TR: Early Steelhead Fishing & Other stuff

Speaking of which. . . Ive been out fishing for steelhead, doing a
little doctoring of deer damage to my little ponderosas and
winterizing my outfit. Weather was nasty for three days (SOP for
steelhead fishing, actually tropical compared to what is on the way
this year). Then yesterday the weather broke and the colors were
magnificent. Fallow and no-till swaths the brightest white gold, early
fall planted swaths an emerald browned-green, and the background skies
either sunny blue and cumulus white clouds OR deep egg-sucking leach
purple grey.

Fishing was good but . . . closed for all but steelhead and the near
mythical Browns. I C&Red a number of Rainbows, 3 in the 15 plus range
and only one was arguably a steelhead. Every bow was a fighter. Not a
cutthroat to be seen, and no suckers. Two gear guys passed thru
claiming one steelhead definite and a couple of big rainbows.
Everything I caught on either a purple/pink egg sucking leach, or a
two fly set up of a nymph followed by a Freight Train. Sometimes a
split shot, sometimes not depending . . . .

Lots of geese high up, as well as egrets. (Do the egrets go south?
Never noticed before.) Hawks galore. My dog chased a Martin (?) along
the river bank and we spooked some big assed deer. Coyotes much in
evidence, think once they may have been stalking my chubby dog. She
went deep into the van after one possible encounter. At home she barks
fiercely when the pack howls in the woods; Here she is more practical.
I know she is really ****scared of cougars so who knows and I have
never actually seen a cat out there. Heard, but never seen one.

Dave