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It seems so strange that nearly all of my coin buddies are also such avid fishermen (or fisherwomen- Lara!). Most seem to be treasure hunters too- whether garage saleing, gold panning, mining for gemstones or whatever else, I think we're all new-age prospectors of sorts. Maybe that's the common thread- just the thrill of the hunt and then the big time payoff for our efforts, whether a doubled die or a 25 inch steelhead....
I met up with Chugly for the first time a couple of weeks ago and we quickly discovered how much we had in common, not just in hobbies but life experiences too. He mentioned that he liked to go fishing for Steelhead trout this time of year. I said I'd be game anytime he was going. Usually that's about where that conversation ends. But Chugly was quick to invite me and my 10 year old son. This summer was a rough one and it'd been about 15 months since we'd gotten out fishing for anything, so it wasn't a tough decision.
What I anticipated was dipping our poles in the water, maybe catching a couple of frying pan sized trout. What we got was an experience that I'll truly never forget.
We met up early in the morning and drove 95 miles south of Spokane. Chugly was so incredibly hospitible that he made sure to bring all the gear and bait we needed, making things amazingly simple. When we got to our destination, it was a small to medium sized creek, as little as 10 or 12 feet across in some places, surrounded by wheat and alfalfa fields and cow pastures. This stream is a tributary to the Snake river, near where the Snake empties into the Columbia. At the time, it was not really what I considered intimidating fishing grounds, but certainly beautiful.
Along the way down, I discovered that Chugly works as a professional in the field of Biology. I was starting to feel pretty special, not only did he know the fishing hole, but he could tell my son Seamus (shay-mus, it's Irish) all sorts of interesting information, and he certainly did do that. (Nitrogen has specific isotopes which allows scientists to trace it's origins- the trees along the stream are extremely heavy in nitrogen originating from the ocean due to the migrating salmon runs. Also learned that sturgeon as large as 20 feet long swim upstream at night in search of carrion)
On Chugly's first couple of casts he landed a gorgeous trout, but it's dorsal fin wasn't clipped, indicating that it was a wild fish, so he had to return it to the water. Not more than 15 minutes later, Chugly hooked another one. Quick as lightning, he handed his pole over to Seamus, allowing him to land it. That selfless act alone was worth the trip, but things just continued to get better. A little while later and a bit upstream, Seamus hooked a very nice trout and had no problem at all landing it. Sure, a kid can reel in a fish, but this was a 23 1/2 inch female laden with eggs. Seamus performed like an old pro, not even overly impressed with himself- he was the only one! Chugly and I just marveled at the skill he showed, from casting to retreiving the trout- my son amazes me constantly, but this was truly one of my proudest moments.
We hit a half a dozen more spots and were all ready to pack it in by 4pm or so, it was getting dark. One more hole.... I hadn't gotten a fish yet. Stream fishing can be as tough as on a river, never a lack of snags underwater or across the creek, and I'm pretty sure I found them all! Literally minutes from leaving, I felt the unmistakable yank on my pole. Responding quickly, I kept the line taught and began to fight. At first I thought it'd be an easy job, just out-muscle the fish. But when the Steelhead neared shore I became fearful that it'd either shake the hook or snap the line, these fish aren't whimps! After a bit of patient work I got the fish out of water and what I saw made the entire day of 40 degree weather worthwhile. This thing was a full 25 inches and roughly 8 pounds of solid trout. I had my gorgeous fish, Seamus had gotten his and we were all ready to head home.
When we got back there weren't a lot of nearby friends and family who weren't forced to see our catches. Nobody was as impressed as we were, but how could they be? One fish is going to make several dinners, the other is headed to the butcher shop to be smoked and enjoyed again and again. Chugly mentioned that in New York City, Steelhead like ours can fetch a price of $100 a pound!!! That's got me thinking about a whole new cherrypickin'-like venture....
Chugly: Thank you for a truly amazing experience. This is something neither Seamus or I will never forget, ever.
