My biggest winter run....24 1/2 lbs. from a small, intimate coastal river.

I had had a good day already landing a couple smaller fish. The water was low and clear and as I often do in these conditions, I had armed myself with my trusty 1141, 8lb. mainline, 6lb. leaders and small egg clusters.....basically summer-run gear. On this particular stretch of river(about a 2 mile hike) there is one hole that reads "perfect" but I had only landed the occassional fish out of it in previous years.

On the far side of the hole was a bedrock ledge which came up to within a couple inches of the surface. I was having difficulty with proper presentation from the other side due to low water so I waded upriver, crossed and stood on top of the rock ledge, well-concealed but able to drift the bait literally at my feet.

First cast.....a little "thump", hookset, and the slow motion headshake of a big fish. Being committed to light line tactics I can only describe the battle as trying to pull in a piece of plywood with a noodle. I was just along for the ride, praying the beast wouldn't snap my fragile leader. I put the maximum pressure years of summer run fishing told me the 6lb. leader could handle. The fish only took me down 2 holes aparently tired from moving the night before. It was landed and it was mine! My first honest 20+ after 15 years of coming close.

That was a decade ago. Ironically, I have landed four 20lb. range fish since then......all from the same river. But that first one was special. A perfect winter morning, no footprints on the bank. mist rising off the water, a few biters around and the fish of a lifetime waiting to meet my aquaintance.

I have a beautiful fiberglass reproduction hanging on the wall to remind me of that special day.