x
Please confirm your account in order to be able to send messages.
Forgot Password?
NPS Logo DISCOVER SPONSORSHIPS MAPS
NPS Logo
Gil D'oliveira
2018-12-15 01:41:21

Walking A River For Steel


https://castingalineblog.wordpress.com/2018/12/13/walking-a-river-for-steel/ It’s the mystique of arriving at an unknown river gazing upon its beauty not knowing what you will find. The in trepidation of walking on an unknown trail not knowing what’s around the bend. When fishing my cell phone is in a ziplock bag, a walking/wading staff, drinking water, and a power bar. Getting dehydrated is not good and when you start hiking sometimes it leads to a 2 - 3-hour trek of which the same time is required to hike back. You can easily be memorized to the beauty of Mother Nature, the fresh air, the rumble of the river and the living forest all around you. It's very easy to lose track of your location. There was a time I came across a huge crop of various mushrooms and thought an artist must have been here with all the beautiful bright colours. The distraction had drawn me off the trail and it took another 15 minutes trying to locate it as I had lost my bearings. It important always take mental notes when leaving a trail. Steelhead fishing in the fall and winter is also bear time. Often they will stay out of your way if they can hear you. When other fishermen approach me they often will find me singing or whistling a tune. Or they hear me well before they meet me, high pitch bells sounding like sleigh bells. They are tiny brass bear bells about 8 of them on a string hanging from my waist banging against my legs as I walk. It’s amazing how far the pitch sound travels. There has been a time when the bells are chiming and I set off dogs across the river on the local farm. You can take all the precaution and still come across a bear. Do not show fear and slowly back off. Do not turn around. Keep your eye on the bear. He is more often scared of you as much as you are scared of him. Still one can carry a can of bear spray, loud air horns, bear bangers. On a river that is often visited by bears its a good habit to never clean your fish on the river bank as they have a fantastic sense of smell and will follow the smell of blood. Never leave anything your carrying on the banks. The rule of thumb is if you can’t carry it and keep it with you, then don’t bring it. As you approach a new area that looks promising it is important to take a moment and look at the surroundings. Analyze the water level condition and the safe routes to enter and exit the water. I always carry surveyor tape bright orange to mark my access as I come out of the bush. On new rivers exploring I hang 10 inches of tape on a branch to mark my exit to the trail. I remove the tape on my way out. Respecting the river is a must; this is also why I use a wading staff. More fishermen are badly injured or drowned in shallow waters as they fall and hit their head or break bones on the exposed boulder. The wading staff also known as a third leg needs to be strong and have the ability to carry your weight. I use an old bamboo cross country ski pole with the snow guard removed. The ability to read the flow of the river and determine where are the likely places a steelhead will lay is gained from experience. It’s never the same as the river level rises and lowers during the seasonal weather changes and the Steelhead will lay often-indifferent parts of the river. A buddy was on the other side of the river taking pictures of me when I got a solid hit as my float drifted on the other side of a large boulder. The river was moving fast. I had used my wading staff to be able to reach that position and it was very precarious. Your first cast should be the closest. Stealth is important to these wary, sly and sensitive creatures. High water often will move the steelheads closer to the bank. High water or what is often called flooded out is dangerous. I have in the past when I first began wading taken chances and stepped off the bank and instantly I am 4 feet deep in fast water scrambling trying to get out. It’s an awful feeling when your feet no longer can keep you grounded. I drifted into the trees and it's like slow motion your tangled in the branches and then you start to be pulled down and you struggle just to keep yourself stable. I lucked out and was able to pull my self out. I was muddy and the top of my waders partially full of water. What stopped my waders from filling up was my waist belt. Often others feel its nuisance but it’s a lifesaver when you fall in as your waders will be full and heavy and will pull you down. Keep your sense to be safe; it’s easy to enjoy nature at its best…. It’s rare that I am alone any more. It's always safe to be with a fishing partner. It also allows another camera to record our exploits and adventures of the day. Don’t be surprised new-bees that you don’t catch a steelhead right away. I still get skunked and it's important to enjoy the journey, as there will be days that wily steelhead will beat you at the game. That’s why it called fishing.
22 anglers like this post
Dec 15, 2018 15/12/18
SCOTT POWELL
saw that pic and first thing came to mind was the movie river runs through it . great pics
CONTACT US
© National Prostaff    Terms · Privacy