Last fall our steelhead runs were small. I had made a few trips out during the summer, but received no steelhead love. Nor had anyone else that I knew of.
In October this all changed. People in my fly fishing club began posting reports of fish being caught.
I decided it was now, or never. I went down to one of my favorite runs on the Town Run in Springfield.
I tied on a muddler minnow, my go to top water fly. I tied in a couple of half hitches to make it wake.
I diligently worked my way down through the run. I sort of just went through the motions until I reached the sweet spot. The part of the run where bed rock slots tend to hold fish.
I intently tried to follow my waking muddler while it made its way across the river service. The river erupted and I was fast to a bright steelhead. It made a couple of runs, but I was soon working her in. Just at the point where I felt I had her under control she came unbuttoned.
I had just lost the one fish I would probably hook all year. I was pretty discouraged. I should not have been. I had just had a great dry fly encounter with a magnificent steelhead. The part I hate, not knowing what mistake I made.
I decided to buck up and go back through the run. I backed up thirty feet, or so. Then I started working back through the run, not expecting much. I reached the area where the first take had happened. I could hardly believe it when an almost identical flash of silver erupted on my muddler again.
This time I managed to get a beautiful bright hen to the bank. This was only the second time in my life I had back to back hook ups. So glad I took the opportunity.
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