I was looking for an opportunity to try out my setup with a new rod, reel, braided line and balanced bobber. Fortunately, my morning opened up for a few hours. The new snow only added to my adventure. Thomas Eddie is close by and a favorite of mine, but sometimes the parking lot is full before first light. Not this time. My foot tracks were the only ones in 2-3 inches of snow. This fueled me with excitement, and I quickened my pace to a run. Last week I conversed with a few hunters who said they had a sighting of one 3’ steelhead jump completely out of the water and three others trapped in a nearby marsh. I thought it would be good to check this out. The marsh was partially frozen, shallow and filled with reeds. Somehow I was able to make a few precision casts under hanging trees and in unfrozen areas, kept my tackle on, but no steelhead were found. I continued up the riverside about a mile on frozen grass and a snow covered path in the woods, and found a nice place on the river to test my skills. The air was fresh, the river was magically beautiful. It was quiet except for the flock of white geese that sounded by and the occasional donkey heehaw from across the river. My tracks were the only ones there and back in the snow. I marked this a 4, even though no fish were caught because it was one of my finest days ever on the water due to the serene beauty. Thanks everyone for staying away so I could have it all to myself. Happy fishing!

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