They re not crazy, they’re Steel
It’s about nine in the mor
ning, a gray foggy January
day. The temperature is
around 40 degrees with a
damp, chill breeze that makes it
closer to 30. It snowed two
days ago and a little of it still re
mains. The river is clear, swift
and remarkably low for the
time of year.
It’s nine in the morning
and I’m standing by a small fire
on a snowy bank of the
Willamette River trying to stay
warm and wake up and they’ve
already been here for three
hours.
They are the steelheaders,
an extremely dedicated and
robust group of fisherman
fervently caught up in the
challenge of catching one of
the most elusive and sought
after big game fish; the winter
steelhead.
Many people regard
fishing as a summertime pas
sion, a good way to spend a
crisp clear morning or a warm
lazy evening. Not many people
would ever want to wake up at
four in the morning on a dark,
cold, wet winter day, ready to
be on the river bank at 5 a.m.,
setting up poles, line riggins,
and baits by flashlight or
lantern, ready to cast out at the
first light of dawn around 5:30
a.m. or six.
Not many people would
be willing or able to wait pa
“Fishing’s about medium
to slow now. Caught a
couple last summer,
figured I’d come on down
and give it a try. I spent
my whole Christmas
vacation down here and I
caught fish on the first
day and the last day.
That was spending all
day, morning to night.
Two
fish
in
11
days.’’-Frank Miller
tiently throughout an entire
day—whatever the weather
watching poles, listening for the
strike bell on a pole, un
snagging lines, re-rigging lines
and baits, waiting for the
chance of catching one fish, or
if they were to be very lucky, to
make the daily limit of two fish.
It is no wonder that few
people could ever subject
themselves to the rigors and
expense of steelhead fishing
several days a week for about
four months. Those who do
seem to find it a most wor
thwhile and rewarding ex
perience; but not without its
price.
The difficulty or the
challenge of catching a
steelhead is legendary among
fisherman. There are many
rumors about the intelligence of
steelhead and their uncanny
ability to throw hooks or take
bait without the fisherman feel
ing it.
John Romack relates,
“The way they’re so elusive at
times, you’d swear they know
what’s going on. That’s why
fisherman are so nit-picky
about walking near ihe river
bank where they’re fishing.
They figure the fish are wat
ching/’
Steelhead are especially
well-known as ferocious
fighters, with a knack for J
fishermen guided tours up]
down the river when hooll
“You hook a steelhea]
light tackle and he’ll taken
for one helluva ride,” quiJ
Joe Endicott. “I don’t 11
any fish that fights hard!
longer, it’s a real struggle, ft
you can’t let up on them, if!
give him an inch he’ll tai
mile...real fast.”
However, it is not jusl
physical fortitude of steelfl
that make them such a diffj
catch. There is also the |i
blem of the natural elemi
namely winter in Oregon, f
steelhead fisherman and ■
mailman have a lot in cl
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