The most insane fish fight of my life.
I had no right to land this fish. 35 minutes of pure chaos. Outright hucked my rod downriver past a cliff to Will who grabbed the line and then my rod, saving both the rod and the fish, handing it back to me once I scrambled up the cliff I couldn’t wade past and back down the other side. Meanwhile this fish ran me down 9 sets of rapids and peeled 120 yards of line off my Vanford 4000 which only holds 130 yards of braid. The fish wrapped me around every rock it could on the way down, and without Matt’s help untangling my line and his perfect scoop with the net, I could never have landed this fish. Thank you Matt & Will for an amazing day and for all of your help with this fish. I am in your debt.
33 degrees and soaked to the bone, but you’ll never see me happier.
The most gorgeous wild steelhead I’ve ever held in my own two hands.
This season was about quality in friends and quality in experience. Thank you to everyone who made this season one for the books. Andrew Schnell
Gorgeous is right.