DOWNTIME:

The PNW fish sure are different than those GL fish, huh? When I did my specialty training in eye surgery in Syracuse, NY I did a lot of steelhead fishing on the Salmon River. Got pretty good at landing teener steelies on 4-6# test, as if it were some sort of accomplishment. Looking back, those fish really fought like slugs. I discovered that when I moved to Washington and hooked my first teener Wynoochee summer run. Boy did that fish kick my butt in 5 seconds flat... game over.

Gotta love your spirit of adventure! Must have something to do with youth. I was tuned in to your previous posts starting months back, asking the right questions, planning, anticipating.... then putting it all together and making it happen. WOW a dream fulfilled.

You come from 3 time zones away, and with excellent planning, manage to have the trip of a lifetime. I live less than 3 hours from Forks, and in ten years, I can't even come close to your first experience. Your pics tell the whole story, at least the important parts!

Congratulations and welcome to the brotherhood of PNW steelheading. You've certainly earned it!