Golden choices.

On my way to the Olympic Peninsula recently, I got an excited call from Rogue Angel Whit talking fast about how they found some fish on the Skagit River that day. So not one to argue with her enthusiastic fishing report, I headed north to one of my favorite rivers to fly fish for winter steelhead. I cut my teeth here and it's always like coming home. I had pretty much decided with the earlier closure of the river this year and poor runs that I would not be making my annual trip there...and as I found myself driving through the familiar gradual incline into the mysterious mountainous terrain I certainly felt the change of heart was a golden choice.

I arrived into camp simultaneously with Rogue Angel Ade and cracked beers around the fire trying to catch up on a years worth of life experiences. I finally got to hear about Ade's trip to Russia last August and some tales from her other adventures since we last met up. Whit entertained us with her summertime steelhead fishing tales like running into Gierach on the river. While it may have seemed time stood still, soon it was later than any of us could believe and we headed into the camper for a few hours of sleep. The next morning was without a doubt a late start.

I rigged up the Speydek8r rod as they like to call it, so I could fish water we wouldn't be able to swing as we floated in between runs. (whether or not you think that is fly fishing and approve, I don't care.) First little pocket I missed a fish as the cobwebs were not quite dusted out of the attic. Next run Whit wants to swing so she jumps on the oars and rows us to the head of the run. I let the indicator float off the bow at the top of the run as she pulls in and when it plunges down, I set the hook on what feels like a pretty pissed off bull trout. As it gets into the current, it throws several headshakes and I consider it could be a small steelhead. But then it comes in closer, fighting in the dolly way and I get a glimpse of its chrome sides with pink spots. After some manuevering and close calls with snaggy stumps, I step back into the softer water behind me, bring it in, and Whit tails it. It's a big ass Bull Trout and there are three super stoked Angels on the banks of the Skagit.

Rogue Angel Whit and k8 with the big bull trout, photo by Adrienne Comeau

The sun is brightly shining warming us up as we continue to fish the rest of the day away. We hit great swinging water all day but the low clear water conditions were not conducive to roping steelhead. The following day we chose a different float and I watched some gear dudes pull a beautiful chrome wild hen out of a run. Our luck was less so, but we played around with a couple dollies keeping things interesting.


Ade with a beautiful dolly, photo by k8

Third day brought similar results except one super tiny trout that always seems really big when steelhead fishing has been slow:


little tiny trout!, photo by Whitney using Adrienne's camera

I don't know how to describe what it is like to fish with my other girlfriends who dig steelheading- are knowledgeable, great casters, fishy fishermen, and real characters. It's kind of like a dream come true for me and sometimes I got to drink a beer just to make sure it's real...pinching myself hurts.
Here are a few more shots from our trip, special thanks to our good friend Chris for the use of his boat! We even gave back the Iguana.


Rogue Angels Ade and k8 kicking back in the boat, photo by Whit with Ade's camera


Whitney Gould casting, photo by k8


dolly caught swinging a fly I tied for steelhead not for you dolly, photo by k8


Whitney Gould on the oars, photo by k8


Adrienne is just plain super cool. photo by k8

oh and parting shot, this is how we do:


Lunch on the river, photo and sammys by k8