We all remember a librarian lecturing us at a young age with a projector highlighting the differences between a primary and secondary source with regards to information. We knew what the lady was trying to say, taking shortcuts doesn’t work. But the fact is most of us in that room didn’t give a shit we were going to the secondary source because it was easier, and for that reason we reasoned that secondary sources we had available to us were providing information that was probably true. The fact is that it was just consumer ready and easy to read, sometimes partially true…… but always partially false. Primary sources are boring, dense, and require commitment to even find to dust off in the first place. Wanting to read them is a separate thing, and people only seek out primary sources when they are trying to find the answer to things that are vital for them to understand.
The data on steelhead returning to a majority of native steelhead rivers in the West Coast and Canada is depressing when you encounter the impossibly low data points after digging to find them. Secondary sources, more fairly coined as marketing materials in this context rely upon traditional norms of what used to happen before steelhead numbers fell off a cliff. They pretend that there is a winter run of fish coming in all winter, the big fish come through early at the start of the run, and in March. They don’t want to depict the true realities of what is really happening; the fact is there’s a couple thousand fish that return to each of these rivers at most the entire winter over a span of several months. Every river’s present return in terms of numbers is down 70-90% from what historical averages once were just a few decades ago. Some rivers have been quietly acknowledged as being shot, with stocking programs being implemented as an effort by the western coastal states to please their demographics, aka providing opportunities for anglers to catch and kill stocked steelhead knowing that they can’t argue the low numbers of native steelhead returning and approve of the killing of wild steelhead that are bordering on being an endangered species in most regions and watersheds. While the western coastal states set policies that make it clear the political leaders in their states have a cousin that center pins, definitely aren’t related to any spey anglers, and if nothing else just acknowledges the white trash caveman hunter gatherer logic of rural pacific northwest fishing demographics favoring camo as their attire of choice and their hillbilly right to kill anything besides a human being as you please- it also must be noted that even if everyone was an elitist spey angler in the northwest nothing would change the current picture. The problem is with the ocean- not the rivers these fish enter to spawn.
In trying to become truly nuanced in terms of what you can understand even from primary sources on a river by river basis, you will inevitably hit a roadblock in your research. We don’t get perfect data, even from primary sources, because data is political. We don’t want to know how many moms in the ghetto are a single parent, and we don’t want to know how low the numbers really are for native steelhead returning to rivers that once annually saw consistent large returns of 5-10k+ fish annually for decades before ocean related changes sparked a massive decline in the fish numbers to these same waters. This is not really a debate in terms of the decline, it’s just the refusal of these communities to truly and publicly acknowledge (which state fisheries dept’s will not concede either) that the numbers are as bad as they factually are. These communities and state agencies disingenuously continue to sell the historical returns and fishing opportunities that once existed as the faux present reality for anglers wishing to pursue native steelhead out west.
In honor of this willful ignorance, I can find the silver lining in this approach even though I have never owned a piece of camo clothing, camo waders, or put eggs in a bag and that bag on a hook to feel a tug on the end of my line. Nonetheless, I can find common ground and appreciate the optimism that comes from this part of the country. It’s truly the challenge, expectations have to be reset, and your approach to fishing here needs to be intelligent and efficient if you are going to land a fish or two during your trip on the swing. I like the idea, no doubt evidence of the ego that every experienced angler has, of trying to figure out something hard and being successful. But at the same time humbly accept the fact that I likely will just learn more about something I have a limited understanding of, and not be successful. Humble enough to get on a plane to try something I likely will fail at and have to chalk up to just a learning lesson for future trips where I might be better positioned for success.
HOW DIY FISHING PREPARES YOU FOR THESE SCENARIOS
I’m probably going to come off a little too strong here, and that’s fine I don’t care. Going fly fishing places where you pay people to take you fishing, show you where the fish are, and all you have to do is flick your rod to put the fly and line where someone told you there’s a few isolated survivors that like to hang out still when they make it back up these rivers isn’t skill. It’s shortcutting the process and fishing for Instagram. You don’t want to go on the trip unless you know that going on the trip means you’ll have your hero shot. It’s weak.
