Sunlight was just peeking over the tree tops as we arrived. The smell of fall leaves in the crisp morning air joined the bubbling sound of the flowing stream nearby as we jumped from the truck. Anticipation of this trip was great for several reasons, and I hurried to prepare my gear for what would be the first prospecting trip of the season for me. Precious metal lay just ahead, in a cloak of October emerald.

Dragging our ride for the day to the water’s edge was made easier laughing with good company. The smell of the river and the feeling of the cool pressure against my legs for the first time in months brought immediate joy and fond memories. We had been lucky enough to time this trip perfectly, blessed with favorable conditions and a free day. Gear loaded, we all jumped into the raft and shoved off into the flow.

Our launching point for the day happened to be at the head of a very promising run. Overcome by curiosity, Phil decided to casually dip a bait off  the side of the raft as we began to drift down stream. Not three feet into this first drift, the orange of his float abruptly vanished into the churning green backdrop. Water erupted with a silver flash when he set the hook. We all looked at one another, knowing without speaking that this would be a special day. Raft still moving, I followed Phil’s lead and dropped my float in just above his boiling adversary. My float barely traveled a foot into my first drift of the year before being torn to the depths. It was on. Josh quickly backed the raft to a nearby gravel bar and dropped anchor as Phil and I did our best to keep our fish from wrapping around one another. October steelhead are something special when it comes to speed and will to win. These fish were terrors. Josh moved to the back of the raft and rolled his presentation into the run. Within a few feet he was also hooked up. A triple header on all three of our first drifts of the morning was a fantastic sign of things to come. We landed our fish, and I took a brief moment to appreciate the perfection of the fish that lay in front of me. A first of many this year I hoped, and thanked her as she swam back to the security of deeper water.

Action continued like this for as long as we chose to stay on the run. After a dozen silver ghosts came to hand we agreed we would need to get a move on in order to reach our destination by dark. All aboard, we left the fish biting and shoved off on our float down stream.

The following few miles of river were new to all of us, and would not disappoint. This winding vein of bright green through a forest of blazing orange leaves and dark sedimentary rock has haunted the dreams of every steelhead fisherman that’s visited her banks for decades. A precious refuge if one is willing to make their way. Though action slowed in places, every new bend and turn brought more willing fish. We navigated through skinny water and boulders, and floated slowly through plunging deep pools filled with timber. For a steelhead addict, this is paradise.

Throughout the course of a full day we continued to float down stream, noting the beautiful scenery that surrounded us as much as possible between new runs and strong fish. The landscape was changing the farther we traveled, the view incredible every step of the way. It is a privilege to experience this crown jewel of our steelhead fishery every time we visit, and it should always be treated with the respect a place like this deserves.

As night began to fall and we approached our take out point, I couldn’t help but to feel incredibly thankful for places like this one and friends like these. Memories of my every visit to this place flooded my mind all at once, and I couldn’t help but smile remembering laughs with friends and fish gone by. The combination of experiencing the raw beauty of Mother Nature and an opportunity for a sore arm should never be passed up if one can make the time. One should ALWAYS make the time. Some days on the water are just special, and I won’t ever forget this birthday well spent in the emerald city.