I have a friend who has caught the fishing bug. He is really enjoying the sport and is always hungry for a new experience. He asked me to accompany him to the local tackle shop a few weeks ago, to purchase a rod and reel for Salmon and Steelhead. He already had a good Trout setup. After discovering his budget, we selected some good equipment.

Fishermen are like children with a new favorite toy. We just can’t wait to put it to use. He had the new line on the reel and was ready to go. So we set a date and were off to baptize the new gear.

Last week I introduced him to drift fishing on a river. He picked it up quickly. At first he was getting bites, but no fish, so I had him sharpen the hook with a file. Soon he was back fishing.

It didn’t take long for him to announce with excitement, that he had a fish. He hooked a Pike Minnow. These are fish, which eat Salmon and Steelhead roe or eggs. I unhooked it and tossed it up on the bank for birds or a raccoon to eat. I try not to release these fish back into the water. I much prefer Salmon or Steelhead.

My friend was pumped full of anticipation and excitement as he returned to fishing. He knew that stretch of the Clackamas River also held Salmon and Steelhead along with Trout. He was ready to catch more fish!

We modified the rig a few times to see what would work best that day. After an hour or so, there was that smile again. He had another fish. It was a nice trout. It looked like it was in the 1-2 pound range. I never got a chance to weigh the fish or examine it closely, because he was so excited about catching it, he did not pull it completely on shore. With a little slack in the line it was gone, but my buddy still has that memory securely tucked away in his heart.

Ken Bear Cole
Fishing with Bear LLC