Russian; Rain, More Rain and a Fish

       HOLY TOLEDO and I  pushed off from Memorial Beach at first light for a day on the river. Started raining just as we put in and never let up ALL day. We had a couple of take downs early on, nothing would stick. About a third of the way down I hit the beach to stretch my legs and dig in the cooler for an sandwich....what the heck...where did that banana come from?  Patrick prodded  me to get going..."there are fish down there waiting for us" he says so I jump back aboard and  we are off.  I toss out my favorite bait....two seconds later  Fish On!!! It  was all I could do to keep the fish from going into the mid river snag just below me as well as the willows all around. The Steelie put up a valiant  battle but in the end it was in the net. Looking way into the mouth of the fish all I could see is the small bead and the eye of the hook........decision made it's going in the smoker. Patrick took a few photos then we continued our drift for a few more hours with a couple good hook-ups but no landings. Finished up at Wholer soaking wet... trough and through. Really  glad we hit the water before the current rains muddied it up again.   

Beautiful!!!  Don't ya just love fising in the rain?    Nice work, and thats a beauty!!!

Great job.  Thanks for the report.   

Allen... you're just tearing it up no matter where you go.  Steelies, sturgeon, and bass don't stand a chance when you and your son Patrick are around.

By the way... did anybody here ever comment on your other cool steelhead photo that made the cover shot of the Feb 1st Western Outdoor News (Vol. 56/No.5)????

It's the same edition with Melissa and her sturgeon.

Congrats!!!!

By the way... did anybody here ever comment on your other cool steelhead photo

 Ya have to keep up with currents events ChuckE,  that's old news,  They are in this weeks WON Too

 showing a Clear Lake trophy with mention of how they are tearing up Sturgeon, Steelhead, 

  anything that swims.... ......

 Blue Water John is Looking over his Shoulder @ you Guys

 
  Nice Job,  Once Again.... 

Allen-

Nice looking fish. Looks pretty close to your picture on the cover of WON.

Freddie

Nice steelie & can't believe you guys went out today on yak...  WTG!
now, gotta go get some trouts...

Hello Allen...we met one morning in late January right below the fish ladder when you and a friend were putting in 2 kayaks...you may not remember but I was holding the drift boat when you were getting ready to put in, and you showed me the mirage drive systemand we spoke about drifting in yaks...well anyways I wound up getting a hobie revo 2 weeks ago like the couple you had and I just wanted to say thanks...I cant wait to get back up there and drift it again...but this time from my yak ...take it easy,
Chris

That is a fun drift. Looks like bright down-streamer?  I caught one like that with Mike last year.  The good news...they all measure the same! Congrats!

Strong work guys! wish I couldve joined you but duty calls.

Lots and lots of rain left the river pretty much abandoned.  The lack of company on the river let us fish more water than we normally get to.  I saw more fish than I have ever before, the trout and smolt kept doing aerials all the way down the river and especially just above Redwood hole.  Saw a real nasty looking steelhead just sitting in a pool, while a nice sized fish battled through the woods and brush that was creating the pool.  In the last quarter mile or so of river above Wohler I was almost struck by a chrome torpedo, the fish jumped about ten feet to my right and sped towards me on the surface.  Lots and lots of jumpers in that area as well. 

Dad's fish came at just about noon, I was dealing with a snag just below him when I heard him yell, ran back up river and enjoyed the show...

oh and I caught a shoe.

-Patrick

Way to go Allen, nice fish.

Nice job, you guys are on fire!! Thanks for the report.

Matt

Beautiful fish and nice report.

scott