Great day to catch a Steelhead, cloudy, water temp. 50*, and a slight breeze. Launched the boat off the gravel at Couse Creek in Hell's Canyon and boated upriver past Buffallo Eddy to a nice drift that is about 200 yds. long, applied Smelly Jelly to the underside of the Hawg Boss plugs, put the lines in, and started a slow back troll, had backed down about 30 yds. and "wham" the rod nearest shore had a fish on, played the fish and reeled in the other rod at the same time, while the 8hp Honda and TR-1 Autopilot kept the boat straight, Steelhead jumped three or four times before I netted her, turned out to be a wild one, released it without taking her out of the water. fished this drift for about thirty minutes and only managed to catch a 1 lb. Smallmouth. Went down river to another good drift, put the lines in and in about ten minutes the outboard rod just started a slow bend, I picked it out of the rod holder and felt a heavy fish, it made a long run and then stayed even with the boat for a while, after about fifteen minutes I nosed the boat into a sandbar and continued to play the Steelhead, this one was really a fighter, didn't jump, but what a tug of war, Well he finally came in on his side and I slid the net under a nice "B" run wild one that was around twelve pounds, beautiful fish, released him, and made another pass wit no luck, so I went to another drift a little farther down river. Had the lines in for about forty five minutes, and "fish on", this turned out to be a seven pound hatchery Steelie, netted him, took a picture and headed for the boat launch. Another good day Steelheading, ain't life great. Ken

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