03/7/2023

As many know, I've lived in Grays Harbor since 1968, was a school teacher, thus had summers off.

1st steelhead I ever caught, was on a fly, this has been posted a few times in PP, was caught in the area where the Tolt River flows into the Snoqualmie River while fishing searun cutthroat, 1965.

When I moved to Aberdeen, I had to drive "South" to find summer steelhead, my success was not very good.

In the late 70's, summer steelhead was introduced to a local river. Teacher, summer off, should have made for me. Well, yes I caught a few every summer BUT NOT LIKE WHEN I SWITCHED TO bobber/float and jigs. Took awhile, to change from bait to jigs, and how to fish them, what colors, what depth, where to fish, what time of day to fish. I can't tell you the amount of times, I'd go late, 5-6 a m, and there were others bait fishing, I'd just watch....if a person left that was my opening. 1st couple of casts, I'd fish deep, jig hitting bottom...then adjust bobber down so jig was off the bottom 1.5- 3 foot. I'd cast short, then cast further, until I covered water in front on me, then repeat process but allow float to go down river further. I got so, it was easy limits, or hand off rod to others or especially kids.

Now to get to jigs vs. flies..... Teacher from Tacoma, would bring trailer down, and did so for about 5 years, fly fished ONLY. Morning after morning he'd drink coffee and watch "us" catch fish bobber and jigs. Then he'd try his flies, then he started tieing his flies to look, color wise, like the jigs guys were using. I NEVER DID SEE HIM CATCH A SUMMER STEELHEAD, when I was there. Got so, I'd ask other if they saw him catch one, no one ever said "yes". He knew how to cast, had all the different casts down, what it was???? I don't know BUT he never went to bobber and jigs..... special person..

Sorry so long, but like my 40+ years of fishing that river, it just takes time!!!!