The beautiful but intimidating aspect of the pacific northwest and coastal rivers there is that there is a lot of water to potentially fish. You come into an area where there’s numerous rivers, all of them 20+ miles long, and you have to decide where to spend your time. There’s no perfect answer which place is best. They all used to be epic and now get a few fish, maybe one river got a few more than the others on that given trip for whatever reason.
You have some public access, but not a ton and realistically need a raft or some type of watercraft to really learn the rivers and get into pools situated the way you want to be set up. You learn the layout of the rivers and get to swing runs that aren’t just the pull over favorites many others are fishing in their new camo boots their wife got them for Christmas to replace last year’s that wore out quick. You can rent from whitewater companies that are thrilled to have a customer in the winter or buy a beater online and scrap together the logistics. I’ve done both relatively cheap.
The core reason that fishing DIY is important is the decision making skills you are forced to develop when fishing this way. Your instincts on what to do, where to go, where to stop, and all the little decisions in between are what over time make you a fisherman. You don’t just go into a tackle shop and ask “where has it been good”, because you’ll get the classic generic steelhead glaze over the truth report “ some guys getting them here and there”. There is no such thing as a steelhead report, a few guys get one or two, and most guys don’t catch shit every day on every river that steelhead exist out west. You are enthusiastic and taken back by the beauty of these rivers when you set off from the launch site on any given morning. It won’t be far before you come into the first run that to you looks incredible. You aren’t blind it is beautiful and looks perfect. Fact is though, there’s a good chance there’s zero steelhead in that run. When swinging flies, you have to balance and weigh the time commitments that come with fishing certain runs that are time consuming if covering them right, and whether that time commitment is worth it. Reading water is about being critical and choosy about where you spend your time. Is this run actually that sick of a run, or am I just excited and saying this is a beautiful perfect run because it’s the first one of the day? Being an optimist that you might find a living and breathing native steelhead is one thing, but when it comes to where you spend your time being a pessimist is essential. You dont fish runs that you say to yourself there might be one here. That’s you being hyperactive and not critical enough of your gameplan.
Day 1 I almost always assume I’m not going to get a fish. I’m just trying to get some type of feedback from the fish. Maybe seeing someone else hook a fish, maybe a grab or limited interactions with fish to get a sense of whether there are any endangered species inhabiting the waters I’m floating through, anything. Is anyone here? I like to focus mid river wherever I’m starting river wise because I’m not arrogant enough to think I’m going to be dialed and pick the perfect day to pluck a fresh fish right out of the salt day one on a river I don’t know shit about, in water that is often barren and highway water the fish are ripping through to begin with.
On rivers that have wade access, I often prefer driving around and fishing by car to hit a variety of runs in different parts of the river. The cars you see parked in places and where the density of traffic is allocated lower, mid, upper river tells you something. Most spey anglers out west are dedicated and are fishing somewhere that gives them a chance. You make that mental note when you see those guys as a sign of where they are placing their chips on the river. Many spey fishermen however are also traditional to a fault, wont use a boat, self limit themselves even with transportation and how they cover and fish the river. You combine your proactive thinking and ability to cover the river with a boat, with where they are focusing their time river wise to get to some runs they can’t get to far side of the river, etc. Sometime after that doesn’t pan out you wonder are these dudes just swinging flies here because the water sets up nice for throwing pretty casts, and not because the fish are there. You critically continue to weigh that throughout your trip as you get more experience on sections near and further away from where the spey bros are concentrated.
Often by the end of day 2 I’ve gotten a fish or two messing with the fly at least, hopefully have landed one. Sometimes not though. Just those few brief encounters gives you some confidence to hold onto though. Water type- are they in the tail out, gut of the run, head of the run. Speed of the water. Was this high in the system or lower down? Big fly or smaller flies that generated interest? Did I have to get deep deep with a heavier tip or could I get away with s3-t8? All things that help me narrow down the things that are messing with my head and the evolving doubt as I continue my efforts.
