Field Notes from Jess ~ Rewilding in 2021 | Week 16/52 | Spring
Apr 11, 202152 Sundays of REWILDING in 2021
Field Notes from Jess ~ Sunday 16/52 weekend in review: STEELHEAD FISHING!
I’m not even sure how to express my excitement for this experience. The day started at first dawn after spending the night In the back seat of a truck. The drive out here was a long one and sleeping at the rivers edge was the best way to get first bite this Sunday morning. Scott Turner with Silhouette Outdoors assisted me with casting technique and within 15 minutes I reeled in a 34” Hen. She was a big beautiful girl! Not only was this my first Steelhead, but also my first time catching a fish on a fly rod....(and the biggest fish I’ve ever reeled in) ~ Amazing morning
I was persistent through high noon sending cast after cast into the river for what felt like hours. I switched over to a spinning rod and can tell you that at this moment I can barely move my right arm or bend my wrist....maybe not blood, sweat and tears, but definitely inflamed muscles, wet feet and laughs. (Editors note: This particular species are also called “The Fish of a Thousand Casts”)
Early afternoon and with no lunch due to my excitement and the anticipation of the next catch, I caught THE ONE. A big Ol’ Buck Steelhead measuring 36.5” ~ Idaho State Catch and Release record is currently 38” (not bad Jess).
A few got away as I made beginner errors..too much slack before hooking the line or reeling in with too much tension when I should have loosened the drag and let the fish run with it.
We returned all of these prehistoric looking sea-run trout to the river. They make their way from the Pacific Ocean, to the Columbia River to the Clearwater River here in Idaho. Sitting shotgun now as we head back to civilization while chasing a beautiful sunset. This last year of rewilding my life has been worth all of the inconveniences, including a bad nights sleep in the back of a truck at 26 degrees.
