The chomers are in! The early season summer steelhead run is making its presence felt here in the Southern Willamette Valley. Last week I got out a couple of times on the Middle Fork Willamette. In one morning's fishing, Ethan and I landed three chrome bright beauties, including Ethan's exceptional 13 lb. hen. Fred and I got into a couple more the next day, but this time we were humbled. After a solid take and a backing stripping, jaw droppingly aerial, and frenzied battle, a gorgeous 10-12 lb. hen finally came into landing range only to come unbuttoned at the very lip of the net! Later the same day a fish climbed onto the fly as my rod was lying unattended in the bottom of the boat. Mayhem ensued, and by the time I was able to get ahold of the caroming cork handle, the line was slack. Thankfully Fred didn't share in the emotional roller coaster that I was riding. He happily caught rainbows and cutthroat on big dries throughout the float.
