Howdy Folks! First time post. Currently living in Denmark (moved from WA in '94)and sorely miss the fishing in the great NW. I follow the board regularly to help ease the pain of being away my favorite rivers.

My first steelie was caught on the NF Stilly in the summer of '91. I was dead drifting a babine special when my leader stopped in mid drift. Set the hook and was greeted with a head shake. Smacked it again and a slab of steel took off up river. I about crapped in my waders as I stood there with a mess of flyline in my hand. Well the battle was short as the line wrapped around my reel, the fish jumped and broke off. Stumbled back to the shore and when my hands stopped shaking I knotted on another fly. A few casts later and another take. This time played it for a few minutes but the fish wrapped the leader around a boulder and was gone. Back to shore, knotted on another fly and rested the water for a spell. Went to the head of the run in short time hooked another fish. This time a small Deer Creek native that was quickly subdued and released. By the time I got home later that day my jaws were sore from smiling so much. From then on I spent as much time as my marriage would tolerate out chasing steelhead.

Cheers,

DK Bill