So I'm sitting on a barstool at the Altmar Hotel, taking a lunch
break after an energetic morning on the Salmon River, when I'm
approached by a tall fellow who asks, "Is your name Joe?" Uh,
yeah. "Joe Fleischman?" Again, the affirmative. As my brain is
processing how anyone in this backwater would know who I was,
daytripper and Paul G. reintroduce themselves after ?? years. Okay,
how cool is that; a couple of other ROFFians are here on this same
river, in the same town, in the same bar at the same time as me.

As for the fishing highlights, I always enjoy a few days of casting to
plentiful, big, dumb fish who can make the reel sing. We timed our
trip well; and on Saturday, there were plenty of these in the lower FFO
stretch. For whatever reason, we were able to enjoy a relatively
uncrowded hole, and I had the double pleasure of watching #1 son
leaning against that bent 9-weight frequently. He hooked plenty,
landed 5 or 6, and generally had a ball. As for me, I landed 3 of the
biggest & freshest salmon I've ever caught up there.

Sunday we opted for a change of pace and eschewed the easy prey in
favor of the more elusive steelhead. Heading to a prime steelie area,
we got an early start on a cold, rainy morning. As the sky lightened,
#1 Son hooked up to a rocket ship that blasted across, then upriver.
An explosive leap revealed the flash of a nice steelhead (BTW FUSIA).
I watch as the boy does one helluva fine job of fighting this fish, and
lands his first ever (and a damned nice) steelie. insert proud dad
stuff here

Hookups are few and far between, but eventually I get one of my own;
and the jinx is finally off of me. I'd never landed a steelie on a
fly rod in twelve years up here. The day goes on, the action is slow
here, and son is "bored". After taking a boredom break late in the
day, he picks up Craig's brand new, virgin spey rod to fool around
with just before sunset. Sonovabitch, but he hooks up on a big fish.
In the fading light, it looks like just another mid-sized salmon; but
as we get a better look, it's a big steelhead. Another nice fight,
and he finally lands a nice steelie as night falls. A terrific end to
the day.

My plans to fish Monday morning were totally blown when I broke off my
car key in the trunk lock. I am seriously ****ed. The nearest Toyota
dealer is in Watertown, 40 miles away. It's 7 a.m. on a frosty
morning in East Jesus, spotty cell service, and nothing in this town is
going to wake up before 9. Through a lucky and persistent turn of
events, I manage to extricate the broken piece of key from the lock (a
fly tying box contains lots of useful tools); and the only locksmith
within 50 miles is 4 miles away outside of town. This guy waits around
for me to find a ride, makes a new key from the two pieces, and charges
me...you're not going to believe this...four bucks. He had me by the
balls; and I was fully prepared to pay serious money; but no, four
bucks. Kinda restored my faith in humanity for a few hours.

Meeting up with ROFFians, wearing out my arm on big fish, Both son & I
catching our first steelhead (his were both bigger), and a four dollar
solution to a $200 problem. All in all, a terrific trip.