[longstick]

I decide to head up to the Sauk and Skagit since I have never fished either. I wanted to target dollies on my 5 wt spey, I don't know what I was thinking because I fish for them all season long in AK. Took my time looking for a good spot to fish and found a run that looked so sweat, so I grabbed the stick and hiked down to the river. On my second cast swinging a size 6 black leech with a hot bead, I had a fish slam the fly. After dropping the loop and and hearing my reel scream, I set the hook home and saw a nice chrome fish roll and then jump. I did not get a good look at it and thought it was a steelie, but I did not think any steelhead would be up in the Sauk yet. So I was starting to see why all you WA guys like dollies so much. After a few long runs and a good tug of war I got a chance to see the fish for the first time and what do you know my first Steelhead of 2010 and not even noon yet. It was a nice 28" wild hen, man I was stoked and wish someone was around to high five. My first Sauk River Steelhead on my first scouting mission for later this spring. I will be back, the country is beautiful!

 

[Tod Fossetta]

Awesome! Gotta love a surprise like that.

 

[NomDeTrout]

Nice! Looks like I missed a good day out there. Ended up sleeping in this morning and the wind and rain discouraged me from heading out. Congrats on your New Years Steelhead!

 

[Gone]

By-catches are always so disappointing ; ) Congrats- great way to start the year!

 

[Ernie Adams]

Congrat.'s. Don't bet on fishing it in the spring.

Go Red Sox,
cds

 

[BDD]

Cool report but a couple of things to add. We like char so much because there are dang few steelhead left to catch.

And you don't catch these fish all year in AK because most of these are sea-run bulls and not Dollies and are not available up north. Regardless, congrats on a nice steelie. Nice to see a few early-timed fish returning.

 

[SteveA]

Nice start to the new year. And on a 5 wt! Must have been quite a ride.