How much patience does it take to be a steelhead guide? A LOT.

My wife and I spent last weekend camping at the Blue Creek boat launch with a bunch of our non fishing friends. It was my idea for the location because it has been hard to get the sled out of the garage lately. Of course our friends have caught trout before so they thought they would give steelhead fishing a try.

I did a gear, license, and catch record card check only to find that they had inadequate gear. Old 5-6 foot rods with worn out 4 and 6 pound test fishing line, snelled #10 hooks on 10 inch prettied leaders, and old power bait. Great…. They have to use my gear.

Fortunately 2 of the 3 rods I had were spinning gear, I could only imagine the trouble if I only had baitcasters.

I prepared the boat with easy access to my terminal tackle, leaders, shrimp, eggs, and corkies. I knew it was going to be rough. The rods were rigged and we hit the water.

Once on the water I strategically placed 2 of my 3 passengers in position to fish and instructed them where to cast. Of course it didn’t happen that way and within a few minutes I was handing off my rod and trying to boondog the boat while I was untangling their lines. Mission accomplished.

Next drift was a little better. I had the boat in perfect location and the drift was going well. All of a sudden Greg sets the hook and he is pulling, jerking, and reeling like there’s no tomorrow. I tell him to stop for a second….. hung up…SNAP! Of course neither of these two know how to tie a polimar or double clinch not. Rod swap and I finish the drift re-rigging Greg.

Not all drifts were bad, One drift Greg hooked a fish. Now mind you were drifting dime size egg clusters with a single #4 hook. Greg is using my 9 ½ foot medium light rod, he hooks a fish, and he started yanking and setting the hook over and over light he was trying to burry a 9/0 into a halibut. By the time I yelled for him to stop it was too late…… he pulled the hook out the steelheads face.

This went on for three days. Friday Saturday, and Sunday. Most of the drifts were uneventful but the bad ones really sit at the front of my mind.

The weekend topper was one of the many drifts that I was re tying someone’s gear I somehow got the boat out of position. By the time I realized where we were at I tried to avoid a large rock. My kicker hit a large rock, stopped the boat, turned us sideway, and snapped off the skag on the bottom of the lower unit… and bent one blade on the prop. GAME OVER.

The only time I really got any fishing done was when we were pulling plugs or bait.

So now I have a new appreciation for the job the river guides do. I don’t know how they do it but I enjoy fishing too much to baby sit. If any of you were on the Cowlitz this weekend and saw the red sled looking clueless, sorry, now you know why.

Last but not least. 2 steelhead lost, 3 smolt, 1 cutthroat.

the agony... hate breakin stuff. Why is it that newbies feel the need to rip the fishes face off? Found best to lower the drag to nothing until they settle down and figure out they can feel what the fish is doing. Rather lose a fish on light drag than lose a rigging being broke off. Would love to say "a bad day fishing is..." but that really sucks man. Bet ya they didn't even chip for gas

Sounds like the Greatest Show on Earth is alive and well at Blue Creek.

Stam and I watched a handfull of gap-toothed locals stand around a car fire in the Blue Creek parking lot one night. They were chating away like it was a campfire. Steve and I moved to the far end of the lot before the gas tank erupted in a fireball.

About ten years ago I guided one season at a lodge in Alaska. Thought it might be the carrier for me. I worked with phly physherman in the tent camps mostly. One year was enough for me to see it all and decide I was unworthy. Vascular surgens and Wall Street gurus that couldn't stab a fish with a pitch fork if it was already in the fish box don't like hearing, "because you can't cast and you can't control your line," when they ask "why am I not catching fish."

Some folks just don't get it. I met some great folks from around the world that could listen to directions and apply the information. They did well. But, the one that are used to their money working for them ruined it for me. At some point the light bulb *HAS* to come on if you're going to be a fisherman.

Guides like Bob as well as many other guide friends that are able to coop with folks from all walks of life on a day in day out basis and be pleasant about it are something of an enigma to less tolerant indivduals like myself.

Here's to ya, guys.

Good thread. Or is this a bad thread because it brings back bad memories?

How about my visiting 40-year-old friend that casually drops the 12lb downrigger ball over the side...from waist height...? The cable didn't break, but the pulley on the downrigger boom sure did!

Or my friend's two teenage boys that first broke their own fishing poles in my boat and then got into an argument and in the melee dropped my Calcutta/Lamiglass over the transom. By the grace of god the pole somehow balanced on the fuel line going to my kicker just long enough for me to grab it. I made sure the boys found their seats after that one!

No guiding for me, thanks! Find a good fishing partner and be happy.

Sounds like my dad! Love him to death but he could put a rats nest on any reel made.
Eventhough he does that and only fishes every three years or so he always catches fish and they are usually the biggest of the day.
Fishing for sturgeon a couple of years ago he caught about half the boats fish. I just don't get it! Oh I know. He excells in the kind of fishing where the rod sits in a holder till fish on.

Hey Bob, does *THAT* sound familiar, or what?????

They Old Man can't set the hook, can't get the rod out of the holder, and gives up on fish mid-fight. But still, the Old Man catches the biggest, nicest, most fish, etc.

Never fails.

Oh yeah, he's a closet-pervert to boot!

At least his son has come out of that closet. Good to see the younger generation breaking barriers.

Sol,those obviously werent locals.The locals are smarter than that.Sounds more like rejects from the upper sound.Probably had a good buzz going from sniffing the gas fumes before starting the fire.Cheaper than beer ,I guess.