From the times I have been up to fish the
Oly Pen, and from looking at the Olympic Mountains from the Space Needle and then from overhead in my brother's small plane, I have been very positively impressed with the OP. But after today, it has risen a big notch up for me; for a some good reasons. ...

Before that though, I'll mention that I bankfished a few spots on the Hoh R. with Marty M. Tuesday; after a short visit with Bob Ball and Fishgal at a launch site. Fishing was a little on the slow side from what we saw and heard. Marty got 2 on eggs; including one in the upper teens. I only floatfished jigs and pink worms today; losing 1 big Hoh brusier when I tried to stop him from going under a submerged branch. Bob's driftboat went 4 for 7 today. It's a great river - and of course would be better w/o netting. But ...

... the best fishing experience I've had since fishing B.C. late last summer happened this evening after Marty and I split from the Hoh to head home. I drove way up one of the trophy steelhead rivers I hadn't explored yet; from 5:00 p.m. to sunset around 7:30. The 2 fish I landed up there certainly were part of the great experience,
but it was the lack of any people and the best scenery I've seen yet up close on the outer OP that made this really special! The deep pristine pools of the large river were crytal clear, with just a perceptable bluish hue; despite significant rainfall this day. The snow covered peaks were right in the backdrop beyond the river. Marty brought the camera for the day and, oh man, do I wish I had brought mine to take pics up this awesome mountain valley. This was just like fishing in northern B.C.! And 3 hard bobber downs and 2 hooked and landed in a saweeet pristine steelhead holder was the icing. The second one was about 13 lbs. It's the first one I need help with because it was the biggest steelhead I've caught in years. It looked to be in the low 20's because it was so thick! I left my vest in the truck with a tape measure in it; only brought a baggie of jigs and floats down to the river. So after holding the played out big buck tailed upside down to calm it, I measured it with my fishing rod; butt cap to mud mark. Then I used my 2 hands (9 1/4" handspan = 18 1/2") and couldn't get them around this thick long fish. It must have had a 20" girth. I tape measured the length mark at 39 1/8". I haven't measured many fish and haven't landed a big steelie for a long time, so I don't have the weight formula to use. I am suprised it's girth to be slightly more than half it's length. Is this common for native OP steelhead? If somebody knows the accurate formula for the weight please post it for me. Thanks much. Both fish were a bit crisom and greyish but still light on the belly and great fighters in good condition. This combo of scenery, fish, and solitude put me in paradise for a couple hours!!! And made up big time for a fall in the Hoh earlier in the day, getting me wet throughout. - RT