Tommy with a Chromer

      Well I returned from Seattle late Friday night.  We had a fly fishing show in Lynnwood WA.  The show was well attended and Joe and I talked to lots of previous freinds and met a few new ones.
       When the show was over Sunday a friend of mine, Tommy, picked me up and we headed out to the Olympic Peninsula.  We met another friend out there, Ben, from MT but he now resides in Tacoma.  Ben is an excellent angler and has had some good success finding chrome steel head.  The rivers around Forks WA are strong, the fish are hot and have only been in fresh water for a short time.
     The first day we fished the Hoh.  I learned a ton, Ben rowed most of the day and at the end of the day Tommy hooked and landed a beast!  Awesome fish that my pictures don’t do justice to.  Later on I hooked up with Joe who came out with a couple of friends. We hung out and had a nice supper.
     The next day Joe treated me to a guided trip with another friend of ours.  Dan “Rooster” Levens has been guiding steel head out there for many years and is a real fishy Pro!  This was the 1st guided trip I have been on and it was real cool being told what to do and why since these rivers are pretty foreign to me.  My first time being guided was awesome!

Rooster and Brooks

     Rooster told me to high stick and mend the 1st hole we hit and I felt one hell of a tug for a second as Rooster cleaned my drift with the boat.  I’m pretty sure I had a fish on briefly but that was it until  around lunch time.  I am pretty sure I wasn’t fishing very well and Rooster had to prove a point.  While I was dicking around casting I looked back and Rooster had a steelhead hooked.  I fished for 5 hours nothing, Rooster makes 3 casts and hooks one!  I was chapped!  Rooster then walks upriver and hooks another one.  “WTF am I doing wrong?” I ask myself.  Joe tells Rooster “Ok Rooster, you proved  your point, we are dumbasses, what do we need to do to catch these things?”  Always listen to your guide, and the steel head game has zero margin for error.
      I went on point and decided I am going to catch one of these bastards if it kills me!  Well 4 hours later I hooked and landed 4 chrome steel head missiles.  They are a blast and are every thing I hoped they would be.  Stripping line to your backing in seconds, jumping, head shaking, beautiful creatures!  Joe also hooked a couple and swung one up.
      My spey casting was pathetic but I’m going to figure this aspect out now after this trip.  Rooster also made fun of my 10 foot  single hand #7 weight Winston rod, saying it would snap like a twig and it was a little light, but every fish I hooked I landed.  A 8 weight would be a better choice for these guys.
     The next day we took off to the Qweets river.  Another beautiful powerful river.  It had a glaciel tinge to it, kind of olive colored.  We weren’t guided this day but Ross and I managed to hook and land a couple of awesome Chromers.
     The whole trip was a blast, I got to hook and land 5 chromers and explore some amazing rivers in our Pacific Rain forest.

   I also learned once again that I have some Awesome friends.  Thanks Tommy, Ben, Joe, Matt, Rooster, Randy, Ross, and Bob for hanging out and sharing some great times.  I can’t wait to do it again!