Last August I wrote about Judge Redden’s rejection of the Obama administration’s plan to restore Columbia River steelhead and salmon. Well, it’s déjà vu all over again.

The Skeena River system. Steelhead Mecca. The Bulkley, Kispiox, Babine, Morice, Zymoetz, Kitsumkalum...

The "new" Obama plan for endangered Columbia and Snake River salmon is essentially the same as the Bush plan previously rejected by Judge Redden.

If there is a god responsible for this year's bounty, his name is U.S. District Court Judge James Redden. This year’s bonus returns are largely the result of spilling more water over dams when this year's returning fish were migrating out to the ocean as juveniles.

Photo: August 2009 Wild Deschutes River Steelhead. Credit: Duffy/Elam/Hickman/KWLS, A-Tm Capture Photo Collection

Mystic and Hickmanimal await the floods of Deschutes steelhead.

Photo: Rob Elam

The fly's designer recommends a full sensory delivery: "In lakes, or slack water, you can strip him, but do it fast. Making high pitched mouse sounds and talking as though you're the mouse frantically swimming in the water, also helps."

Photo: Elam

Indeed amigo. Nobody hooks lakers on the fly in the middle of the summer. But I’m a dumb American, so I’ll take that bet and raise you a half rack of LaBatt’s with a back of Crown, eh?

Photo: Rob Elam