Magical days are never experienced just once; they linger in our memories often for years, and are replayed time and again in our nightly sweet dreams as well as our coffee break daydreams; and of course they provide a deep well of material for our “tall tales”, offered up whenever friends gather. Following then is a recount of three types of magical fishing day experiences. ….. Yesterday Day - You should have been here ... ….. First Fish Magic- Take someone new fishing! - coming soon ….. Magical Mystery Tour Fishing Days - coming soon

Yesterday Day
We work so very hard for the steelhead and salmon we catch that each one is always considered a treat and is often the source of great joy and extended fond memories. In fact those one or two fish days have become the spirit and hope that defines a good steelhead fishing experience for most of us and are more than enough to take the sting out of those days when we are skunked.

However every once in awhile, on very rare occasions, something magical happens. In classic fishermen’s jargon you have one of those “yesterday” days as in “you should have been here yesterday”. Except today turns out to be the proverbial “yesterday”. For whatever reason, you are in the right place at the right time. It’s a day when the first drift results in strong take-down and dramatic head shake, followed by a tail-walking burn of 50 yards of line in two seconds, and then an extended tug of war where the outcome is uncertain until the final moments, and finally being lucky enough to bring a memorable fish to-hand.

Thus starts a day that not only quickly removes the anxiety of being skunked but also raises the hope for more excitement to come.

But then, the magic continues. Right after releasing that first fish and re-rigging, it happens all over again. Beyond your highest hopes, your second drift, often through the same run, results in an instant replay. Yet another fish-on, another memorable fight, and another quality fish brought to-hand. Wow, what a way to start the day! In fact during the fight with the second fish, your arms begin to shake from the excitement, your mind focuses completely on the silver bullet at the other end of the line and the rest of the world fades away – you are in the “zone” of complete and utter fishing joy!!!

I remember fishing a small coastal river in mid January during one of those in-between-storm days. The recent rains had most certainly pushed new fish into the river, but it was running high and a bit off color. It was gray and overcast and cold and spitting rain. There was a slight wind blowing, just enough to push the rain into all the unprotected places and under your rain gear, and strong enough to let you know that the chill wasn’t going to go away. In other words, a typical steelhead fishing day.

But I hadn’t been fishing for awhile and had one of those unquenchable urges to go fishing so wasn’t deterred by the marginal conditions. Standing at the river’s edge at first light about to make my first cast into a favorite run, my expectations were quite low. But what the heck, at least I was out there fishing.

I worked the drift uneventfully for a half hour or so and was contemplating a move to another spot when suddenly a fish rolled on the surface just at the edge of my eyesight. I didn’t really get a good look at it but knew from experience that the silver flash had to be a nice steelhead. Then it happened again, another fish came to the surface. Well, like everyone else Im sure, my heart rate increased, and thoughts of moving to another spot were quickly erased. I changed baits, (from roe to a pink worm), added a little scent, and made my cast. I had barely mended my line and felt that first tap of my weight touching bottom, when, BAM!, fish on! After a wonderful fight including multiple jumps and extended runs, a nice 10#+ native steelhead came to the waters’ edge. I removed the hook and gently worked the magnificent silver-bright fish back into the current. A second later it had regained its strength and parted with a quick swoosh of its tail leaving me with an opportunity to wipe the water off my glasses. I stood there thinking about what a nice fish it was and how lucky I was to have caught it ….. for about 30 seconds.

I walked back up to the head of the run, re-rigged with a new hook, leader, and pink worm and cast out again. Much to my immediate surprise it seemed that even before I felt the strike, I saw a huge steelhead erupt from the water, and then make a bee-line charge back to the ocean. The sight of the fish was quickly followed by a strong jerk on my rod as the slack in my line was eliminated. Once again, a memorable fight ensued followed by a quick release of an even larger fish, this time in the 15# range. Wow, had my day been made or what? Two quality fish in two casts!

Well, like the old saying, “the third time is a charm”, I wondered to myself if it could really happen again? Or was I now just becoming greedy? After all, I had just caught two very nice fish, well exceeding any hopes I had for the day. I retraced my steps back to the head of the run and tried again. Only now, the excitement and the anticipation were raised even higher. As most of us know, fishing for steelhead, if nothing else, is a humbling experience. I fished the run from top to bottom with nary a hint of a fish. (In retrospect I suspect that the commotion of catching the first two fish had scattered the rest of the school and I probably should have “rested” the run for awhile--- but of course hindsight is always perfect).

But now I was determined. I moved back to the head of the run and decided to switch back to using roe. I cast out, felt the tap, tap of my weight moving at the river’s bottom, and then that special “tap”. I quickly set the hook and felt the tug of yet another nice fish….

Some time later, I remember looking at my watch for the first time and was shocked to see that it was 1:30 in the afternoon. I had been fishing since 6:45AM and hadn’t stopped once for a bite to eat or even a bio break. What had happened however is that I had caught and released nine steelhead, all quality fish, and one, Im sure that was in the 15#+ range. In fact Im fairly certain that I even caught one fish twice. It certainly looked familiar and wasn’t beyond possibility. I had caught all of these fish in one single spot on the river, had used three different baits to catch them, and had fished the whole day with no one else in sight. Pretty remarkable, at least for me!

I then proceeded to catch 3 more fish and decided to call it a day. The drive home that evening was even memorable. The skies had cleared, the sun came out, and I actually saw a beautiful red sunset over the Pacific. Later on I guessed that what had happened to give me such a magical day of fishing was that a small school of fish came in from the ocean together and they all decided to make their first stop out of the salt in the spot I decided to fish that day. And I just happened to be in the right place at the right time. I attribute very little skill to the results in favor of a lopsided dose of pure luck.

That story is now several years old but I remember it like it was yesterday. I have actually had a couple of days that eclipsed that one in terms of numbers of fish, but none more memorable. Further, virtually all of my friends have heard me recount this day with great passion and joy, and some have heard it even more than once! But in the end, this turned out to be one of those magical fishing days that actually do happen. My hope is that you will be as fortunate and have many magical days of your own.

Personal Tip: Keeping a fishing log is not only good for technical info.... Many fishermen take great joy in reviewing their fishing logs of past trips. It helps those of us who are a little longer in the tooth to "re-remember" some good times in the past.

Back to top of this page.