Tired after day 2 no fish yet, I get some shitty food that makes me feel more tired while knowing I have 20 minutes before I pass out. I look at the weather. Ok, rain coming next few days- nothing that really moves the needle upwards in flow- but maintains levels which aren’t bad right now. I think to myself ok which rivers in the area are most prime right now, what rivers are going to be busy during the weekend coming up in a couple days – I should hit those before the weekend hits. I think about my fishing decisions throughout the recent day, don’t think the variable that prevented me from getting into a fish was my tip at t-8, had been conscious about working in slack and changing flies to get it down a little deeper on an intermediate line where I felt a little extra depth was necessary to get the fly in the zone of irritation for the fish. I am not so far gone at this point that I’m blaming fly period because I know that doesn’t really matter and just a sign of delusion setting in when you can’t remember your middle name and lost all confidence. Game plan is the same, hitting a different section different river tomorrow partially for new scenery and potentially a breakthrough.
The above ramblings are what the DIY angler considers and thinks about when on a trip to a place they have no help. This has nothing to do with being able to pay for the guide and the shortcut, it actually has to do with not wanting to do that. People that pay people to take them to the fish aren’t that good at fishing. They have not developed the instincts to dissect a situation and make the right decisions to find fish in water they are not fully comfortable on. The potential opportunity and feeling you know that you will have if you are fortunate to make enough right decisions in a place you are not very familiar with is what drives the DIY angler to try. You will fail many times trying this- before slowly over time realizing you are more times than not successful in these scenarios. Experience, grit, learning, confidence, and pride in doing it the hard way are how and why you sign up for this process in the first place. You aren’t fishing for Instagram. You’re doing this for you and the way it makes you feel. Trying something legitimately hard with commitment and focus. There is no anxiety about failure, because you are subconsciously focusing so hard on the things you are taking in and observing to make your next decision(s) that you don’t doubt it will lead to something positive happening.
PERSISTENCE AND OBSERVATION:
Day 3 I’ve had time to see different sections, gotten a feel for where flows are and how they’re trending on the regional options. Fishing is worse than mediocre everywhere, so I decide to try a few different places on foot driving around to try and capitalize at various times of the day on runs that I think will be open and have fish/fish well at different times of the day. I focus on medium sized water knowing with it being March there’s theoretically fish distributed throughout the river(s) and trying to fish focused areas with water holding lies are more predictable rather than just chucking a fly and hoping makes sense. I’m still not too far gone where I’m changing flies- I have my tried and true black and blue cut shank pattern on that has worked for me before everywhere I had ever gone. Sticking with t8- focused on making as many casts as I can into good water that could hold a fish that day. A couple anglers I come across that day are pulling in to the ramp after a morning float. Their body language is negative- but as I tend to do- I read into it and decided I had no respect for them. They look like sports and have an indicator rod and a spey rod each- aka an identity crisis. You don’t kind of swing flies I say to myself and what fisherman ends their day at 1pm? I quickly determine them quitting is just evidence of Darwinism and the strong survive, not the fishing itself.
My fishing partner is now willing to listen to anyone from the guy at the deli selling power bait and Italian hoagies as to where we should fish next, so he starts chatting these people up which I view as an emotional risk serving as his river therapist by this time. He is focusing on the lack of results and flying home empty handed. I cannot be sure what exactly I said as motivation except for yelling sporadically “don’t get heady” and believe I did make references to him, Kanye West, and Lexapro the medication that when taken allows the rapper to co-exist with society as a functional human being. I’m not helping the cause- but driving the wagon. His response getting out of the vehicle at each run getting a little more slouchy and passive aggressive irritated by the hour. Late afternoon, fishing a short but quality holding lie on the upper end of a river we felt should hold fish, I heard my reel start ripping from a take that honestly I didn’t even feel because of how hard and quick the fly was taken. The fish jumped, nothing crazy a 6-7lb fish but a fish. We landed the fish at the time in the evening where the light was at the point in time where you would press the button and freeze time every evening you’re fortunate enough to spend on a river fishing. Daylight savings having just set in the day before, we had a little over an hour left before it got dark. We took advantage of the extra hour of light and bailed going to a spot we agreed made sense on the lower river to commit to as the last run of the day knowing boat traffic had already come through and with tides fish should be in that area after working up river to end the day. Trying to inspire confidence, I said grab the net when we got out of the car. This was the only run the entire trip we took the net from the car.