I wasn't joking- my boy is a natural, absolutely amazing. Check out the fish at the end of his line!
Seamus' first Steelhead
Chugly, the saintly angler
Couldn't be a prouder Papa!
Deliriously happy and glad to be home!
I met up with Chugly for the first time a couple of weeks ago and we quickly discovered how much we had in common, not just in hobbies but life experiences too. He mentioned that he liked to go fishing for Steelhead trout this time of year. I said I'd be game anytime he was going. Usually that's about where that conversation ends. But Chugly was quick to invite me and my 10 year old son. This summer was a rough one and it'd been about 15 months since we'd gotten out fishing for anything, so it wasn't a tough decision.
What I anticipated was dipping our poles in the water, maybe catching a couple of frying pan sized trout. What we got was an experience that I'll truly never forget.
We met up early in the morning and drove 95 miles south of Spokane. Chugly was so incredibly hospitible that he made sure to bring all the gear and bait we needed, making things amazingly simple. When we got to our destination, it was a small to medium sized creek, as little as 10 or 12 feet across in some places, surrounded by wheat and alfalfa fields and cow pastures. This stream is a tributary to the Snake river, near where the Snake empties into the Columbia. At the time, it was not really what I considered intimidating fishing grounds, but certainly beautiful.
Along the way down, I discovered that Chugly works as a professional in the field of Biology. I was starting to feel pretty special, not only did he know the fishing hole, but he could tell my son Seamus (shay-mus, it's Irish) all sorts of interesting information, and he certainly did do that. (Nitrogen has specific isotopes which allows scientists to trace it's origins- the trees along the stream are extremely heavy in nitrogen originating from the ocean due to the migrating salmon runs. Also learned that sturgeon as large as 20 feet long swim upstream at night in search of carrion)
On Chugly's first couple of casts he landed a gorgeous trout, but it's dorsal fin wasn't clipped, indicating that it was a wild fish, so he had to return it to the water. Not more than 15 minutes later, Chugly hooked another one. Quick as lightning, he handed his pole over to Seamus, allowing him to land it. That selfless act alone was worth the trip, but things just continued to get better. A little while later and a bit upstream, Seamus hooked a very nice trout and had no problem at all landing it. Sure, a kid can reel in a fish, but this was a 23 1/2 inch female laden with eggs. Seamus performed like an old pro, not even overly impressed with himself- he was the only one! Chugly and I just marveled at the skill he showed, from casting to retreiving the trout- my son amazes me constantly, but this was truly one of my proudest moments.
We hit a half a dozen more spots and were all ready to pack it in by 4pm or so, it was getting dark. One more hole.... I hadn't gotten a fish yet. Stream fishing can be as tough as on a river, never a lack of snags underwater or across the creek, and I'm pretty sure I found them all! Literally minutes from leaving, I felt the unmistakable yank on my pole. Responding quickly, I kept the line taught and began to fight. At first I thought it'd be an easy job, just out-muscle the fish. But when the Steelhead neared shore I became fearful that it'd either shake the hook or snap the line, these fish aren't whimps! After a bit of patient work I got the fish out of water and what I saw made the entire day of 40 degree weather worthwhile. This thing was a full 25 inches and roughly 8 pounds of solid trout. I had my gorgeous fish, Seamus had gotten his and we were all ready to head home.
When we got back there weren't a lot of nearby friends and family who weren't forced to see our catches. Nobody was as impressed as we were, but how could they be? One fish is going to make several dinners, the other is headed to the butcher shop to be smoked and enjoyed again and again. Chugly mentioned that in New York City, Steelhead like ours can fetch a price of $100 a pound!!! That's got me thinking about a whole new cherrypickin'-like venture....
Chugly: Thank you for a truly amazing experience. This is something neither Seamus or I will never forget, ever.
I wasn't joking- my boy is a natural, absolutely amazing. Check out the fish at the end of his line!
Seamus' first Steelhead
Chugly, the saintly angler
Couldn't be a prouder Papa!
Deliriously happy and glad to be home!
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