31" Buck
I enjoy posting Michael's stories for you to read. Enjoy this one.
This morning, I crept into an area knowing that a big buck would more than likely be 'holed-up' nearby. I knew the only way to take this fine specimen was to take my time and pick over every nook and cranny. I was confident that my patience would outlast the bucks' and he would eventually make himself vulnerable. It becomes a mental game; the more time I spend outdoors in his territory, the more likely I will catch a glimpse of the buck or if I'm lucky, perhaps harvesting him. Then it happened, in a nano-second. Just when I least excpected him to make his move, he took the bait! I reacted quickly almost snapping my rod in half...The hook set deep and this ol' buck steelhead wasn't in the mood to come ashore. The reel spun like a weed wacker peelin' line towards the safety of the rock gardens down stream. I know how difficult it is to hook into a big steelhead on the Umpqua, I wasn't going to let this ol' boy get away. After a long tug-o-war, I won. I pulled the 31 incher ashore admiring his scars, his wildness, his veracity. Yesterday, I pulled a 30'+ hen (female steelie) from the riffles a hundred yards below and let her back into the waters. The buck was served BBQ style tonight at the dinner table. Hunter said, 'This is my new favorite food, along with enchiladas!'. Roo and Hunter ate half of one fillet tonight, definitely a big hit. I see the forecast shows no rain and sun for the next 10 days and I don't see any time to fish....it's gonna be a tough week, for sure.
This morning, I crept into an area knowing that a big buck would more than likely be 'holed-up' nearby. I knew the only way to take this fine specimen was to take my time and pick over every nook and cranny. I was confident that my patience would outlast the bucks' and he would eventually make himself vulnerable. It becomes a mental game; the more time I spend outdoors in his territory, the more likely I will catch a glimpse of the buck or if I'm lucky, perhaps harvesting him. Then it happened, in a nano-second. Just when I least excpected him to make his move, he took the bait! I reacted quickly almost snapping my rod in half...The hook set deep and this ol' buck steelhead wasn't in the mood to come ashore. The reel spun like a weed wacker peelin' line towards the safety of the rock gardens down stream. I know how difficult it is to hook into a big steelhead on the Umpqua, I wasn't going to let this ol' boy get away. After a long tug-o-war, I won. I pulled the 31 incher ashore admiring his scars, his wildness, his veracity. Yesterday, I pulled a 30'+ hen (female steelie) from the riffles a hundred yards below and let her back into the waters. The buck was served BBQ style tonight at the dinner table. Hunter said, 'This is my new favorite food, along with enchiladas!'. Roo and Hunter ate half of one fillet tonight, definitely a big hit. I see the forecast shows no rain and sun for the next 10 days and I don't see any time to fish....it's gonna be a tough week, for sure.
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