The stages of steelhead fishing

Over the years I have come to realize that for many of us who have been steelhead fisherman for a long time, we have gone through a number of distinct stages of development in our relationship to the sport.  I know I have.  That is why am sharing my experiences with you to maybe in some small way help you better understand your relationship to the sport


Stage one - you are invited by a friend to fish the tribs and you catch your first steelie.  It is the most awesome fishing experience you have had and you are excited and hooked.

Stage two - with a few steelies under your belt the excitement grows and you just cannot get enough of fishing for steelies.  You spend huge amounts of time and money on the sport; new rods, reels, flies, etc...  You are in it for a life time.

Stage three - you start to want to heighten the experience so you seek out new places to fish, solitude and the ultimate steelie experience.  It is at about this time frustration with the crowds, the idiots, the lack of space to fish free and unencumbered starts to begin.  The more you seek the ultimate experience, the less likely you find what you are looking for and the frustration grows.

Stage four - what started off as a very pleasurable and exciting experience in stage one now is very off putting, frustrating and annoying.  You start asking yourself are the hassles really worth it.  You may also start fishing less and less.

Stage five - you have had it.  You hang up the rod and reel and go do something else.  There is no more excitement or enjoyment in steelhead fishing and quite frankly it is because your dreams of finding the holy grail of steelhead fishing, that site where you are alone, man on fish in a beautiful natural setting just does not exist, or at least not as you want it to.  Basically, if you cannot have what you want, you will have nothing at all.

Stage six - you spend time reflecting on why you fish and what you are looking to get out of the experience and realize, as with most things in life, your expectations are pretty unrealistic and if you were truly honest with yourself you can still have fun steelhead fishing if you lower your expectations and learn to live with the way things are.  Sure it is not what you want it to be, but you come to accept what it is.

Stage seven - you hook up with a steelie in the midst of a bunch of clueless folks at the Wall of Nuts, you fight it for awhile, maybe land it, thank it for the fight and let it slip back into the stream.  You walk away with a smile on your face and thank God for the opportunity to have enjoyed one of His creatures.

As with all things in life you must learn to live with the realities you are presented and find ways to seek the joys that are around you.  So the next time you are on the stream do not only see the problems, see the opportunities because in the long run all problems are opportunities.   Peace and have a wonderful season.  +

apparently you havent went far enough west on 90 in search of your steelhead paradise..

Thats what I'm talkin' about...good post! I'm at stage 8 myself....just go with the flow, have those "moments" and remember to always go "balls deep"! Anyone who fishes with me, knows what that means!

Welcome back Bug!

Thank's for sharing Bug and welcome back.

Welcome back Bug!!!

Good post Bug. I am between stage 2 and 3. Glad ya came back. Its funny ya posted this now cause on my 2 hour ride home from Erie last night I thought about the craziness I just witnessed and allowed myself to be part of.
 
Yesterdays experience wasnt fishing. I could sense tension and stress from the crowd as we passed by. I knew the majority of thoughts were please keep walkin buddy, no room here. Way to many people fishing low water conditions with a minimal amount of fish in each pool. Walnut was low and clear. Those conditions were best suited for a true fly fisherman. When the fish cant clear the falls its to low. Thats my interpretation if Im wrong correct me. Im not lookin to make enemies. 
 
After fishing the lake late morning unsuccessfully with another buddy we decided to witness the madness at Walnut. I wanted him to experience the crowd and fever generated by a run of fresh chrome. The crowd didnt let us down. I read past threads on this site about lining fish and wanted to see it for myself. We fished the chutes and it was really quite easy to line fish attempting to swim past. I lined 4 and hooked 2 in the tail. That was enough proof. Every other angler I watched was also lining or foul hooking fish. I watched them pluck the fly from the outside corner of the jaw. I had no business fishing that water with my skill level and neither did the other 80% that were pounding those fish. A skilled fly fisherman had the best shot at getting those fish to bite.   
 
We did walk a ways that day on the nut taking in various holes that could be promising once the water levels go back up. That was actually the most worthwhile part of the trip. Im hoping those holes wont be overcrowded once the earth is blanketed in white but who am I kidding. Just maybe is all I can hope for. Thats what will keep bringing me back, Stage 3.
 
 
 
 
 
 

You walk away with a smile on your face and thank God for the opportunity to have enjoy one of His creatures.

Words of Wisdom, and getting back to the basics.

Appreciated!

Welcome back, your dreams were your ticket out! Welcome back, to that same old place that you laughed about. While the names have all changed since you left awhile, the place is the same so you sit and smile. Welcome back , welcome back, wel-come backkk! Glad you're posting again Bug. BTW very good post. Stage eight. You still come up, hook one or two; but you have more fun helping a newbie land their first stelhead legally then in fishing yourself.

Excellent read! I almost fell off my chair. It is so good to know that you are still in touch. I hope to see you on the tribs.


Bill

I agree, welcome back Dave. We missed you here.
I,m def. at stage 7. That was well put. 
Welcome back, WWelcome back, Welcome back!

Very good post. How true it is.

I've gone through all of those stages...starting with the salmon in the 70's, and ending in...well yesterday.

You've driven a verbal tack in the "evolution" experience.

nice bug

You said a mouthfull bug!!!!!!
The sharing with a good friend is my favorite part....