When we walked up to the run, I threw the net down saying this is the spot, and kept walking upstream to a run that was garbage as any good fishing partner does knowing your buddy deserves one right now. I got up there, made a couple casts, and heard screaming that only a fisherman could interpret as being positive. I went down and grabbed the net, shortly after netting what was a clean fresh buck that had likely entered the river that day. We both got what we came for. There was no celebratory feast. We tried to stash the raft we had left out there with our motel manager who said no, brought it back to the guy we left it with last time that we doubted would let us leave it again, by which time every place that sold food besides the gas station in a 50 mile radius was closed. I microwaved 2 ramen noodle shin bowls and we shared some disgusting gas station poppers and chicken tenders using gas station ranch and hot sauce that was likely expired to get it down. I passed out and woke up the next morning having one more shot before my flight took off later that day. I went to the section I aesthetically appreciated the most even though it had been fishing poorly all week. I had landed my fish already, if I got another one to end things perfect I wanted it to be here. I was surprised despite being a Monday morning, there were quite a few guys occupying the spots I hoped would be open. There was a short spot worth maybe 10 casts in a tail out that had a couple of big boulders, nice depth 4-5 feet and the right speed to find a morning fish laying there, but the walk down there made you question if it was worth it to walk back up that hill 20 minutes later. I called myself out and went down starting from the top portion of where this dug out and had structure to make it a holding lie as I viewed it. Less than 10 casts in I got a decisive rip on a blue tube that I had gone with for the sink rate being lazy last day not wanting to change tips to get down- and shortly after coming tight to the fish saw a pure chrome 10lb hen come jumping out of the water. The set up was perfect being in the tail out, I ran down encouraging the fish to drop down into the next run, where there was a big soft eddy on the left side I was on. I landed the fish, only my second fish landed on this section of river, and it was the type of morning misting rain with the sun still breaking through as mid morning was setting in. One of those surreal moments where you appreciate in the moment you living the magazine article you have read and hope is you one day. The fish swam off, and as it did I half felt like my trip was done right there. The junkie in me mechanically began casting again though against my own mind’s wishes and thoughts. Two casts in I got a hard rip, didn’t connect and started laughing to myself saying you have to be shitting me two rips in 5 casts after days of nothing. I reeled up and drove around the rest of the day looking around making mental notes, thinking about next time, content with what I had seen and experienced on this one. Ultimately, reading water well that is new to you and using a method that is downright ineffective for a fish that is borderline endangered in native steelhead is critical to having any chance after placing yourself intentionally behind the 8ball. Your reasons for fly-fishing and why you do it are tested and confirmed with a pursuit like this. There aren’t a million hero shots. There’s a real chance you don’t lay your hands on a single fish. But for anyone that prides themselves on their ability to fish, you aren’t pushing your limits if you aren’t trying things that legitimately pose a risk of blanking. I have a young son, office job, all the time related excuses I could use- but the fact is the way you spend your time on the water is a direct answer to the question of why you fish. Focusing on results will cause you to plateau because you will avoid the challenging fishing situations that require you to improve. Focusing on the challenge will naturally cause you to evolve and produce fish that you never forget after what went into finding them. Something I’ll challenge anyone reading this to consider as a way of getting back to the right mindset in this sport- the next time you catch a special fish- let it go without taking a picture. If that feels crazy or impossible for you to do- you’ve proven to yourself you’re doing this for the wrong reason