The Deschutes Owns Two Rookies

Another beatdown on the Deschutes

Austin McPherson

The Deschutes Owns Two Rookies

When I woke up in the morning I was already preparing myself for it. Although I’m a first timer I do understand how this game works. I waited for it. I expected it. Hell, I almost wanted it. The Skunk.

There is something in fly-fishing called “paying your dues.” This day was all about that for me and steelheading. I’m a firm believer that everyone who plans to make fly-fishing a lifelong obsession must pay their dues fully, on every level of advancement. steelheading may be the most extreme side of fly-fishing when it comes to these rules because even the most advanced anglers can spend countless hours on a river without feeling the slightest tug. One has to be almost like a robot when learning this style. Cast, mend, swing, pause, two steps down, pick up and cast. Repeat about 1,000 times and now you’re steelheading.

I want to pay my dues, I need to feel like I earned it when that day comes and I actually do get a tug. I knew that if I even hooked a steelhead on this day it would be total luck and that is not how I want to remember this event, whenever it happens. I spent this sunny day working on my cast and mend and swing. It was a successful day for me because I improved. I actually learned and improved a specific part of my cast which helped me to pick up my line from the water with greater ease. That is success when you’re just starting out.

Ryan spent 10 months casting and searching for steelhead until he popped his first. That was his second steelhead of his life, but first on a Spey rod. His first was an accident on a 5-weight fishing for trout. I’d say 10 months is a solid amount of time and effort before legitimately catching this amazing fish. I’m willing to do that as well. What I had heard previously from a couple steelheaders was proven without a doubt when I witnessed the ultimate battle between steelhead and angler. The Tug is the Drug.

After 9 solid hours of working our way down the river from spot to spot in the Red Rocket, we called it a day and headed back to the campsite. This day was a great one.

We packed up the campsite and headed back to Portland. We drove through the area known as the Gorge along the Columbia River. The Columbia looks more like a bay than a river. Windsurfers dot the waves as you look across it into Washington state. The trip was not over just yet however. We have one more day of fishing to get in and our final destination is a coastal river that pours into the Pacific Ocean.

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