It has been a GREAT month of steelhead fishing on the Trinity River! December usually comes through - less crowds, more fish in the system, and colder weather separates the fair-weather fishers from the ANGLERS!!!
Even with the low and super clear water we have been fortunate enough to see double digit fish hookup days many times these past few weeks!! Fish are really in the system folks!!!
We are just now seeing the bulk of the hatchery run- in late December. I have taken at least eight tags out of fish (both wild and hatchery) this week alone. These fish were tagged earlier in the season. With the lack of rain and runoff many of these fish have been staging and moving pretty slowly upriver. Unlike last season where the endless deluge of storm systems made it much harder to consistently locate and catch fish.
I have been seeing pods of fish every day and despite the very technical conditions, a competent, knowledgeable guide can make make a huge difference if "success" is measured by opportunities to touch fish. Throw in some halfies and occasional large brown trout and the net stays wet.
I stress that with steelhead fishing (and fly fishing in general) it's not the number of fish you hook or land... It's the overall experience that matters.
I'll have some nice hero shots of our adventures really soon! I'm just not able to download the dozens of pics I have on my camera at this time... For now just visualize lots of big steelhead and even bigger smiles on my clients' faces..
I was fortunate to experience some great memories these past few weeks - witnessing many anglers new to the steelhead game, hook, fight and land their first steelhead(s). We all know the patience, persistence, luck, and determination needed to perceiver to end where you can connect, battle, tail and release these magnificent creatures!!
A quick story:
The native wild fish in the Trinity system are born from high achieving parents in dozens of small tributaries to the Trinity River. Suitable wild bucks and hens lay in wait in the mainstem river for enough rain to swell these tiny creeks then shoot upstream and do their wild thing, returning back to the saltwater when the journey and end goal is complete. The eggs hatch and the tiny alevins get introduced to the rough and tumble life of a future wild steelhead.
They spend the next few months avoiding predation from the ever-present ospreys, eagles, herons, mergansers, bigger fish etc! The desire for a better life and high flows of spring eventually push these young fish westward and into the saltwater. In the salt, it's a great mystery where these fish go... (I've heard second hand stories of Trinity fish tagged with tracking devices located all the way into Asian waters!?!)
In the ocean, countless other predators try to eat them and only the very strong and fast survive in this great sea of tribulation. In a few years, and many pounds gained, they reach maturity and the strong pull of home waters brings them back to their natal streams. It could be Canyon Creek, Reading Creek, or the North Fork but these wonderful creatures make the great journey as millions have done before them for countless centuries.
The fact that we can even touch them with a fly line and rod - pulling a size #14 Copper John or swung leech from their mouth is beyond what my feeble and humble words can begin to do justice...they are indeed a very worthy creature deserving of our stewardship, conservation, and protection. The pursuit of steelhead is a forever life changing experience for many of us "haunted by waters"...
I want to send out a huge Thank You to all my wonderful clients who have taken the time, spent the money, booked trips and worked hard in my boat all day to allowing me to share this wonderful experience and steelhead adventure with you. This has been an awesome season to date and I've completely booked all of my winter 2011/12 dates this year!
As always, feel free to contact me regarding any questions or inquiries into my guide service, whether on the Trinity or my home waters of the Eastern Sierra and Mammoth Lakes. Please visit my website www.reelmammothadventures.com email me at Neal2fish@qnet.com or call my cell (760)914-0465
Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to all of you. Cheers!!
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