A wild steelhead, caught on a swung fly. Photo: Copi Vojta

Water Reportage

Didn’t Even Have to Use the Figure Eight

Species: Steelskie
Date: December
Location: Figure Eight Nirvana

I don’t want to throw my buddy under the bus, but check this out. We’ve all been there and done it before: forgotten a key piece of gear before departure. Most recently, I forgot my prescription glasses for a few days of camping and fishing. I did have sunglasses, so things were somewhat in focus until it got dark. I suspect you’ve forgotten far worse.

In this instance, maybe that mishap was the key. Would things have gone the same way if he hadn’t tripped up in an early morning fog before the coffee kicked in? We’ll never know, and those deep existential what-if this-then-that equations are a fun exercise, but I want to tell you about the time my buddy caught an exceptionally unforgettable fish.

After the typical 15-minute walk into a favorite stretch of water, we’re sitting on a log, getting things together, bullshitting about the things you do. It’s a beautiful dry day, which are appreciated during an otherwise dreary winter.

And then he realizes it. My buddy has brought his musky rod. We’re steelheading.

He isn’t deterred and rigs up with his spey line, sink tip and tube fly and gives it a go. From downstream, I can see he’s able to snap the t, double the spey, and poke the perry well enough to get some line out. Cool, we won’t have to share rods, which was my solution if it didn’t work. We swing the good water until it’s been well swung and move spots for the afternoon.

Again, I’m downstream and I hear something. Looking up, what do you know, he’s tight to a fish. I can tell it’s a target species by the excitement in his voice. I drop my rod, grab the camera and start upstream. Of course, before I get far, it looks like the fish has come free: slack line, straight rod. The dreaded camera jinx. But then I see a big splash and soon enough the tight line and bent rod reappear. I hustle over slick rocks and then I’m in the air, falling. Save the camera, I know how to crash. I’m OK. Going slower now, unlike the fish which does the upstream cartwheel thing. It’s a steelhead. On a musky rod. In December. Who would’ve thunk it?

Tailing the fish, he’s the happiest musky fisherman I’ve ever seen. And he didn’t even have to use the figure eight.

A wild steelhead, caught on a swung fly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Above: Master musky wrangler Evan Slater is all smiles after landing this fish.

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