I have noticed a wonderful similarity between the color of some of the flies I use to entice these magnificent fish, and the colors they themselves display. The fly below caught the fish on the right. |
Male in winter dress (above) |
|
|
|
| Winter fish are a very nice color. They are slowly changing from the ocean going silvery color, to the characteristic rainbow that is their heritage. At this time of the year and temperature, their metabolism is slower and yet they are very alive and healthy. I'm always amazed at how beautiful a wild Steelhead is. Part of the amazement is "that fish was there... in that cold inhospitable river all the time." Can you imagine what it is like to live in a river at 24° to 38° F. through the long cold winter nights? Nor I. But it sure is different than where I spend my winter nights! |
A fun day in January (above). Of course, every time I'm on the water it is a fun day! |
|
|
||
| None of these fish were killed. All were released to spawn in the spring. |
|
This is a nice winter fish resting for a photo. Released to spawn. |
(Right) Believe it or not this photo is at 3:00 or so on a very dark rainy day and the camera makes it look like full darkness. Not so. The fish was a big brawny Sauk Chromer.
|
|
|
|
| I never release a fish till he/she is fully recovered, and has come up from the temporary apathy of exhaustion. That is, after all, what a fish has done when it lolls about at your feet. It has gone into a temporary apathy, because it is too tired to continue trying to escape. It has given it's all. It is that total commitment to survival that I find so admirable in these fish. They are completely honest. No pretending here! Nothing covert. What you see is what there is, no more no less. |
|
|
|
|
|
This a winter fish, fresh from the sea. Not too big, but wonderful just the same. Released after letting her catch her breath and a few pictures. |
|
Steelheading after the fall flooding of 99 |
|
|
The old "stand-by holes" are different again this year! The flooding in November was enough to move a lot of material. The runs are still there but "different." I'll learn them all over again. This was a fun evening in late November of 1999. A very friendly person and his wife, snapped the photos for me. Thanks Eric. |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Same fish. He had damage to his tail, similar to a hatchery fish yet had an intact adipose fin... so who knows wild or hatchery. I don't care... I release them all. |
|
Copyright 1998 - 2008. Larry Bruning. All rights reserved. All pictures and text in this site are the property of Larry Bruning. You may not use the pictures or text, for any purpose except your own viewing pleasure, without written permission from me.
A Fur fly tied
"in the round" is a durable fly that is good seen from any angle.
