The daytime temps have been in the 50's all week here in Hell's Canyon, the river flow has been high, and it has risen about two feet, but is still reasonably clear for fishing. Until today the wind has been blowing pretty hard, at least hard enough to keep us off the river, not that it's, it's lack of boat control when trying to troll. The weather report last night was for decreasing wind so we decide to give it a go today.

We manage to pry ourselves out of bed at 5:00am, get bundled up, and pull the boat out of the shop at 7:00am. Since the river is running high we will put in at Couse Creek, and go up the river three miles to a good fishing spot. On the way upriver, some of the familiar sandbars are almost out of sight due to the higher water. When we get to the place we want to fish the water is moving faster than usual, we decide to give it a try.

We go through the usual routine, Barb holds the boat steady with the big engine while I get everything ready to put the lines out. We put three rods out, one on each side, and one center rod, all three lines are let out 60', and then we start a slow back troll.

The current is faster than usual, but I manage to stay on the current seam, we pass through all the holding areas where we usually contact fish, and don't get a bump. At the end of the drift Barb suggest that we try a stretch of water that is usually running too slow for a good back troll when the water is low. We pull the lines in, and head for the new location.

When we arrive at the new location it looks really good, The current looks perfect for a good back troll, this stretch of water has a pretty consistent bottom contour, I will stay in the 6' to 10' range for the entire drift, we are fishing the WA side of the river.

Once again we put the lines out and start a very slow back troll, the little Honda is just off it's lowest idle, all three rods are showing good action. About five minutes pass, we are talking about the outside rod getting the most hits when we are fishing here, then Barb says "fish on my rod", (inside rod), I look at the rod, it is bowed back, and line is peeling off the reel. Barb wants me to play this one, so I jerk the rod out of the holder, then point the boat toward the middle of the river. The fish has stripped out a lot of line, there is no wind, so I shut the trolling motor off, and start working the Steelhead in, it makes several strong runs, and stays deep, when I bring him to the surface he does a couple of head shakes, then turns on his side showing a bright red stripe the length of his body. Barb slides the net under him, we let him rest and recover in the net, then lift him out , take a picture, and release him, beautiful Steelhead Buck.

We had nosed into a sandbar to take the picture, and decided this is a good time to have a cup of coffee, and a snack. The sun has gone behind a cloud, and darkened the canyon a little, but it is very clear for viewing. There are five Bighorn Ewes on the canyon wall, Barb has spotted a Kingfisher, and Blue Heron this morning, two of her favorite birds, she's always happy to see them.

We go back to the top of the drift, and start another back troll. We are in the cabin with the heater on, and the backdrop zipped shut, the water is glassy smooth, the rods are showing perfect action. In about ten minutes I see my rod slam back hard, I yell "fish on", and then get the backdrop unzipped, Barb gets to the rod and wrestles it out of the holder while the fish is stripping line out. The fish then comes out of the water seventy or eighty feet behind the boat, looks like a six or seven pound Hen. I guide the boat away from shore, turn off the trolling motor, and tilt it out of the water, nothing for the line to hang on now. This one is really putting up a fight; Barb works it back toward the boat, it powers downriver again, this is repeated several times before I am finally able to net her. What a beautiful Steelhead this is, we let her fully recover in the net before taking a picture and releasing her.

We then make another drift, have two more Steelhead on, and lose them both, also one hard takedown that didn't stick. We have been out about three hours, and decide to head for the launch a little early. Today is Barb's "hair day", and as all of us with wife's know, that is always first priority. It has been a great morning fishing, started out a bit iffy, but turned out pretty good after we found the fish. It is beautiful in the canyon, sunny, the water is glassy smooth, temp. is about 45*, good day to be on the river.

Ken & Barb

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