Starting Time: 11:00 AM
Location: Skykomish River
Method of Persuasion: Egg & Yarnies
Setup: Okuma Celilo 9'6" 4-8lb Rod, Pfluger Trion 30 Reel, 15 Pound Hydrofloat.


The sun was shining, the birds were chirping full song, and the white "mom caravan" was packed full of my favorite people on this planet; today I was graced with the assistance of my friend and guide trainee, Emag, with Phil, Kelly and Dev along for the ride.

I train with Phil and Kel during the week, and after a hard week of throwing focus mitts, Muay Thai knees and kicks, we decided it was about time to wet a few lines together, and boy, I'm glad we did!

Although the water was the classic "Steelhead green," the river occupants were far from cooperative; we worked up, down, high and low, on the float, spoon, drift gear, and even resulted to using summer sausage (what the heck, we got bored and hungry) which did produce one solid bite from a curious steelhead. Give us your tired, dull, slow learning hatchery Steelhead; we have a cozy place in the barbeque for you.

During the final two hours of our trip, I decided to lengthen my drift leader, which produced a solid striking, hard fighting fish. We put Dev on the line; this Steelhead was scrappy! It zipped to and fro, head shook like a sopping wet dog, and threatened us with quite some aerial work. But wait, not a Steelie after all? Surprisingly. this 23" Dolly Varden put up the best, most deceiving battle that I have ever seen. Congratulations Dev for landing your first fish on the Skykomish River!

As the final hour crept in, and we were all pretty beat. Sun burned, dehydrated, and lips chapped, we continued to beat the water we were fishing, like George St. Pierre on a training day. After giving the fishing hole a 10 minute rest (yes, I timed it on my Timex) we resumed our casting, this time with full spoon and drift gear.

First cast out, I attracted a solid "smash." Little did we know, we were in for a fight! We couldn't decide whether or not it was a King, or Native Steelhead for the longest time, until 30 minutes in, it finally surfaced about 10 yards from the shore, prior to stripping another half spool full of Hydrofloat on our 4-8 lb test rod; yes, we at Reel Priorities fish only ultra-light gear. Drift, float and spoon, you better believe it!

47 minutes later, with the adept angling skills that Kel picked up during the day, and my "iron claw" grip, the Sky produced forth a 36" Trophy Native Steelhead Buck. You be the judge, but we believe it to be close to 25#, easily breaking the 20# mark. Congratulations Phil, Kelly & Dev on your first two fish from the Sky, one being the high sought after prize that 90% of Steelhead anglers never see in their angling careers.

Whatever the goal, experience or journey you're looking for, I guarantee we'll fill the bill, Reel Priorities style. If you're curious how to punch out your catch card, want to perfect your angling technique and rigging, or simply seek a day off from tying, retying, smelling like bait for a week and tailing fish, my door is open to you.

The river, she beckons; I dare you to answer her call.

Rock to rock, Cast by cast.

"Specializing in the Instruction of Advanced Salmon & Steelheading Techniques and Systematic Bank Fishing Tactics."

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"Specializing in the Instruction of Advanced Salmon & Steelheading Techniques and Systematic Bank Fishing Tactics."

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