New season...new goal...new fish.  For some reason being busy has limited my posts.  I'm focusing on fishing the fly more this year and hopefully can keep the blog busy.  Until the fly is in the water here is a bright coastal king to keep the juices flowing.

There's nothing like hooking one of these bad boys in water that's deep enough with enough current for them to really work.  I had no where to land it at until a nice boater let me board and assisted with the landing.  It will feed the family so the next fish can swim free to do their thing. 

I have a bamboo rod that saw some action this summer and I believe it needs to feel the bend of a fish again so over the mountains for one last trout hunt I may go.  However, the call of the coast is very strong with the good fishing and its hard to ignore.

First on the tag

Made it out with Ed Fast of Ed Fast River Adventures Saturday.  We floated the Sandy River.  Ahhhh, the Sandy, she be a mean wench sometimes.  But not Saturday, we were rewarded with the most beautiful of fish, the steelhead. 
This was the second fish to hand, a chrome wild.  Small but gorgeous.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c257/dwmerrio/DSCF0013_zpsbf3ec3fb.jpg

Before that I was able to ink the tag for 2012 and secure a fish for the family to enjoy.  One of the reasons I fish and hunt is to enjoy the fruits of this great land.

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c257/dwmerrio/DSCF0007_zps315c02d0.jpg

Finally, I was able to connect last week with my first steelhead on a swung fly.  Fishing my okuma reel on a Cabela's 13'8" two hander brought a huge 38" clackamas wild fish to hand.  My very personal best steelhead to date and so very worth the many hours spent learning the spey.  The only pic is in my memory, to be replayed at will. 

Enjoy the winter.