Drifter,

Your post above is an interesting story and reveals important truths about sport fishing for steelhead and gear choices. I'm gonna' guess that first steelhead you caught on a fly at the mouth of the Tolt wasn't first fished with bait and jigs before you began fishing that day. Flies simply aren't as effective as bait, just as bait isn't as effective as gillnets, if you see what I mean. There is a hierarchy of effectiveness among gear and bait/lure choices.

The teacher from Tacoma you mention should never have bothered to follow bobbers and jigs through the pool IMO. Drinking coffee and watching was a far more productive use of his time. If he wanted to catch a steelhead, he should have found another spot holding steelhead and fished his flies there. I'll also add that particular river is among the least suited to fly fishing, again IMO. The best way to hook steelhead there is to fish a fly under a bobber - like a jig. IMO, of course.