Opening Day On The Methow

This was the first time since the Methow River re-opened back in 2002, that I was able to fish the opener. 5:30 am on the 15th found me gearing up in the dark. With a slight chill in the air, I made the half-mile hike up river to a couple runs that always produce well for me. Based on the lack of other vehicles in the parking area, I knew I had the first crack at them.

Once at the run, it was still dark enough that I had time to enjoy a quick cup of coffee. The sun inched a little more and it was time to walk into the top end of the run. I had tied on a Black with Blue trimmed Kilowa-Bou. I stripped out the line and made my first cast, half way through the swing I felt the tug, dropped the loop and it was fish on. A nice hen broke the surface and put on a show for me.

Steelhead season on the Methow River had officially started. After a typical fight for a Methow fish, I brought a nice 7 lb. hen to hand. I was able to get video footage with the GoPro.

A good customer and the stepfather of a friend of mine, is battling leukemia and is not able to get out on the river this year. I told him the first steelhead landed was a going to be for him.

So that nice wild hen I caught and released was all for you Lee Gwin. Keep up the fight.

By 9:30 am, I was done for the day. Four fish to hand, 2 wilds and 2 hatchery fish. With the retention of hatchery marked fish rule, once I had the 2 hatchery fish in hand I has done for the day. That was OK- it was a great morning. I wasn’t able to swing the whole run before I was done.

Had a chance to talk to some of the other anglers in the area, and they reported similar results as mine.

Hope to see you on the river. Remember keep the hatchery marked steelhead and keep the wilds in the water.