Toutle fish...none better.
doc
-------------------- If we always do what we've always done, we'll always get what we've always gotten.
|
Fish Jesus
Offline
thread killer
Profile Status:
Reged: 04/20/02
Posts: 4799
Loc: your river
|
|
Great story! May your steelhead mojo continue to flow! Must have been some powerful reasons as to why John took 10 years off from Steelheading.
I fish with my Dad and Brother as often as I can.
--------------------
|
Musicman
Online!
Thick Tail
Profile Status:
Reged: 11/26/03
Posts: 6998
Loc: Roy
|
|
Ditto the great story, and a great reminder to take the ones that mean the most of you fishing.
-------------------- JD
|
Tony1831
Offline
Native slab
Profile Status:
Reged: 07/20/05
Posts: 2942
Loc: near DC
|
|
Way to go! 
Cherish these moments, for one day your fishing partner will go off in pursuit of water that will take you many years to find. When you do finally cross paths again, he will already know all the good spots.
-------------------- <---- "Jihad this!"
Team 10%
Semper fi and tight lines
PGR member
Bocephus for President 2008 !!
|
Desertdog
Offline
Road Warrior
Profile Status:
Reged: 11/11/00
Posts: 1978
Loc: Nevada??
|
|
Now thats what its all about... Great story about a great day. Way to go.
-------------------- Gettin' old ain't fer wimps!!
Lonnie Gane
|
hooknhawgs
Offline
4 salt
Profile Status:
Reged: 11/15/07
Posts: 36
Loc: western Wa
|
|
Thanks a lot you guys, it truly was a fun day and today I took him his bounty of smoked steelhead and he tried a piece and was in hawg heaven once again... He also gave me his recipe for his brine when i was ten, and still have it on the original card he wrote it on.. Fantastic fish.... Hooknhawgs
-------------------- Team Whack Whack
If it aint chrome
It dont go home...
|
stlhdr1
Offline
Egg Freak
Profile Status:
Reged: 02/19/02
Posts: 974
Loc: Vancouver, WA
|
|
Great story!!
Keep up the good work!
Keith
-------------------- CEO-Ultimate Egg Cure
- www.ultimateguideservice.com - Now booking Spring Chinook/Summer Steelhead Lewis River 360-606-2195
|
Fishhead5
Offline
I'm hung like Einstein and smart as a horse
Profile Status:
Reged: 10/20/00
Posts: 1689
Loc: Shelton
|
|
Nice Job!!!
-------------------- Fishhead5
It is not illegal to deplete a fishery by management.
|
tunaboat
Offline
egg
Profile Status:
Reged: 01/17/08
Posts: 1
Loc: yakima,wa
|
|
hook it was nice to met you tuesday i was the guy that was parked next to you during you lunch with your mentor it looked like you guys were having a good time see you again i sure
|
b51
Offline
sockeye
Profile Status:
Reged: 10/20/05
Posts: 75
Loc: Enumclaw, WA
|
|
Great story. I did something similiar a couple of weeks ago. If we forget about these guys we will lose in a big way. The guy I took outfished us kids. Thanks for sharing. b51
-------------------- There is no merit where there is no trial; and until experience stamps the mark of strength, cowards may pass for heroes and faith for falsehood."
|